I’m Jen Glantz
The founder of Bridesmaid for Hire, the world's first professional bridesmaid company, bestselling author of three books, and creator of the Monday Pick-Me-Up newsletter.
hey you
I’VE BEEN FEATURED IN
250+ MEDIA OUTLETS
FROM LIBRARY BOOKS TO BRIDESMAID FOR HIRE
I remember being 6 years old, scribbling poems on napkins, inside books, and perhaps even once or twice on the walls (sorry, Mom), and realizing how powerful words, stories, and feelings could be once they left your own heart.
I began writing tiny little things for anyone who'd let me, and eventually for myself when I created the blog The Things I Learned From as a home for the mistakes, moments, and memories that felt too unsettling to keep to myself.
Years later, one unexpected Craigslist ad changed everything. In 2014, I offered myself as a bridesmaid for hire to complete strangers. The ad went viral, and within days I had launched Bridesmaid for Hire, the world's first professional bridesmaid company.
Today, I'm a bestselling author, speaker, entrepreneur, and the founder of Bridesmaid for Hire. But at my core, I'm still the little girl who believes stories have the power to connect complete strangers.
My life took a sharp turn in 2014 when I posted a Craigslist ad offering myself as a bridesmaid for hire.
What started as a strange idea quickly became a business, a book, and a career I never could have imagined. Within months, I was traveling around the country helping brides navigate wedding stress, bridal party drama, family conflict, speeches, logistics, and all the things nobody warns you about before getting married.
The experience inspired my memoir, Always a Bridesmaid (for Hire), and led to appearances on the TODAY Show, Good Morning America, Fox News, and hundreds of media outlets around the world.
More importantly, it taught me something I still believe today: everyone deserves support during life's biggest moments.
Today, I live in Brooklyn with my husband Adam, our daughter Gemma, and our dog Goofy.
I'm always writing books, creating newsletters, recording podcasts, and dreaming up new ideas. Bridesmaid for Hire has grown beyond in-person wedding support to include wedding speech and vow writing, planning resources, digital tools, templates, and a growing collection of services designed to make weddings less stressful.
I also created the Monday Pick-Me-Up newsletter and the 1-800-Bridesmaid hotline and podcast, where strangers share their most honest stories about weddings, friendship, relationships, and life.
My favorite projects are always the ones that help people feel a little less alone.
Years ago, my husband Adam and I sold most of our belongings, ditched our lease, and decided to live in a new city every 30 days. We spent time in Portland, Austin, Los Angeles, Brooklyn, and everywhere in between.
Today, our adventures look a little different. They're less about hopping cities and more about family walks, library books, pizza nights, and chasing after our daughter Gemma.
Whether I'm helping a bride, writing a book, recording a podcast, or carrying way too many books home from the library, my mission is the same: help people embrace adventure, laugh at the chaos, and remember that life moves quickly.
That's why I say yes to the goofy ideas, the unexpected opportunities, and the stories worth telling.
After all, you're not getting any younger.
To know me is to know this...
I eat a lot of gluten-free pizza
1
My birthday is on April Fool's Day
2
I have a dog named Goofy
3
I spent 2 years living in a new city every month
4
I’m the most proud of
Words from dear friends
2011 –
2025
Let's go back!
2011
Started a blog after online publications wouldn’t publish my essays
2012
Saved up money & applied for over 200 jobs before landing one and moving to NYC
2013
Finally got over ten well-known online publications to publish my writing
2014
Landed a dream job at a start-up and published my first book, All My Friends Are Engaged
2015
Started the headline-making business, Bridesmaid for Hire & appeared on over 250 media outlets, including Good Morning America
2016
Got laid-off from my full-time job & became 100% my own boss. Started consulting and doing in-house workshops for companies like Google, Hyatt Hotels and HBO. Began my 1:1 coaching program. Doubled my “full-time” income
2017
Published my second book through Simon & Schuster. Sold 90% of my belongings to live in a new city every month
2018
Launched the You’re Not Getting Any Yonger Podcast & Facebook group
2019
Created Finally the Bride, an online platform where over 100,000 strangers voted on all my wedding decisions
2020
Turned my lessons-learned experience and expert strategy into program to help others start big things (starting with small steps)
2021
Turned my lessons-learned experience and expert strategy into program to help others start big things (starting with small steps)
2021
Created Odd Jobs & The First Years of Marriage newsletter, and The Newlywed Card Game.
2022
Grew my audience to over 200,000 followers and subscribers across newsletters and social media accounts.
2023
Created Scared to Be a Mom and became a really scared first-time mom.
2023
Created Scared to Be a Mom and became a really scared first-time mom.
2024
Published my third non-fiction book, Finally the Bride. Started my own publishing company: For Gemma.
Open up
Books, Books, Books!
Sit back, relax, and pop-open one of my best-selling nonfiction humor books all about love, life, and odd adventures.
read jen's books
What's New With Jen
Explore Bridesmaid for Hire, my books, newsletters, podcast, and the creative projects I'm building.
I'm truly so happy you're here with me on this website and I want to give you a behind-the-scenes look at all the things I'm spending my time on these days. You can eyeball projects, products, and offerings below.
Monday Pick Me Up
Read the latest issue of the Monday Pick Me Up newsletter.
Bridesmaid for Hire
Professional bridesmaid services, wedding support, speech writing, planning help, and more.
Books, Books, Books
Read the latest books from bestselling author Jen Glantz.
Here's what's new
