No bride considers herself a bridezilla, but they can all unknowingly do things that annoy their bridesmaids. To make your life easier this wedding season, we polled real bridesmaids to find out their biggest pet peeves. Because after all, a happy bridal party makes for a happy big day. Watch now. And if you're a bridesmaid, let us know if you have more tips to add!
Being a bridesmaid is a huge honor, but it can also come with a lot of pressure. To make your life easier this wedding season, we polled real brides to find out their biggest wedding-party pet peeves. If you avoid these five common mistakes, you'll be on your way to being the ideal bridesmaid. Watch now. And brides, tell us if you have any more to add!
The modern bridal party dates back all the way to Roman times, according to legend, when the law required 10 witnesses at a marriage. Some time down the line, the legal requirement turned into an optional tradition that now includes elaborate bachelorette parties and matching dresses on the day of. Over the past century, the styles have evolved, with accessories like matching gloves and hats going out of style. Still, the specialness of having the support of your closest friends and family members has remained constant. Take a look now at vintage bridal parties. While you likely won't envy the shoulder pads, you might get some inspiration from the more glamourous styles of the 1930s, '40s, and '50s.
In honor of Earth Day, we've rounded up a wide range of creative, eco-friendly gifts for your bridesmaids. Whether you're looking for an affordable, smaller pick — like candles — or something a bit more extravagant, there's a smart, recycled option for everyone. Hoping to go green with your bridesmaids' gifts? From monogrammed stacking rings to charming mason jar tumblers, here are some eco-friendly picks.
There's much more to being a bridesmaid than slipping on a dress and standing in line, so it's important to learn the dos and don'ts of the special role. If your engaged pal has asked you to be part of her wedding party, don't take it lightly — she's asking for you to support her through one of the most incredible times of her life. Think you know what it takes to be the best bridesmaid? Some of these pointers may surprise you. Whether you're a first-timer or a seasoned veteran, you'll want to follow these 11 must-know tips to become the ultimate bridesmaid.
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Related: Wedding Bouquet Inspiration By City
Bridezilla? Who? Me? Of course, most brides want to avoid being high-maintenance. But with all the pressure of planning a wedding, you're bound to take some of it out on your bridesmaids or simply let things fall through the cracks. In order to be the best bride and friend you can be, we asked former bridesmaids to share their subtle — and sometimes obvious — wedding pet peeves. Here are eight things you didn't realize were annoying your bridesmaids, plus practical tips for avoiding these mistakes.
Expecting All Your Bridesmaids to Be BFFs Automatically
Why it's annoying: Chances are many of your bridesmaids have never met. When you throw together strangers with various personalities sans any introduction, awkward email chains and bridesmaids tiffs can result about anything from the trivial bachelorette party favors to the important wedding speeches.
How to avoid it: Once you select your bridal party, get everyone together for a casual, low-pressure brunch to break the ice. If you can't get people together in person, then start an email chain introducing everyone and offering some context for how you know each person and what she's all about. It will help break down the initial uncomfortableness and help your best friends understand why each other is important to you.
Pretending the Bridesmaids' Dresses Can Be Worn Again
Why it's annoying: They've heard it before. You might think your style is classic and universally flattering, but chances are they won't be wearing that dress again. Suggesting otherwise will just make them roll their eyes.
How to avoid it: Instead of implying you're doing them a favor by picking a dress they can wear again, simply thank them for participating in your big day and wearing a dress you absolutely love. If you do want to increase the chances they will in fact reuse the dress, then go with a black dress or perhaps pick a color theme and let them choose the dress they like in that color.
Everyone always talks about how brides can save money, but few people remember that bridesmaids are forking out a lot of cash, too. The bridal party often pays for their outfits and prewedding events, so costs can quickly add up. Here are a few tips on how to save if you've been given the honor of being picked to be part of the bride's big day:
This question is from a Group Therapy post in our TrèsSugar Community. Add your advice in the comments!
I'm having a very hard time deciding who I would like to pick to be my bridesmaids for my wedding next year. I decided a long time ago that I wanted my best friend of almost 20 years (we met in the second grade) to be my maid of honor since I don't have a sister. I want my fiancé's family to feel a part of the wedding so I would like the youngest of his two sisters (his oldest sister has health and knee problems) to be a bridesmaid, but she has two young boys so I am not sure if she will be able to.
I would like to ask one of my cousins to be a bridesmaid but I am torn between two. One is a year older than me and we were close when we were children but her parents got divorced and I didn't see her again until our late teens. The other cousin is, I think, four years older than me. I don't really get along with her. I used to when I was younger but she recently became very rude and distant towards everyone in our family, including her mom and brother. Why I would want to pick her to be a bridesmaid is because I saw that she was mildly upset when none of our cousins (I have a big family) have ever asked her to be a bridesmaid in their weddings.
Now what I was thinking is that I can choose all of the four that I said and that that would be fine, but I had mentioned to my fiancé that I was maybe thinking of asking his friend/roommate to be a bridesmaid. They started living together a few months after he and I started dating and she had recently started dating someone around the same time we did. I didn't want to come off as overly jealous so I didn't say that I was opposed to the idea of them living together. And, really, I wasn't/am not. I learned early on in our relationship that he is trustworthy. I do, however, feel jealous of her. She is nice but we've never had a real conversation. Whenever I'm at their apartment, she's either at work, out with her boyfriend, or in her bedroom and gives us our privacy. I appreciate that but I would like to have a friendship with her. It's almost been a year since they have been living together and I still only see her as an acquaintance rather than a friend. Why am I jealous of her? She's skinnier than I am, (in my opinion) prettier, good sense of style, more confident. I'm almost 27 and still don't know how to put on makeup, except for simple stuff like eye shadow, lipstick/gloss, powder, and foundation. After thinking about all of these things, I started thinking that maybe I don't want her to be a bridesmaid because I don't want to have to feel as if I'm competing against someone at my wedding. Well, I just found out that my fiancé told her that I might ask her to be a bridesmaid, and that if I didn't for her to act as if he had never told her that. So now I feel obligated to ask her to be a bridesmaid.
What should I do? Should I ask my fiancé's roommate or should I ask my two cousins?
Have a dilemma of your own? Post it anonymously on Group Therapy for advice, and check out what else is happening in the TrèsSugar Community.
If you're trying to find the perfect presents for your bridesmaids, don't be afraid to think outside the jewelry box. Sure, a simple necklace or bracelet can be a great way to show your thanks, but there are plenty of other options, too. Why not pick different gifts for each girl based on her favorite interests? Whether she's a die-hard design nut or a total foodie, we've come up with some thoughtful, creative ideas to suit all sorts of personalities. Click through to see 24 picks that are sure to please your closest pals.
