Planning your wedding can make you feel overwhelmed and will make you reach out to your closest and dearest friends for help. And honestly, we always feel that “more the merrier'' is a great way of planning a day that is going to be etched in your memory. As you plan and get ready to tie the knot with your partner, your friends, and closest family members, who have always been by your side and rooting for you, will be just as happy as you. That said, your bridal party will include many such people in your life. Considering that you will bank on your closest people, especially during the “happening” of your wedding, we’re sure you may feel that your wedding jitters may make you say or do things you may want to take back. Sometimes, some things cannot be taken back. And this is precisely why we think today’s topic of discussion is exceptionally important. Also, with National Friendship Day in recent memory, we think that talking about things that help you take care of your friends, and your lovely bridesmaids as your wedding planning and wedding is happening. Today, we will dive into the dos and don’ts of being a bride who takes care of her tribe!
The Dos: Things to Do for Them
1. Ask Them What They Want to Wear
One of the best ways to make sure that your best girls are happy and taken care of before and on the day of the wedding, make sure that you ask for their input on what they want to wear. Even if you have your heart set on a style of bridesmaid outfits that fit right into your wedding ideas, make room to get some input! If you want your wedding day to look exactly as you want, here’s what you can do - select the color scheme for your bridesmaids’ outfits and then select a few styles. Once you have that, ask your girls which style they want for the wedding. You can vote on it. And if you’re okay with mismatched dresses for bridesmaids, you can even have that for your wedding. Trust us when we say, your friends will love the option of choosing the style of dress and this small gesture will make them feel loved and cared for.
2. Directions are Important
So, in the same vein, if you’re a laid-back bride, you should consider telling your girls the ideas you have. For example, giving them tips and ideas on how to manage their wedding day outfits is a good place to start. Additionally, giving them some ideas on how to do their makeup for the day will help them look their best. Since your bridesmaids will stand right next to you as you progress through the day. And this is why, giving them something to work with even when you’re chill will go a long way. Your wedding day photos will have your bridesmaids around you, pretty much all the time, which makes it even more important. Try to help them out however you can. Furthermore, creating a group chat for all of your bridesmaids will help you to keep everyone in the loop instead of having to call everyone separately, where information can be lost in communication.
3. Make them feel Special
Make sure that you take the time to make your bridesmaids feel special. Sure enough, you will do that anyway and during the day, but there are a few more ideas that will help you make your bridesmaids smile brightly. Since your bridesmaids will take time and invest money into your wedding, and will help you with things, you can’t put a price tag on their investment. And this is why taking the time to do something extra special for them will make them gush with happiness. So, one of the best ideas to help you do this is to mention their name on your wedding program. You can also give your bridesmaids a shoutout on your wedding website if you’re opting for one.
4. Be Upfront about your Expectations
A wedding day is jam-packed, and you’ll all be busy with something, one after the other. And this is why it is important to make sure that you have your expectations in the right place. So, you should consider your wedding day’s timeline. With that said, once you have your timeline, you will have a clear understanding of the day’s events and what you expect during the day. That said, this will help you break down the day. Once you break it down, you can divide your day and help your bridesmaids figure out what to do. To make your day easier for yourself and for your best buds, we feel that you can easily choose to have your wedding day broken down into sections, and have your bridesmaids divide up the responsibilities.
Of course, since it is your day, you’ll want to keep everything simple and easy. And one of the ways to fast-track that, and keep your actual day of wedding stress-free, all you need to do is have your bridesmaids decide on the different responsibilities they will take care of. If every bridesmaid is clear on their responsibilities for the wedding day, they will have an easier time managing what is expected of them. A great way to decide and divide the responsibilities is to do it before the day of the wedding arrives and have the run-down during the wedding rehearsal dinner. Since your bridesmaids will save the day during crunch time, division of the responsibilities will help everyone.
5. The Thank You is Important
One of the best ways to keep your bridesmaids happy and comfortable is to bring them in the loop. Show your genuine friendship by keeping the wedding at the forefront of your thoughts and effortlessly turning any conversation into wedding planning discussions. Take the initiative to inquire about your girls' lives and make a mental note of important events like significant work meetings, important projects, or even your honeymoon plans. This will help your bridesmaids feel important and connect with you, this in turn will not only improve your experience at the wedding but for the rest of your life. As you talk to your bridesmaids, remember to let them know how cherished they are. A small gesture goes a long way, remember that.
