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5 Mistakes to avoid when choosing your bridesmaids dresses

If you thought shopping for your wedding dress was the biggest challenge, here is some news for you! An equally challenging task is choosing your bridesmaids dresses. You have to consider the same details as you did for your wedding dress—fabric, style, budget, practicality, and add a whole new list of considerations such as color, trends, individual preferences and length!

Your bridesmaids dress choice will reflect in your wedding décor and photographs, so choose wisely and make it picture-perfect. Before you go shopping with your pretty girls, know these mistakes that brides usually make, and avoid them.

Making the decision yourself

It is your wedding alright, and your bridesmaids ought to oblige with your choice of bridesmaids dresses. Nonetheless, it is advisable that you ask for their inputs. Rather than ask them for what they would like in a dress, make note of what they do not want to wear. This way, you can avoid choosing a dress that makes any of them feel uncomfortable in.

Not considering the heights of your bridesmaids when determining the length of their dresses

via Best for Bride

If you prefer short dresses for your bridesmaids, make sure that the look is cohesive by having the hemlines at the same level. However, if your bridesmaids vary greatly in height, it is better that you avoid short dresses altogether. It would be awkward if the tallest bridesmaid had a dress that ended at mid-thigh and the shorter girls have dresses that fall well below knee length.

Choosing dresses that are too simple

via Best for Bride

It is a wedding after all, and your bridesmaids too have to feel special. When you choose their dresses, make sure that it looks and feels good. Don’t deny your bridesmaids the chance to dress up well and look beautiful on your wedding, by choosing a very simple pattern. If you choose relatively small budget dresses, choose accessories that allow them to stand out from the guests.

Choosing dresses that aren’t universally flattering

via Best for Bride

Unless all your bridesmaids have the same figure and features, it is not a good idea to go for a style that only suits certain figures. Your bridesmaids should look pretty and be able to carry off their dresses in style. For this, choose dresses that suit all body types, or else choose different styles with a single unifying factor like color or length. This way they will all look beautiful in what they wear. Safe choices and universally flattering patterns include A-line dresses, halter-style dresses and multiway necklines.

Giving in to everyone’s opinion

While you have to involve your bridesmaids in your wedding decisions, remember that it is impossible to please everyone and still have a perfect looking bridal party. Welcome their opinions, but stick with ones that are reasonable. Don’t give in to opinions when you are certain that your wedding theme or style will be compromised by their dress choice. Be reasonable with their preferences, but don’t feel obliged to please.

A good friend will be happy to wear what the bride wants, and as a good friend the bride shouldn’t choose anything hideous or one that makes her favorite girlfriends feel uncomfortable in.

For more wedding tips and advice, and also to choose from a vast collection of beautiful bridesmaids dresses, visit Best for Bride.

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The Groom’s Guide—How involved should you be in wedding planning?

1Congratulations on your engagement! Now that the inevitable’s happened, and your lady love has agreed to share her life with you, what do you do next?

Don’t be surprised if your level-headed and practical fiance has already taken on her new part-time job—wedding planning, and while you are wondering about what colors and flowers she talks about all the time, don’t forget that you too have to be involved in planning your marriage. Well, atleast to a certain extent! If you thought the safest thing to do is to nod “Yes honey”, we have some news for you! Better listen to what’s going on, or you’ll regret it later.

While your bride goes ahead with planning “most” of the wedding, here is information on where you should step in and lend a hand!

Money matters

When a woman becomes a bride, cutting down costs suddenly becomes an alien concept. This is where you enter the show. Be there when she plans the guest list and the venue. This will account for a huge part of the wedding budget, so make sure you help with sorting out who has to be there and who doesn’t.

Similarly, set a maximum amount for booking the venue and decorating it. Women are often taken in by the look of a place, and once they are bowled over, there is no taking it back. So, take the initiative to search out alternate venue locations before going to see her suggestion. Ease her into the idea that she can get what she wants for a lesser price. Make it your responsibility, and not only will your bride remember how considerate you were to help her, you will also save some money.

