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Beyond the Bouquet: 12 Actions to Shine as the Ultimate Bridesmaid!

bridal party

 

Weddings bring out the best and the worst in people. The bride, for one, will be under a lot of stress with planning the umpteen details for her wedding day. So, if you have signed up to be a bridesmaid, this is a time when you can expect to see your friend’s true colors.

Numerous brides have ended up with straining relationships with their bridesmaids as a result of wedding planning. This is unfortunate, as it doesn’t take much to avoid such situations. However, there are also many cases where brides and bridesmaids grew closer than they already were, by the end of a wedding. So, this basically depends on how both parties handle the situation.

As a bridesmaid, this is the right time for you to extend your help and support to the bride. After all, she considers you important and this is why she included you in her bridal party. It would be a kind and welcome gesture if you could extend your assistance to the bride in any way possible. Whether she accepts it or not, your proposal of help suggests you will be by her side, cheering her along.

Here are some of the ways bridesmaids can help brides, as they plan their wedding. If you are soon to be a bridesmaid, read on to see how you can be a valuable asset to your friend, as she plans her wedding day!

1.Take up responsibility

Wedding planning involves so many details. So it is certain you can find an area in which you can contribute. Don’t wait for the bride to delegate duties or request your assistance. Take the initiative to find out what you can do. If you have limited time to spare, choose a task that fits in with your busy schedule. Or if you have talents that can help the bride with her wedding details, offer help in that area.

If you are crafty, you could help with DIY details like wedding favors or décor. Or if you have planned your own wedding, offer to help the bride sort out her wedding planning timeline. Anything from going shopping with her to helping the bride choose her wedding colors, theme or favors to addressing invitations, checking vendor reviews or even scouting for the dress will be of help to the bride. For a comprehensive list of bridesmaids duties, take a look at this article on the Knot website.

2.Try to accommodate the bride’s needs

When you sign up to be a bridesmaid, you should also prepare to accept responsibilities related to the wedding. The bride may want you to go shopping with her, co-ordinate matters with other bridesmaids or simply as a sounding board. Don’t brush off her needs saying you have a tight schedule. Find time to assist and support your friend for this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Make free time in your schedule and take on responsibilities she assigns you. This may sometimes require you to make small sacrifices. Remember that your effort will be worth it, when she will also find a way to return the favor when your turn comes.

3.Make her bridal shower real fun

Since you are responsible for the hen party/ bridal shower, try your level best and make it fun and memorable for your friend. After all the tedious tasks and hectic wedding planning, this is an occasion when your friend can sit back, relax and enjoy herself. It is also a welcome respite for her when she can engage in a party that she doesn’t plan herself.

Although you can easily whip up a party with little effort, do minimum decorations and order food that everyone will enjoy, it isn’t really fair towards the bride. She will certainly appreciate it if you let her have her moment and a little effort from your side can make a huge difference. Round up the rest of the bridesmaids and do some brainstorming. Get creative, involve yourselves in some DIY tasks and plan a party with plenty of personal touches that will mean a lot to the bride. Find all that you need to plan the perfect bridal shower in this article on the Huff Post.

4.Help her with her all-important wedding dress decision

Most brides see the inside of a wedding dress boutique for the first time after engagement. So, shopping for their wedding dress can be overwhelming with hundreds of available options. Add to it the fact that wedding dress shopping comes with its own dictionary of terms, don’t be surprised if your friend is confused and nervous about the whole thing.

If you are already equipped with the knowledge of how wedding dress shopping goes, share your ideas with her. You may come across useful information in magazines or online. Collect them and give them to your friend so she can use it. If she invites you to go wedding dress shopping, try to find out her preferences. Encourage her to make the right decision. Remember that this is her choice. So keep her best interests in mind when you make suggestions and recommendations. Be on her side if the rest of the entourage are opinionated and tend to confuse her.

5.Be sensitive around the bride

Wedding planning can cause nervousness and exhaustion to such an extent, that even a cool-headed woman can turn into a Bridezilla. Many friendships and relationships have suffered irreparable losses due to wedding planning stress. While it is up to the bride to try and stay sane during all the wedding planning, there is a lot you can do to help her take it in her stride. Understand that your friend has a lot on her plate. So, try to overlook it when she seems unreasonable. Remember that this phase will pass. Listen to her and help her stay optimistic. Check in on her when she is under undue stress and help her when she needs someone.