Next, while you're making your best girls feel amazing and happy, how about you find them the perfect bridesmaid gifts? Although most brides get their bridesmaids beautiful wedding presents, which are present on the day of the wedding. And usually, the gifts for all the bridesmaids are the same. However, to show your love for your amazing friends, you can simply choose to add a personal touch. Instead of choosing to give every bridesmaid a basket or a bag of similar goodies, pick something you know your girls will love. For example, if one of your bridesmaids loves make-up, get her some of her favorite brands’ make-up supplies, if you have a bridesmaid that loves to read, get her a set of books she loves or admires, and so on. To make your bridesmaid gifts amazing, you can add a few items or goodies that are the same for everyone! This will help you add a punch to the wedding gifts.
That said, to make your bridesmaids feel special and loved, make sure that you understand their needs as well. Ensure that they have the right space to not only talk to you but also talk to each other. This will make you and your girlfriends feel a part of your wedding and enhance their experience as well.
The Don’ts: Steer Away from These Things
Now that we have talked about the things that will elevate your wedding experience but also theirs, there are a few things that you should avoid doing. These ideas and tips, the ones we are mentioning below, will help you take care of your best girls better.
1. Understand They have Lives Apart from your Wedding
Although your wedding day is important to your friends, remember that it is still your wedding. Your friends will be around to support you and help you out. However, it is unrealistic to think that they will be there every step of the way. Most of the planning elements of your wedding will be yours to deal with. Your friends will help you and will give support when required. But remember that you cannot expect them to drop everything and be there. So, make sure that you are in check of your emotions and do not set unrealistic expectations of your bridesmaids.
For important days when you need extra hands and support, you should consider letting the entire gang know. You can send everyone a message, and discuss things with everyone so that everyone is on the same page. This will also help you know which of your friends are available and which are not. Additionally, remember, when you’re talking to your friends do not “wedding-zone” everything. Talk about the things your friends want to do as well.
2. Don’t Choose an Expensive Bridesmaid Dress
One of the best things to avoid is to choose a dress that is exceptionally expensive. Understand that everyone is not at the same level and has a life that has its own requirements, which is why you should be understanding of such unsaid things. Instead of choosing a bridesmaid dress and sending it across to your girls, make sure that you let them know of their options. This will help your bridesmaids make a decision that fits everyone’s budget and comfort. Instead of saying “anything works,” try giving them a few options, and adding a few details to the mix, such as color options, style, and length. You can also add the material for the dress if that is of importance to your wedding idea and aesthetic.
3. Be Respectful
Now, this is a little difficult to put into words but has to be done. So, the first thing to keep in mind is that do not expect your bridesmaids to change up their personality and entire look. The thing is, everyone has their own way of putting themselves forward. So, for example, if your bridesmaids are into funky hairstyles, or have tattoos, do not ask them to hide that. Be respectful of your friend’s choices. After all, what is true friendship if not acceptance?
Next, remember that it is absolutely okay for you to feel overwhelmed. However, it does not warrant a meltdown and angry words. Remember to express your emotions and feelings without hurting others’ sentiments. Because words once said, cannot be taken back. So instead of simply losing your sight, take a moment to calm down and try to handle it without the anger and angst. Additionally, we’re all humans, we make mistakes. Instead of simply avoiding the topic, know when to apologize.
A Few Things to Keep in Mind
Apart from the dos and don’ts we mentioned, here are a few things to keep in mind to make your wedding day and the process of planning it, perfect:
With that, we come to the end of our inspiration blog. We hope that the ideas above help you to make your bridesmaids feel happy and excited about your wedding day. Since your girl squad has always had your back, remember that you can do the same for them, and it is very simple. If you feel that taking care of friends on your wedding day and before your wedding day is simpler than these ideas and tips, do that. If you want to add more things to the list, do that! After all, anything that makes your friends happy, do that! We hope that your wedding day is not only enjoyable with your girl squad next to you but also brings you closer!
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