How to choose your bridesmaid?

It can be challenging to find common ground between your own preferences for the bridal party and the people you're being pressured to invite. It's easy to cause confusion and resentment among loved ones when you ask them to do something they may or may not want to do. After all, you deserve to spend the day as you like, right? Relax. The process of selecting staff should be straightforward. The key to creating a list that everyone is happy with (including yourself) is to prioritise what needs to be included.

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Which of Your Friends Would Make the Best Bridesmaids?

Choose your bridesmaids based on the strength of your friendship with them rather than how long you've known them. Trust, enjoyment of one another's company, and a sense of individuality are all hallmarks of true friends; reserve that designation for only such people. Do your best to act on your own and stand by your decisions whenever possible. When you have amazing ladies helping you plan your wedding day, it's going to be amazing.

To help you decide, recall the last time you were in a jam and ask yourself: "Who did I call?" Is there a person you can always count on to entertain you and cheer you up? Consider lastly a person who cheers you on and never steals your spotlight. You should expect your bridesmaids to possess these attributes.

Should Relatives Be in the Bridal Party?

Not having any family members in your bridal party is not an ancient tradition. However, if you and the person you're choosing are especially close, you may find comfort in choosing them. Select only the closest relatives and include the rest in different parts of the celebration if your family is vast. If a bride is merely inviting relatives because she feels she should, she should find alternative methods to show her appreciation.

Can the Bridegroom's sister be a member of the bridal party?

Consider how close you are to your significant other's sister while making this choice. If you don't feel totally comfortable with your potential maid of honour, don't ask her to be a bridesmaid. You can use her instead as a witness, a reader, or in some other capacity at the wedding.

When You Have Nobody to Ask, Here’s How You Choose Your Bridesmaids

For some brides, the fact that they have no or a few of friends willing to serve as bridesmaids is a major source of stress. It's a fact of life that we're all unique and that a lot of people do not count on having many close friends. You should not feel pressure to put on a show for guests at your wedding; instead, focus on celebrating your love for one another. If just thinking about planning a wedding is causing you stress, the best thing to do is to make a choice and stick to it.

If you'd prefer, you can also have a man of honour instead of a woman of honour. And if you want to save a tonne of money, you may ignore this part altogether (and stress). Since your guests are all people who know you well already, I can guarantee that this topic will not come up during your wedding. What people will remember most about your party is the setting, the clothes you wore, how happy you looked, and the refreshments.

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Choosing Your Attendants for the Wedding Without Drama

It's advisable to give careful thought to your bridesmaid selection and then stay with your final choices. It is courteous to include good friends who are not able to become bridesmaids in other aspects of wedding planning so that they not feel left out. Scroll down for some advice on how to involve the pals who weren't chosen to be bridesmaids.

Sincerity and honesty are always the best policies whenever a pal that "might have hoped to be asked" inquires about your wedding plans. Relieve her disappointment gradually while yet finding a method to invite her to the wedding.

It's reasonable to anticipate some disappointment in the reactions of one or two friends once you've shared your decision with them. Eventually, though, they'll get over it, and you won't have to include someone you didn't want in your bridal party.

Does the Bride Really Need That Many Bridesmaids?

The conventional wisdom does not stipulate an absolute maximum number of maids-of-honor. Think about how much money you have, how many people you know who would make great bridesmaids, and how important it is to you to have a large bridal party.

Think about how you'll get your bridesmaids to the ceremony on time. With fewer people in attendance, the morning can feel more private and there will be less pressure to be ready on time.

Unless you are extremely famous and have a very large wedding budget, you should not have more than five bridesmaids. Don't use the wedding as a popularity contest between guests. Sometimes having too many bridesmaids might cause tension and arguments.

Can the Number of Bridesmaids and Groomsmen Be Different?

It is not necessary for the number of bridesmaids and groomsmen to be equal, but many couples feel obligated to adhere to this tradition anyhow.

Some Advice for Picking Your Bridesmaids

A wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime event, so naturally you want to celebrate with your closest female friends. When planning a wedding, many brides overlook the fact that the more guests there are, the more difficult the event might become. If you want your relationships to last beyond the "I do," you need to be ready for the road ahead.

If You’re Picking a Bridesmaid, How’s Your Relationship With Her Right Now?

It's only natural to invite your best friend from freshman year, your favourite cousin, and maybe even your sister to your wedding. You might think it's because you were at their wedding, or that they'll be upset if you don't ask. When it comes down to it, the bond you have with each potential bridesmaid should be the deciding factor. How often do you two converse with one another? How often have you seen each other in the last six months? Have you spent any quality time together in that period? When you told her you were getting engaged, what did she think at first? What was her mood like?

You should probably just ask your friend or relative if she wants to be a bridesmaid or maid of honour, since sometimes they say no. There are a few considerations to keep in mind while selecting a maid of honour.

How Much Can Your Maid of Honour Afford

There is always a limit to how much money a bridesmaid can spend on attending a friend's wedding. Never assume that they have the money to cover all of the costs you have incurred. It's not a little sacrifice to be a bridesmaid. As the bride, you needed to remember that your guests probably had bills to pay in addition to spending money to celebrate your nuptials.