6.Go with the flow

Although your friend may ask your opinion on every single wedding planning aspect, do not feel offended or disappointed if she doesn’t use your suggestions. Be honest with your opinions, but don’t patronize. As the bride, she will have her own vision and will have thought of her wedding a thousand times in her head. So, she will likely pick ideas that blend in with her overall vision. Don’t take it personally if your ideas don’t appeal to her. It could just be that she doesn’t think it fits in with her idea of how the day should be. It isn’t because she doesn’t value your opinion or asks just for the sake of it. Remember that it is her special day. All you can do is offer help that she may or may not take.

7.Be proactive with your responsibilities

There will be a lot of responsibility on your shoulders before, during and after the wedding day. The bride counts on you to make all these things happen on time. Take responsibility and do things punctually and with perfection. If she specifies a deadline for a task, make your plans so this deadline is met. Always double-check with the bride in case of doubt. Your timely help is crucial. So, don’t procrastinate and delay things unnecessarily. Be proactive and assist the rest of the bridal party with their tasks if you have the time for it. Your involvement and support will lend a positive atmosphere to the wedding planning, and the bride will surely appreciate it.

8.Prepare to handle pre-wedding jitters

Don’t be surprised if the bride is too stressed out and suffers from pre-wedding blues. Remind her that this is normal and only because she is stressed. Don’t dismiss her when she comes to discuss her fears and anxiety. Convince her that all will be well, and that you will support her through it. The bridal party can always plan a surprise girls evening for the bride to unwind and put aside her wedding planning stress for a while. The wedding eve is when a stressed-out bride is most susceptible to pre-wedding jitters. Prepare yourself and handle this sensibly and make her last day as an unmarried woman pleasant and memorable.

9.Adjust well with the team

You will not be the only person in the bridal party. With the bride picking friends and family members to support her as bridesmaids, you must work alongside women of different personalities. This can sometimes lead to conflicts. If the group is large, striking a rapport with the different members becomes important. Since you should work together to plan the bridal shower and to coordinate on the wedding day, compromise and adjustment become necessary. Disagreements are normal but don’t take it too far and ruin the bride’s peace of mind. Respect each other’s space and stay away from arguments that can get out of hand.

10.Be prepared for emergencies

Emergencies of various natures can crop up anytime during the wedding. This can quickly throw the wedding plans off-balance and create stressful situations for the bride. As her pillar of support, be prepared for such situations, step in and help however you can. You can also prepare for certain likely issues, well in advance. Consider packing an emergency kit with items like safety pins, chalk, tissues, blotting paper, and hair pins that may come in handy at any time on the wedding day. Also consider warning your bride about likely trouble situations like weather problems, if you foresee a likely problem. A list of common emergencies and how to tackle them are available here on the Bride Box.

11.Don’t complain or be snarky

We get it if you do not agree with the bridesmaid dress choice or are unhappy with your friend’s wedding planning decisions. Remember that it is her wedding and her decision and you ought to respect it. If something makes you really uncomfortable, like perhaps the chosen dress style, tell the bride about it. However, could you keep it to the point? Accept it if she prefers to stick with her choice. It is just a matter of one day. Go with it, and rest assured, you will not suffer any permanent damage because of it.

12.Don’t embarrass the bride

You don’t want to be that bridesmaid who gives the bride nightmares. Unfortunately, few women realize the trouble they cause their friends by simply voicing out unwarranted opinions and advice, spilling wedding plans and going overboard with drinking at the wedding. Act sensibly and know your limits. You will participate in several celebrations, like the bridal shower, rehearsal dinner, wedding ceremony and reception. Please don’t do anything that will make the bride regret her decision to make you bridesmaid. She has enough stress to handle as it is; you do not want to add to it in any way.

