What to Consider Before Picking Your Bridal Party
Getting married is awesome isn’t it? And don’t we all want our best girlfriends there to enjoy and relish the moment with us? Of course we do…in theory. Before I was married, a coworker of mine told me that he was no longer in contact with any of his groomsmen. Why I asked? His response: I don’t know we just fell out of touch. It happens, schedules and priorities change, people move, arguments occur. All part of life…but pictures last a lifetime.
A Friend’s Involvement In Your Wedding Can Go Either Way
Let’s face it, most brides feel they are the center of the universe for that brief period of time they are in the spotlight. Some friends will be supportive, other friends might become your worst nightmare, just when you need them most. From snide remarks about the color of the bridesmaids dress to being untrustworthy when asked to help out with the wedding, bridesmaids horror stories are not an uncommon occurrence.
Are You Picking A Dress Out or Are They?
Being part of a bridal party costs money. Bridesmaids in many cases, are asked to purchase dresses they will most likely wear one time. Not everyone can afford to spend $200 on a dress, plus finance a bridal shower, purchase a wedding gift among other extraneous expenses. When asking someone to be part of your day, make sure that they are comfortable with how much money they might have to spend to be part of your wedding party. In my case, I simply asked my bridesmaids wear navy blue. Several of them wore dresses they already had. Given that I was on a budget myself, that was fine with me.
Reliability is Key
Getting married is stressful, having people around who will aggravate the stress and not detract from it are certainly not advisable. Making sure the people in your wedding party are really on your side makes a big difference in how you will feel about your wedding. There’s the bridesmaid who complains about the color of the dress and the bridesmaid who shows up in the wrong color dress. I suggest asking only those people you really feel are happy for you. Everyone else is just taking up air.
Proudly displayed, or hidden in the stacks?
When picking your bridal party, ask yourself if you would still like to place a photo out of your friends years after the event has occurred. Will you be devastated if your ‘best’ friends turn out to be duds or will you just be happy to remember the good times you had with your then-best girlfriends? Pictures last a lifetime, but not all friendships do.
