Bridesmaid leaving reception early?

I would just talk to the bride, I'm sure she'd understand. Just let her know you're not leaving to "skip out" on the wedding, you just feel you need to get home to your newborn after being gone all day

I don't think you'd need to stay the whole time to be honest because a lot of the parts of a wedding involve just the portion with dancing and whatever else after all the dances and toasts are done anyway.

I would talk to the bride and explain. I’m sure she will be ok with you leaving after everything is finished.

Agree with previous posters. I don’t think it’s rude to leave early, I would just the bride a heads up regarding your plans.

I would hope the bride would be reasonable enough to not be mad at you about it!
Let her the know situation and maybe the day of just be sure to check in with her to be sure you arent needed for photos or anything else before you head out!

This is totally fine. I would stay through dinner, but there's nothing wrong with leaving after that.

Definitely talk to her, but I would try to stay until after dinner. Maybe you can facetime with your daughter at some parts when you have downtime in between formalities to get you through most of the day. Or have her dad send you some pictures to keep you updated .

Make sure she won’t need help with breakdown or paying vendors or anything before you leave. A bridal party main job is to be support for the bride and groom and if you leaving early might put her in a tight spot, you should stay.
I understand the separation anxiety but I also understand no one was forced to be a bridesmaid and if you accepted you must know what it means and how much your help and presence is needed. If the other girls can step in and help afterwards then I don’t see why it would be rude for you to leave.
I hope this doesn’t come off as rude because I don’t mean it that way at all.

What time is the wedding itself? Meanwhile, BM job does not include breaking down the reception stuff. If friends or family volunteer ( and usually some do) great. Or they can pay somebody. If you stay till at least after dinner, or about 8pm, that is 9.5 hours plus travel time. More than enough. If the actual wedding is not at noon it 1 pm, and all the time 10:30 til 2 or later is getting ready , consider not arriving until a half hour before the ceremony, or a half hour before the pre-ceremony pictures. Get groomed and dressed at home, pop out for an hour to a hair dresser if necessary, then home again. That has always been the traditional thing when not out of town overnights. Until people started getting in a celebrity entourage mode, people staying in a group with the bride hours and hours, taking turns with a HMUA. For my wedding, and for most where I have been in the wedding, I have by far preferred everyone getting ready in their own bed and bathroom. In the same hour and a half or less, not stretching out getting ready for hours. That is still how most brides I know do it, happily. Bride only needs 1 or 2 BM or family members, not a party, and can have space, privacy, and peace before the ceremony, and dance all night. . . . If getting ready at home means not getting to the wedding til hours later, then you can stay longer. But 13.5 hours, for being in a wedding, I think is ridiculous for anyone who does not want it. 8, or 10 hours if pre wedding pictures. That is a traditional bridal party commitment, for gals and guys.

Could you ask that your baby be with you while getting ready and everything and then have dad pick her up before pictures/ceremony? That’s what I offered to my bridesmaids with children.

I don't see an issue with it. I would just talk to your friend about. I just wouldn't recommend doing what
my sister-in-law's brother did at her wedding. He ate his meal then left because he had a "far" drive which was an hour, but the groom's family drove 7+ hours (including us as this was my husband's brother's wedding) for the wedding and another couple didn't even stay for dinner. I think as long as you stay for the main stuff then you should be fine.

Communication is key. I agree with the previous posters. It would be productive and helpful if you and your bride had a conversation before the day of the wedding so that the bride is aware of your situation and she's not taken by surprise by your sudden early leave.

I would just have a quick chat with the bride and give her a heads up. Not much goes on regarding the bridal party after the dinner and toasts..its not like your part of the clean up crew or anything. I would have that separation anxiety from my 7 week old as well..to really complicate things theres the topic on nursing also.

I agree that as the mom of a 7-week old, you should get some flexibility on the timeline for the day. I'd talk with the bride to let her know how you and your new family are doing, and that you'd like to have the flexibility to be able to leave early, but after any critical events. I'm hoping she's the kind of friend who immediately encourages you to do whatever you need to. (But, unfortunately, based on some of the posts on this forum, I realize there may be a bride or two who may not react that way....) There were two moms in daughter's bridal party (neither with a new born). One of them had no problem with being involved all day, but the other -- a mom of four kids, 4-10 yrs old -- skipped the "getting ready" activities in the morning and just met us at the venue for pictures about 2 hours before the ceremony, and she and her husband left between 8:30-9:00. It was completely fine, and very understandable. Congrats on your sweet baby!

I can't imagine being a jerk to my bridesmaid who gave birth and has a 7 week old at home. I would approach the bride and present your idea of what you are comfortable doing rather than leaving it unclear what you are planning to do. I don't believe you have any other "jobs" but to support the bride on her big day, and you should be good to be there for the big stuff and slip out when it is more the party atmosphere.

I don’t think that’s separation anxiety when you’re anxious about leaving a one month old at home. That’s completely normal! Unless the bride is a complete psycho bridezilla, she should understand that you need to leave. I would also try to find time during the day to see the little one. I know brides want their bridal party there all day, but there’s not really going to be much for you to do. So if you live close, maybe you could sneak out before the ceremony to see your little one or have dad stop by with her. Or if you’re all getting your hair and makeup done together, you could be last to go so you could spend a little more time with her in the morning. Even if you can arrange all that, I still think it’s ok to leave early. You’re a new mom, that gives you a pass!

Talk to your friend. I know she’s got a lot going on (so might not realize/remember that you need to leave early to be with baby), but I bet she’d rather know in advance (and a reminder as prior posters suggested is helpful) if you need to head home early than look around day-of and wonder why you left early. A song by a band that one of my bridesmaid and I had seen live in concert came on at my wedding and I looked and looked for that bridesmaid and was bummed to have to assume she left early (without saying goodbye or anything). ☹️

I don't think you're being rude! It's a totally reasonable request. As a parent, you have to be there for your child. I hope your friend is kind and understanding!

If you’re there for all the main events I don’t see the issue. Even if you had to miss something, I’m sure the bride would understand - you have a newborn! Don’t feel bad about it just be open with the bride.

I would talk to the bride. I'm not a mom, so I can't relate to this feeling. All my 9 bridesmaids stayed the entire length of the wedding.