Last updated 15:54, Wednesday, 26 March 2008

I’M not the greatest fan of romantic comedies but the new film 27 Dresses caught my eye.

It is about a woman who has been chosen to be a bridesmaid for the 28th time.

I’ve been a bridesmaid four times and so have a soft spot for big frocks, cream tights and fake flowers in my hair (yes, it was 1992 when I last did the waltz with a best man).

The funniest website I found recently was one featuring the most hideous bridesmaids’ dresses, all posted with comments from the poor individuals forced to wear them.

I genuinely laughed out loud as I clicked down the puffed-skirt monstrosities, the gowns in shades designed to flatter no woman’s complexion or hair colour and the one-size-fits approach to all the bride’s attendants, whether they were a voluptuous 27-year-old woman or an angel-faced toddler.

But it was the look of sheer misery on these bridesmaids’ faces when they realised their chances of pulling the gorgeous best man had been eliminated as soon as they stepped into a floral, maroon, hoop-skirted, high-necked Little Bo Beep number.

Although the idea of dressing-up now gives me palpitations (I can count the number of skirts I own on one hand), I did love being a dolled-up bridesmaid.

Next to being a bride, it is the best excuse to swan around in a pair of sparkly shoes with a complicated hair-do, holding yet another glass of champagne while goosing all the eligible men in the room.

A recent magazine piece about bridesmaids also made me laugh. It featured top film stars who were chosen to be bridesmaids at their friends’ weddings.

Let me tell you, I don’t care if Cameron Diaz was my best buddy in the whole, wide world, I damn well wouldn’t give her a fitted gown and allow her to stand next to me on the most attention-seeking day of my life.

One bride was actually brave enough to allow Angelina Jolie to follow her up the aisle. If, in a parallel universe, Angelina was my friend I may choose her as a maid of honour but then I would ensure her face was obscured in all the photographs by one of my relatives wearing her best Kangol wedding hat.