Often ask about the wedding, and offer to help

There is usually a point in the engagement when the bride bursts out into tears and complains that the groom doesn’t care about the wedding. Well, you do, but not with the obsession that she has! But, for her sake and yours, ask about the plans and progress every now and then. Lend a ear when she pours out her frustrations over which shade of peach goes with the green in the décor. You may not have the slightest idea of what she is talking about, but peace with reign!

Your few responsibilities include finding a good tux, picking your groomsmen and getting in shape for the wedding. So, do these with gusto, and she will be proud of you.

Be involved in things that matter to you

You do not have to touch the invitations, flowers or wedding shopping. Let her handle it. Where the cake is concerned, make suggestions only if you are asked. Nevertheless, go along and enjoy all the tasting sessions she plans.

Instead, concentrate on the wedding music. Be involved in deciding which songs ought to be played, and definitely those that shouldn’t be.

One mistake grooms make is to avoid the wedding registry. It’s your folly. If you want other gifts besides than silver tea cups and pretty home ornaments, you will have to register at places of your choice too. So, make sure you do!

For more wedding related tips and advice both for the bride and the groom, check out our website at Best for Bride.

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Behind the Bouquet: 5 Essential Duties Every Bridesmaid Should Know!

Bridesmaids are not just pretty faces in elegant gowns, adding glamour to the wedding venue. They are usually those girls who are closest to the bride, such as her sisters, cousins or closest friends. She trusts, and more importantly, depends on them for making her lifetime event a memorable one.

Bridesmaids support the bride throughout her wedding, right from the planning stage to the wedding day and even afterwards. There are many wedding-related duties that are performed by the bridesmaids, and they have a huge role in making the wedding a success.

Of the several responsibilities to be handled by the bridesmaids, here are the 5 noteworthy tasks they can take charge of.

1. Help the bride make her big and small decisions

Your friend will have hundreds of things to do for her wedding, and she is banking on her team of bridesmaids to get everything in order, on time. If she has questions or concerns and you have suggestions, provide it. If not, try to help her find an answer. If she asks you for your personal opinion on anything, give her your honest take on whatever it is.

2.Arrange the bridal shower and bachelorette party

Every bride deserves a fantastic bridal shower and bachelorette party, and it is the bridesmaids who plan and organize it for her. This is one of your most important duties, and you should put in some effort to make it memorable. Keep the bride in mind and plan the events in a way that she will love. Come up with some creative games, stock up on innovative bridal shower favors and help your friend enjoy her last celebration before she gets married.

3. Help with the wedding duties

There are a hundred or more big and small jobs to be completed, prior to the wedding. You will have to handle some of the errands for the day, but as a good friend, volunteer to help before the wedding too. Offer to address some invitations, visit venues with her or if she needs help with deciding the décor, seating arrangement or planning the rehearsal dinner. Also, take care that your bridesmaids dress is purchased, altered and collected on time, so the bride doesn’t have to worry about it.

4. Help the bride prepare for the ceremony, reception and honeymoon

You can help the bride in organizing all her activities for her wedding day. Take charge of putting her packed bags in place, and making sure her emergency bridal kit is complete. Make arrangements to collect her bridal dress after the reception and put it away safely or send it to be preserved. Be available for any last minute emergencies, and help her cope with stress by being there for her.

5. Duties on the wedding day

Your important duties continue to the wedding day. You will have to be dressed in your bridesmaid dress on time and ready to run last-minute errands or collect deliveries. Assist the Maid of Honor and efficiently handle all the tasks delegated to you. Receive guests at the reception, direct them to the bar and get them to sign the guest book. Help with bustling the train, when it is time for the reception. Also accompany the bride on her restroom visits, should she require it.

For more valuable wedding-related tips and advice, visit Best for Bride.