Getting Bridal Party Together

We had a group chat on fb messenger

I picked out a color/length/fabric/brand for the bridesmaid dresses and sent them each an email with the information.

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That's a great idea! I may have to add all of their social media accounts to one group chat with both FH and I included in it.

I sent them each an email with the dress requirments (color, length) and the prices for the makeup/hair for them to decide whether they wanted to do it or not. Definitely not necessary to make everyone get together in person.

How big is your bridal party? Could you have them over for a bbq to hash out plans?

Group chats are really the only way to get everyone together. I was able to get all my girls together in our hometown over Thanksgiving weekend to try on dresses. I had already picked the color and style, they gave the final okay. The boys organized themselves to get fitted, my FH and I picked the tux style and color.

My huband and I picked out the tux together, and he sent the info to the guys with where to go and the timeline they needed to go by.

For my girls I picked the color and dress, they all loved it and agreed it was in their price range. Later down the line they all were able to get it on sale for 50% off and order it on time for the wedding.

You don't have to get them all together in person, and they may not want to discuss budget in front of the others. Ask them indivudually what they are comfortable spending on a dress then go from there with a few designs you like. My girls were easy and liked the first dress I picked and suggested. Not everyone is so easy to work with. But you definitely do not need them all in the same room for that stuff. Start a group chat after the budget is determined.

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Thanks Kelly! I'll try to go looking around this weekend for bridesmaid dresses/styles and colors.

I did the same for my BMs. I chose a selection of dresses in the color I wanted. I sent the link to them via email, so they could go to the site and choose the dress they like best.

As for discussing budgets, I would do that privately with each one. This may be a know your crowd sort of thing, but not everyone is comfortable talking about money in mixed company. If I were really broke, and needed to talk to a bride about budget, I wouldn't want to do that in front of everyone. So consider speaking to them privately, about that one topic. Everything else can be done in group chats/texts/emails.

We just use a group chat and we schedule out dates to meet up in person to talk about fabrics and flowers and such
However I also use my group chat to just joke around with my party

We’ve never gotten our entire bridal party together and we probably won’t. We gave each girl a length, color, and fabric for their dresses and they’re all ordering from Azazie. We’re doing something similar for the guy’s attire. We didn’t discuss hair budget because we’re paying, however, we told everyone how much our makeup artist costs and let them choose whether or not they wanted to use her. People have differing schedules and it’s super inconvenient to get so many people together just to have a chat.

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Thanks! That helps. I feel like I'm requiring alot of my girls. I want them to be able to have their hair, dress, shoes, manicure, and pedicure ready for the day of. I will be providing their earrings (jewelry), getting ready outfits, makeup, gifts, and flip flops.

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Well if you are requiring those things, unfortunately you will have to be paying for them. The only thing they need to pay for is their bridesmaids dress. Hopefully that helps, good luck!!

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Hi Pattie! My bridal party consists of 1 Maid of Honor, 4 bridesmaids, 1 best man, 3 groomsmen, 1 ring bearer, and 2 flower girls. A bbq would be a great idea, my MOH, 1 bridesmaid, and 1 groomsmen lives out of town.

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Thanks Lauren! This really helps. How were you able to approve the girls shoes and hair choices?

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Thanks so much! This helps a ton! Most of my girls are picky, lol. But I'll make sure I have the style color and length of the dress picked out and maybe give them a choice between 3 options that they are free to pick from.

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Thanks Cristy! This helps! I will speak with them each individually about what they are comfortable spending on a dress.

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Thanks Rachael! The group chat option seems to be the best to be able to speak with everyone.

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I just told them nude shoes, they can wear what they already have. They are wearing long dresses so they won't really show. And it is up to them to do their hair or have it done.

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Thanks Caytlyn. The only time I can ever think of where the entire bridal party will be actively present with both FH and I are the rehearsal dinner the night before the wedding. The group chat seems to be everyone's go to.