Some of the costs that your ladies of honour will shoulder are as follows:

• Dress (plus alterations)
• Shoes
• Hair
• Makeup
• Accessories (if not provided by the bride)
• Money to help with the bachelorette party
• Money to help with the bridal shower
• Their son and/or daughter to be in the wedding (in some cases)
• Hotel expenses (in some cases)
• Wedding gift (in some cases)

Costs will vary depending on the specifics of each event, but just looking at the items above can be intimidating. To avoid misunderstandings and foster mutual respect between the bride and her bridesmaid, it's best to avoid jumping to conclusions.

Is Your Bridesmaid a Fan of Spa Treatments?

Most people agree that makeup is essential for weddings because photographs will be taken... by everyone. Your bridesmaid may feel awkward about this whole process if she doesn't typically wears cosmetics. It's likely that you'll find her in the restroom trying to remove some of it with a towel. You may always catch her examining her appearance in the mirror and possibly questioning it. She frequently polls everyone around her to determine if the amount of makeup she's wearing is excessive.

If you want to experiment with your hair, give yourself some leeway. Think about the length, texture, and type of hair your bridesmaids have. These three factors may make it difficult for everyone to sport the same hairdo. Is she going to be okay with having extensions put in her hair? Does she have natural hair and come from a place with little humidity?

If you give your bridesmaids some leeway in terms of their hairstyles, they'll be able to find one that works for them in terms of their hair type, length, and texture, as well as for the wedding's overall aesthetic. Don't rush into selecting your bridesmaids; get to know their preferences first. It's crucial to be aware of the possibility that it varies from your own. You want your photos to to out great, and you want your attendant to enjoy the experience, so make a good decision.

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Is There Enough Room for All of Your Bridesmaids?

Now that you have your dream team assembled, it's time to start planning the big day. It's easy to be intimidated by the day's schedule, but in practise, things tend to go off without a hitch (thanks to your wedding planner). We must now prepare you to walk down the aisle like a Victoria's Secret model. So, there has to be a group of individuals in charge of doing the actors' hair and makeup.

The number of stylists that come to the rescue is proportional to the size of the bridal beauty party (including mum). It will be necessary to provide artists with tables and power outlets so that they can set up shop and display their wares. You'll need space for the artists to bring in their own equipment including lighting rigs and seating. Lighting is another important aspect of a successful beauty salon. If possible, position windows so that photographers have access to natural light.

Will you and your Bridesmaids have enough time to get ready

You don't have time on your wedding day for beauty services. There are certain wedding venues that won't let the bride and her attendants into the bridal suite until an hour or two before the ceremony begins. To accommodate everyone, you'll either need to reserve a hotel room or hold the getting-ready ceremony at your place.

The typical time for a hair service is 30 minutes. The length and thickness of the hair, as well as the complexity of the style, might affect the total time needed. It takes roughly 30 minutes to do a full face of makeup. This time frame can shift if airbrush makeup is chosen in addition to lash services.

Larger bridal parties require more time for hair and cosmetics, which means you and your friends (and moms) may be ready to go for photos well before the ceremony begins. Especially if your artist is not staying to do touch-ups for everyone, you should give this some thought. If the bride and groom have requested photographs prior to the ceremony, the bridal party can get ready as early as three or four hours beforehand. Please give this some serious consideration.

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Check In With the Relatives

The last thing you need on your wedding day is a fight between relatives, so make sure you consult with the bride's family about who should be in the bridal party. Second cousins twice removed are a bit more out of the ordinary than the more usual sisters, sisters-in-law, and nieces.

Who Is in Your Inner Circle of Friends and Family?

Although you may have many friends and acquaintances, selecting your bridesmaids should not be done as a means of appeasing them. The finest bridesmaids are the people you maintain in touch with on a regular basis, who are trustworthy and kind, and who have been there for you through the good times and the bad.

It’s Important to Keep in Touch With Old Pals

One of your starring ladies need to be a longtime pal from your youth. You may not be able to spend as much time together as you would like, but when you do, it will seem like nothing has changed, so give them some serious consideration. If your friendship with a childhood friend isn't as close as the ones you have with your more current female friends, you shouldn't feel obligated to pick them.

Watch Out for the Bride Who Has Already Done It All

Even though she has been there and done that, your girlfriend with the wedding expertise may try to take over the planning. You should evaluate her character first and proceed with caution if the thought of her constantly comparing everything to her wedding day and telling you what you should and shouldn't do bothers you.

Consider Your Call for Bridesmaids

The market for "bridesmaid" announcements is booming. You should try to think of a unique way to deliver the bad news to your team. Taking a break from the announcement can be done in a number of unique ways, including with personalised sweet delicacies (such as macarons, cupcakes, and cake pops), presentation boxes filled with photos, champagne, and chocolates, or an afternoon tea party with your women.

Declare Your Team

The moment you tell your bridesmaids they've made the cut is one of the most exciting parts of wedding planning. The abundance of embraces, tears, and laughing will cement their friendship even further. Talk them what you anticipate from them and their obligations in the most diplomatic way possible.

