Your Bridesmaids Guide:
For most brides, the first thing they do after they have that ring on their finger is call all of their girlfriends! You are getting MARRIED!!! Who better to celebrate with than the girls? And just a little tip – you are going to be SO grateful to have them by your side through all of the wedding planning. Need help sending invitations? Arranging bouquets? How about holding your dress while you pee? Bridesmaids can be there to help every step of the way – big or small!
Who is a Bridesmaid?
Number 1 question – who falls into the bridesmaids category? My KA brides have had anywhere from 1-10. There is no special number, but for aesthetics it does look better when you have about the same amount of bridesmaids as you do groomsmen. Your best friends, sisters, and soon-to-be sister in laws usually are the ones who make the list. You have total say on who your Maid of Honor should be. And discuss the rest of the bridal party with your fiancé. Do not feel pressured to involve anyone you don’t want to! This is your wedding. Compromise and make sure you feel good about it.
So two questions remain…
- What is a fun way to ask your girls to be your bridesmaids and Maid of Honor?
- What do bridesmaids wear?
How to Ask
It is time to pop that special question to your girlfriends. Are you looking for a unique way to ask? Traditional? Fun? My Kylee Ann brides have had such cute bridesmaid asking ideas, so I am here to share some inspiration! Choose one or even all three!
• GIFTS
It is a bit of a tradition to give your bridesmaids a gift as a thank you for all of their help. So why not kill two birds with one stone? Ask them with a gift! Special hangers that say bridesmaid on them for their dresses. A fun matching piece of jewelry they can all wear on your big day. Or a tube of your favorite lipstick. It doesn’t have to be a huge expense. Just make the gift special and sweet!
• CARDS
I will be honest, at first I thought this was a little bit boring. But then… I saw the cards😍 They were delicate and absolutely gorgeous. Each bridesmaids card was so personal and written specifically about her relationship with the bride. Asking with the card has turned into one of my absolute favorite ideas. Whether you go with hand crafted cards from a cute shop like Pace Made or you make your own at home, I highly recommend taking the time to write some letters!
• LUNCHEON
And last but not least, ask your girls with a little get-together! Who doesn’t enjoy an excuse to have a girl date? If you ask them all at the same time you will for sure be getting a few loud shrieks of excitement. This is then a great time to start the planning and delegating of different jobs for your bridesmaids or just enjoy a little peace with them before the crazy begins!
What They Wear
• BRIDESMAIDS DRESSES
Traditionally brides choose a style of dress they love then buy the dress for all of their bridesmaids. This is fun and ensures that everyone looks like they are a part of the bridal party. But recently I have been seeing more and more of this mix and match trend! And I must say, I am in LOVE. All of the bridesmaids wear a different dress but in the same color palette as the wedding. Pro – you don’t have to spend the money and each girl feels comfortable and confident with their dressed fit. Con – it is more difficult making sure everyone knows they are for sure part of the bridal party! My tips:
- COORDINATE – create a Pinterest Board to give your bridesmaids an idea of your color palette and style. You can view mine here to get you started! The clearer and more specific you are with your pins, the more likely they understand what you are wanting! I also recommend going to your local paint store, choose the paint samples that you would like their dressed to be, and hand them out to your bridesmaids.
- VARIETY – this will most likely be done without you having to even say anything. But different material, patterns, and metallics bring that perfect mix and match feel that I love.
- COHESION – this is a MUST. They all need the same length of dress. If not it will look thrown together. When you meet with your bridesmaids give them their color swatches as well as letting them know if you will be doing knee or floor length styles. When deciding this detail take in to account the weather and temperature! You may hear a little complaining with long dressed in 100 degree heat or short dresses in the freezing cold.
• BRIDESMAIDS BOUQUETS
And last, but not least, I want to recommend making sure you have a little bouquet for each bridesmaid on the wedding day (especially if you are doing the mix and match style and are not purchasing the dress). First of all, it makes each girl feel special and important. But it also brings the look of the entire bridal party together. The Bridesmaid’s role is to bring aesthetic appeal to the entire wedding. Little bouquets for each girl really compliments the bride and makes her bouquet look even more grande.
*Note – this does not have to be a huge expense! Go to Costco for beautiful floral at wholesale prices. You can even have each girl arrange their own. This can be a fun night before activity. Combine it with an at home spa and facial party for a last little bachelorette party!
Kylee started Kylee Ann Photography 9 years ago, and has since grown from a one woman amateur show to a full associate team. We shoot 50-75 weddings a year, and thrive on kindness and service. After a year of teaching Intro to Photography at the local technical college, she discovered that helping other entrepreneurs create thriving businesses is what fires her up! She hosts semi-annual Kylee Ann Sleepovers all over the US, speak at conferences and teach online courses about running a small business and marketing.
June 19, 2019
Kylee Maughan