Bridesmaids have a very important role in a wedding. However, it comes with various important responsibilities. Appreciate the gesture of your friend, who values your support and invited you to be part of her special day. She deserves your presence, guidance and assistance as she plans the biggest event in her life. Use this opportunity to be a good friend and make her day extra special with your personal efforts. As you look back on this experience in the future, it will be filled with special memories and a sense of accomplishment.

For bridesmaid dresses that are perfect for the occasion, don’t forget to look at our vast inventory of dresses for the bridal party. Available in every color, dress style and size, there is something for everyone. So, why don’t you browse through it and pitch in when the bride invites suggestions for the dresses for her best friends? Click here to see what we have in store.

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Support with Style: 5 Key Tips to Shine as an Exceptional Bridesmaid!

A bride greatly relies on her bridesmaids to make sure her wedding day runs smoothly. Nevertheless, not all bridesmaids realize the extent to which they are essential in a wedding. If you have been asked to be a bridesmaid, it is a big honor, as the bride values your presence and participation in her wedding. So, don’t you think you should ensure you do not disappoint her?

Here, we bring you some tips on how you can make your friend’s wedding special by doing your job well. Let us take a look at them.

via Best for Bride

Be enthusiastic about the wedding

Getting married is a lifetime event, and a big deal for your friend. Feel happy for her, and make sure you are enthusiastic when she shares her dreams, fears and ideas for her big day. Your support will be very encouraging. Be there for her when she needs help with her wedding dress shopping, is worried about how things will turn out or is confused when she has to make a decision. Strive to make her wedding planning smooth by contributing ideas or offering to help when possible.

Be flexible and not a drama queen

So, your friend may choose a dress color that is not perfect on you. Don’t make a big fuss over it. Remember that it is her wedding and she expects you to go with what she chooses. If she is a good friend, it is unlikely that she will choose a dress that looks terrible on you. But, once you’ve agreed to be a bridesmaid, you should go with what she chooses, whether you like it or not.

Don’t be overbearing

You may have a ton of ideas and suggestions for your friend, but don’t try to take over her wedding. Remember that she has also been dreaming about her big day for a long time, and has a certain idea of how it should be. If she wants help with making decisions, offer them but don’t put her off by telling her that her plans sound terrible.

Don’t be too busy for your responsibilities

The bridesmaids have to be present when choosing their dresses, for the bridal shower and rehearsal dinner. Plan and organize your schedule so you do not miss any of the important wedding-related events. Try to make friends with the rest of the bridesmaids and co-ordinate with the maid of honor to understand your role and responsibilities. Get to your dress appointments on time and do your hair and makeup on the wedding day as instructed. Mark your calendar with the things you should be doing and polish your organizational skills so you handle your responsibilities to the best of your ability.

Keep the wedding planning information to yourself

Bridesmaids are usually the people who get to hear of all the wedding details first. You will know what your friend will be wearing, what the wedding color palette is and more. Stay loyal and don’t spread this information around. Your friend expects you to keep it a secret.

So, now you know what is expected of you and how to be a good bridesmaid. For more valuable wedding tips and advice, visit us on Best for Bride.

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Choosing Your Bridal Squad: 4 Tips to Decide Who Should Accompany You on Your Wedding Shopping Adventure!

dress shopping

dress shopping

Wedding shopping is an experience that every bride should enjoy. We, at the bridal shop, try our level best to pamper our brides like princesses, from the minute they walk in. Although we do our part to make it a positive experience that you will cherish, you should remember that your bridal entourage has an equally important role in determining how your visit goes. A supportive bridal party can make your wedding shopping exciting, while a group that disapproves or criticizes most of your choices can ruin the day.

It is always refreshing to see an excited and buoyant bride walk in our door, and equally apalling to find her disheartened and confused when her entourage criticizes her choices or tries to take over the appointment. This is why the bride should carefully choose her entourage, and make sure it has the people who will help her make the right decision. Here is how to make sure you take the right people.

Take as few people as you possibly can

When the number of people accompanying you increases, so does the number of opinions. Don’t feel obliged to call all the people you think would like to go. Only ask those who can really help you. Two or three are good enough, as long as they can do the job well.