Proposing to Your Bridesmaids

Before cell phones, brides would simply call their friends and ask them to participate in the bridal party. It's expanded into a major production now. Traditionally, brides "drop the question" to those they've selected to be in their bridal party. This raises the stakes of the recognition even further.

Proposing to your bridesmaids in a creative way:

• Send a card asking potential attendants to be bridesmaids along with a bouquet of flowers or a gift basket.
• Get the gals together for drinks or supper and pop the bridesmaid question with balloons as favours. Alternatively, you might propose with a toast using custom wine glasses etched with their names and the date of the proposal.
• The best way to ask your girlfriends to be your bridesmaids is to give them each a special piece of jewellery with a design that represents your friendship.
• Put a note explaining why you want her to be your bridesmaid inside a bottle of wine or champagne and give it to her.
• Customized gift basket for the bride's attendants.
  An example of this might be a cosmetics bag including chocolate, lip balm, Kleenex, and a hairbrush.
• Give each girl a picture frame with the words "Will you be my bridesmaid?" written across the front, along with a photo of you two from a joyous event.
• Throw a party with a scavenger hunt. Use a personalised box loaded with small items you know they'll like as the "prise," and provide enough clues to keep them guessing until they find it. Include a note inviting them to be your bridesmaid. Included in the box may be a photo frame, handkerchief, jewellery, or something else that has some significance to your relationship.

Hurt Feelings

As fun as it was to choose your bridesmaids and ask them to be in your wedding, you should be ready for some awkwardness after the big day. This might be from a potential maid of honour or a bridesmaid you weren't able to ask. As always, it pays to be well-prepared, but keep in mind that you can't please everyone.

You can lessen the damage to relationships by following these steps:

• Provide an explanation to anyone who could be hurt by your choice.
• Don't admit that you're closer to or like someone else, even if that's the case. Explain that they cannot attend because of their location, a prior commitment, or because you are only inviting adults to the wedding. Make a plan for your words so you won't have any regrets later.
• Tell her how much you appreciate her relationship and how you didn't want to be a burden to her at this time.
• If someone wasn't chosen to be a bridesmaid, give them another important role in the wedding. Make your request in a friendly, upbeat manner and let her know how much you appreciate her relationship. For example, Since she has such a kind and outgoing demeanour, you may want to put her in charge of the reception table.

Be Understanding

Don't take it personally if a potential bridesmaid declines your invitation. It's possible that she doesn't want to be a bridesmaid because she doesn't have the time, the resources, or the confidence to walk down the aisle with the rest of the bridal party. If she expresses a desire to miss the ceremony and reception, graciously accept her request and let her know you hope she changes her mind.

In the Absence of an Invitation

Maybe a friend of yours is getting married, but you weren't asked to be a bridesmaid. Try not to take it to heart. The bride has a lot on her plate enough, and she doesn't need to deal with any turmoil in her friendships. If you can help, do the right thing and volunteer your services. The bond you two share will become stronger because to your compassion, thoughtfulness, and giving.

If you wait until after you're engaged, you'll have a better idea of who would make a decent choice. A new buddy may show a lot of enthusiasm and support at first, but they may begin to withdraw after a few months. Waiting will not guarantee that you will find the ideal group of attendants, but it will reduce the likelihood that you will make a decision you will come to regret.

After giving this some thought, you should give it some more thought. Talk things over with a reliable advisor who can help you evaluate your choices. It's not an easy choice, but it'll force you to evaluate your party and make the greatest choice for your special day.

Conclusion

Pick your bridesmaids according on how close you are as friends. Narrow the guest list down to immediate family and invite the rest of the relatives to participate in other events. A bride who invites family members only because she thinks she should is missing out on other opportunities to demonstrate her gratitude. Some brides experience significant amounts of anxiety due to the fact that they have few or no friends who are willing to serve as bridesmaids. Making a decision and sticking to it is the best course of action if the mere thought of wedding preparation is causing you stress.

Don't make the wedding into a contest of who knows who best. When there are too many attendants, rivalries and disagreements can arise. There will be less of a crowd and more of an opportunity for quiet reflection in the morning. Choose your maid of honour with these things in mind. A bridesmaid may only afford so much in wedding expenses for a pal.

The bride and her attendants may not be permitted to enter the bridal suite at some locations until an hour before the ceremony. Your bridesmaids should be the reliable and friendly friends with whom you keep in regular contact. Different from the more common sisters, sisters-in-law, and nieces, second cousins twice removed are a bit of an outlier. Before deciding on the members of the wedding party, it is a good idea to talk to the bride's parents and siblings. Back in the pre-cell phone days, brides would simply give a call to their friends to invite them to be in the wedding party.

There are many fun and unique ways to ask your best friends to be your bridesmaids. Find some creative ways to ask your pals to be in your wedding party here. As an alternative to feeling rejected, you may offer the role of bridesmaid to someone else. Tell her how much you value the relationship she has with you as you make your request. If she requests to skip the wedding and its subsequent reception, you should respect her wishes.