Bridesmaids group chat

I personally think it's too early. I just texted my girls in a group text this past week (at just under 6 months out) to give them information about dresses. I'll probably use it in June when I need final numbers for makeup and then to give information about rehearsal, etc. I can't imagine there's much to talk about with them right now, anyway. For reference, I asked my girls last summer (and my sister in December 2018 while she was in town since she lives out of state). This was the first conversation about the wedding with them since then.

I started a bridesmaid chat when I wanted to make a bridal dress appt and wondered if people wanted to join in. I had privately checked in with each one about their interest in going. They all wanted to go and I was able to glean a date from these private conversations, so I just started the chat for logistics on the day so I didn't have to send out private messages to 5 people. It's not super active, but we are now thinking about bridesmaid dresses so there was a discussion to set up an appt at a salon and my MOH ordered a few dresses from Azazie to try on so she invited people for that. I'm not including these ladies in on wedding planning or other decision making so I just see this chat as a way to quickly make a plan to do things they are involved in, like buying dresses. It seems to be going well so far.

I made one pretty early on to start discussing details with them like the date and location so they could start hashing out any necessary travel. After that I used it for dress shopping, bridesmaid dress opinions, and so on. Plus it was a great way for them to meet and chat a little bit beforehand. They've been tipping each other off with deals on dress hemming, shoes, hotels, etc. so it's worked out wonderfully.

While I personally think it is way too early, I do agree that if your "bigs" don't already know each other, it might be a good way to let everyone start getting more acquainted. I would however not start any wedding talk for a while. Also keep in mind that their only requirement is to get their dresses and show up on the day of. Any bach party, showers etc are up to them to plan. I see so many post about brides getting mad at the BM's or MOH for not doing this or that for her and it is sad that so many friendships are ruined over high expectations vs reality. You are under a year away! Such an exciting time. Enjoy it!

I think starting a group chat and sending one big message with all the information you have is fine. As a bridesmaid, I couldn't keep track of or pay attention if the bride was sending new information everyday or keeping group text messages going for hours at a time.

Never too early! I started one a week after we got engaged.

It's good for them to get to know each other (if they don't) and to have the information to plan out what kind of money they need, travel, etc.

All of this. Also, does anyone actually like group texts?

I think it's fine to start a group text to share the date (some people make plans super early, especially when it gets close to the holidays). Something like: We booked our venue!!! Save the date for... at ...

Then you can gauge their reaction. I don't know your friends and some people are super into wedding planning (even when it's not theirs) and some people aren't). If they ask questions about colors and dresses, feel free to keep the conversation going. If they just say congratulations or good news, I would just reply with a thank you and wait until closer to the date to start texting the details. They all have things going on in their lives, so you don't want to burn them out by texting so much in the beginning before you really need to make any of these decisions. Good luck!