Be Kind To Your Bridesmaids - Keep Your Bridesmaids Smiling Through Your Wedding Day

Be Kind To Your Bridesmaids - Keep Your Bridesmaids Smiling Through Your Wedding Day by Elizabeth Reuth


When it comes to your wedding, who will straighten your veil and make sure you don't go down the aisle with lipstick on your teeth? Who will give you a spectacular time at your bachelorette party and keep your mother-in-law at bay during your wedding reception? Your bridesmaids of course! These gals are your sisters, best friends and closest family members. They'll be there to help you through your wedding day and if you're lucky, they'll be there for many anniversaries to follow.

With so much on your mind, it's easy to get caught up in your wedding and become a crazed bride. But because these ladies mean so much to you and since they'll be helping you out on your big day, it's important to be a little thoughtful and make sure they have everything they need.

Be kind to your bridesmaids and make their job easier with the following tips:

Give them All the Facts
It will help your bridesmaids to have all of your wedding details in one place. It's easy to give them what they need by creating a document that includes the wedding date, ceremony site, and the names and phone numbers of all the other bridesmaids. To end any confusion about bridesmaids' gowns, attach a color photo of the gown with preferred shoe color (if you have one) and information on where the gown can be purchased.

Dress them with Style
In every woman's closet, there's a hideous old bridesmaid's gown hanging in the back. Do your bridesmaids a favor and be considerate when you choose bridesmaids' gowns. When you look for gowns, consider your bridesmaids' different figures and choose a gown (or combination of gowns) that will probably suit everyone. Believe me, your full figured friend Jenny will not be thrilled to wear a strapless gown that emphasizes all of her "problem areas."

You can't please everyone, but you can try to find a gown that will flatter most people. These days there are many options, so you may even decide to choose a color and then let each bridesmaid pick her own dress style, or choose a dress style and let each bridesmaid pick her own color.

Steer away from any gaudy or trendy details that you know some of your friends wouldn't normally wear. It's also an excellent idea to bring along your maid of honor when you go shopping for bridesmaids' gowns.

Help them be Friendly
Though many of the ladies you choose to be your bridesmaids may have a lot in common, they may not know each other well. Since there's a good likelihood that your bridesmaids will come from different parts of your life - your childhood, your college days, etc. - your bridesmaids might never have met.

Do your part to help them become new friends by getting them together for an outing or at your home. If your friends are from different parts of the world, start emailing your bridesmaids together and let them respond to one another and meet that way. When your bridesmaids are familiar with each other, it will help them feel at ease on your wedding day. It will also be a huge help when they're planning your bachelorette party.

Thank them for Everything
A bridesmaid's job can be a very thankless one if you aren't thoughtful enough to let her know that you appreciate her. Before you get married, treat your bridesmaids to something special like a manicure, a spa day, a movie or a simple home cooked meal. When you come back from your honeymoon, write a special letter to each bridesmaid to let her know how grateful you are for her friendship and her involvement in your wedding.

Now that you know what to do, it will be easy for you to avoid drama and keep your bridesmaids happy. They'll be there for you, so you should do what you can to be there for them too. When it comes to gratitude a little goes a long way, so take the time to make these special women feel appreciated and the experience of your wedding will be a lot better for them and you too.


About the Author

A wedding expert, Elizabeth Reuth offers wedding planning information online for brides and grooms and is the author of the popular wedding vow book Perfect Wedding Vows in Minutes