Distance Bridesmaids

I don't think you need to do anything special. These girls are your friends, but it doesn't mean they all have to be BFFs. I would just keep in touch like you normally do and can fill them in on the wedding as needed.

Mine are, but I'm not gonna try to force them to be BFFs or anything. I made a FB group just to introduce them all to each other (normally I would have done that by taking them out to dinner but.. distance) and talk about any planning. They're all arriving to the DW a day early so I'm sure I can just take them out then and have a proper introduction.

Don't try to force them to become friends though - that's just awkward.

3 of my girls live in NYC, and 3 of them are in NC. I just do a group chat on FB to keep them informed.

Sometimes I feel like brides can overestimate the amount that their BM's really want to be "included." None of mine were really nearby either and it wasn't a big deal. A couple of them come into town regularly so I would text them if I had a dress appointment coming up just as an FYI in case they were planning to be in town and wanted to come. Though this was really just because I needed at least one of them to come to a fitting at some point to learn the bustle. If they are all that spread out geographically, there's not much you can do really. I've seen where brides have created a private FB group for just the wedding party, but if you do that I wouldn't be posting in there incessantly. Maybe just set it up and let it flow naturally. If there isn't much activity, then just assume they have other things going on in their lives that are a priority for them and I wouldn't press the issue. Their closeness, or lack of, won't have any bearing on your wedding day really. And if you need opinions during the planning process that you can't get from them, you have thousands of brides here at your disposal for that

I also suggest a group chat. All of my bridesmaids got to weigh in on my dress choices via Facebook. It was a special moment that I got to share with all of them.

My bridesmaids are a mix of college friends, high school friends, sisters/cousins and they have all met each other for the most part. The college friends are all close friends with one another, as are the high school friends. And of course my sisters and cousins are close lol. I'm not doing anything formal to have them spend more time together as "bridesmaids," since I just don't find it necessary even though a few of the girls live out of state/internationally. I just have an email thread going to keep them all posted on details like bridesmaid dresses, (optional) hair/makeup services, and rehearsal dinner/day of timeline stuff, and that seems to be working well to keep them all in the loop.

I've been using group emails to keep everyone in the loop. I haven't asked for much help though, but any sort of group contact (email, text, Facebook, pinterest boards) should work!

I created a secret Pinterest board and then invited them to it so they could see and pin to it as well for input.

I have a private FB group page for my bridesmaids and mom. We share our ideas there and any wedding info they may need ahead of time.

4 of my bridesmaids (one being my MOH) all live half way across the country from me (I am in Toronto, and they are in Calgary). I decided to create a private facebook group for us, for this very reason. I promise I'm not being crazy bridezilla lol (like sending frequent messages, or expecting them to respond to anything right away). The group is just there, as an easy way for me to share things with them, as I go about planning. They can choose whether they want to pay attention to it/comment/participate, or not. I'm good either way. I've only just created the group recently, and only sent one or two messages, but so far everyone seems happy with this method.

Note: I admit, that I have committed a WW sin by selecting my bridal party 1 year out. I understand the potential risks, but I've made my bed, so I am committed to laying in it.

On a positive note, I do not expect anything from them. I just want them to be with me on the day, if they are able to make it. If things in their life change, and they need to back out, or anything like that, I'm okay with it.

Facebook group! I have 4 BMs. I live in TX. One lives near me, another is 2 hours away, another lives in LA and my MOH just moved to Australia.

I'm planning my wedding from Maryland and have most BMs out of state. So we started a group chat on Slack. I just use it to keep in touch on fun things, not "tasks." Like I let them know what the dresses were and got feedback on who wanted hair/makeup done. Very helpful and easier than strings of emails or group texts!

Mine are also all over and I recently e-introduced all of them (and gave them the dress to purchase since it was being discontinued). Group emails are great and will give you a feel for who is really excited/actually wants to be involved in planning and who just wants to show up in a dress day of.

We have a private FB group for the enire wedding party, and within that group we have separate chats for the brides party and the grooms party. It's actually pretty decent.

I have two bridesmaids out of state and one out of the country. We have a group text and I bounce ideas off of them every now and then. And I think they have their own group text that they are using to plan the bachelorette party. I'm not privy to those details. Lol.

I live in N. California and only 1 BM is local.. the rest are S. California, Florida and London. Totally doable hah

Thanks ladies! I figured the best way would be FB group, but just wanted to see if there was an even better way. I really don't want to force them to be friends and I'm not going to if they choose not to be, but I do want them to at least know who each other is and be able to be involved if they choose to. I know they have their own lives and it is not required for any of them to do anything other than show up in a dress. I appreciate the suggestions

My bridal party are spread out as well, so I did a FB group with all of us. This way I can show them ideas and ask opinions easily. When I went dress shopping 2 were able to go. I gave my phone to my MOH and she texted pictures to the other two of the dresses so they were able to respond like they were there. It takes work and sometimes it bums me out that none of my friends live close to me, especially when I am doing something crafty and wish they were there to at least drink wine.

I would've done Facebook chat myself, but my sister is my maid of honor and she's not on Facebook. I went the group email route for a "FAQ" and to discuss bridesmaid dresses, but have been texting normally with them individually with enough wedding stuff to make them know I care about their opinions, but mostly regular life stuff that we chat about anyway.

Two of my girls live in Chicago, and I'm in Vegas. (My sister and cousin.)

I created a private FB group with just us in it.

I posted little "intros", just so that could see who they'd be standing up with, and then posted links for the dresses and petticoats.

That's it.

There wasn't much interaction past that.

My sister texted a couple times to ask how planning was going, but I didn't involve my girls in any of the planning process...