A good shopping buddy will be encouraging

How many times have we seen people make faces at the bride or say something horrible, when she comes out in a dress that she thinks is right? This is enough to cloud her mind, and make it certain that this isn’t the right one. It is best to avoid those who are too judgemental and make you miserable with their opinions. The last thing you want is to lose your self-esteem and confidence, based on their opinions.

They should be mindful of your budget

Your wedding dress budget should be sorted out before you go shopping, and your buddies should be those who can agree with dresses that fall within it. Don’t take along people who cannot respect your financial limit and force you to try a dress that is over-budget. If you end up liking it, it will only disappoint you that you cannot afford it.

Wedding dress princess seams
Image Credit: Wonderlane (CC BY 2.0, )via Wikimedia Commons

Your shopping companions have previous wedding experience

Renee Strauss, in her article on the Huffington Post mentions that brides can benefit from choosing someone who has been to enough weddings, to help you decide how practical any dress you wear, would be for the type of ceremony you will have. Having been to many weddings, it is likely that she will have a fair idea of how a feature may be helpful, or how it may cause difficulties if you were to wear it. Also, if there are cultural constraints on your wardrobe, this friend would be indispensable in helping you rule out features that won’t work, and those that will be right.

This has hopefully cleared the air on what you should remember when choosing your entourage. For more tips and information on wedding shopping, download our free e-book on What to expect at your Bridal Appointment.  Visit us at Best for Bride for all your wedding shopping needs, and we assure you the experience of a lifetime.

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Wedding flowers: 5 sensational choices

Roses, petunias, daisies, lilies, tulips…..do the floral varieties have you in a tizzy?

Flowers are so beautiful, that it is often impossible for a bride to pick a favorite from the stunning variety available. Yet, some flowers are more popular than others.

This article is dedicated to those wedding favorites—flowers that have secured their place as the top choices in gracing bridal bouquets and wedding centerpieces. Let us look at what they are.

Ravishing roses

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The flower that symbolizes romance, love and all the emotions that go with it—Roses;particularly red roses, are an all-time favorite. These charming blooms come in an astounding range of colors and sizes. They are versatile; the flowers can be the focus of the bridal bouquet or centerpiece, or used to add sophistication to a diversity of blooms. Tea roses are the common variety that you often see in florist shops. The other two varieties include large and fragrant garden roses, as well as spray roses which are smaller and come as a bunch on a stem.

Happy hydrangeas

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Hydrangeas are a popular choice for centerpieces, as they easily fill a space and add a cheerful note to any setting. The colors range from pink to blues and whites, and it can be used as a bunch, or as sprigs. These bushy flowers remind us of spring and are a colorful addition to any space. Perfect for both casual and formal weddings alike, they have a surprising richness.

Tantalizing tulips

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Tulips are flowers that spell romance and look exquisite when bunched together. All you need are a few tulips to create a beautiful bouquet. Since these spring flowers are available in various colors, tulips are an ideal choice for spectacular bouquets in a single color. They are usually used by themselves in bridal and bridesmaids bouquets, but can be mixed with other blooms like pieris or ranunculus to form interesting combinations.

Classic carnations

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Strong flowers that add color and texture to any setting, carnations are available in a variety of shades and are super-affordable. While they are hardly ever used by themselves, they add the little details that complete a bouquet or centerpiece. Carnations are a popular choice when the venue decoration requires more flowers than usual, like when there are floral backdrops. These flowers work well in bouquets that have roses, orchids, petunias and daisies, and the ruffled petals add texture and charm to the bouquet.

Dainty daisies

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The go-to choice for outdoor, spring and summer weddings, daisies are traditional wedding flowers that symbolize purity and innocence. They are even used as hair accessories in garden theme weddings. A simple flower that can lift the atmosphere and be creatively spun into any centerpiece, daisies are perfect for vintage theme weddings. While white daisies are an eternal favorite, daisies in various other colors are also used in bridal bouquets and floral centerpieces.

These are but, a mere introduction to the sensational world of wedding blooms. Turn to your florist for suggestions and go with seasonal flowers or those that are available all around the year, to stick to your budget. For more inspiration and wedding flower ideas, visit us on Best for Bride.