Getting Bridal Party Together

Part of my wedding party is here where I am and the other half is across the state. I might create a FB group just for my bridesmaids because I can upload files, pictures, create events, etc. Then we can communicate through a group chat as well.

We have a group on snapchat so we can send pictures and stuff easily. Group chat settings are the easiest imo.

The more people you have in your bridal party the more difficult it will be. Do a group chat on messenger or thru text.

You will find it definitely hard to get everyone together more times than not but i got them together for bridesmaid proposals. I told them (sister, friend, and future step daughter) i was going dress shopping but they didn’t have any idea i wanted them part of the wedding.

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Thanks Julia! I will try the Facebook event group and see how that works.

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Great Idea Arielle!

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You're right! We have 5 girls, 4 guys, 2 flower girls, and 1 ring bearer.

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Awwwe!!! That's so sweet Kendra!

We have respective FB group chats with our parties. I also took my girls out to dinner so we could all meet up. We also plan on having a BBQ this summer so all of our parties could meet.

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Thanks Courtney! That's a great idea!

I have 4 girls. Two are out of state. We have a group chat, but we have used it sparingly. I only posted to try to coordinate bridesmaid dress choices and inform them of the price for hair/makeup if they choose to have it done and the rehearsal dinner info. I've talked to MOH a lot about wedding stuff, but I didn't want to to bombard the other girls with these things.

Great question. I use group chat and e-mail. I actually chose a few dress styles and colors I want but other than that, I'm lost. I need to think of the next step....

I did a group text and gave them all the info as far as the dress rehearsal times etc.. But I have a cake tasting at my house in August and I invited them to that. We'll go over shoes, jewelry, hair, makeup etc. They just don't know that part yet lol

View Quoted Comment Thanks Hannah! This helps a lot!

View Quoted Comment I think I may utilize email more than anything since I'm always at my desk catching up on wedding stuff anyways, lol

View Quoted Comment Awwwe! That's a sweet idea Michelle!

I just did it with text. I would keep budget private convo dress Ideas you can do in group text.

The only thing you can dictate without paying for it is the dress, but you have to take their budget into consideration. If you want them to have specific shoes, professional hair, or manicures/pedicures then you will need to pay for them. Ask them each their dress budget privately.

View Quoted Comment I agree. Unless you are all in the same small area, with similar work schedules, getting together is often a hassle, and unnecessary. And you should have a private talk with each person about his or her budget limitations, never a group discussion. Although it is fine to have a meeting on the master plan, or communicate in some way, please remember that dresses do not even need to be discussed again , and definitely need to purchased before five months, as bridesmaids dresses actually come in in 2weeks to 8 weeks, occasionally 10. So orders at 3.5 to 4 months are fine for BM, later for groomsmen. It is wise Not to shop very early, as you may double the price of a dress, costing $175-$250 just for alterations on a $150-$200 dress, if a bridesmaid goes up or down, or gets pregnant. So gowns that fit at 4 months, are more likely to fit at alterations time in the last month, and need only a quick and inexpensive hemming. Dress stores want maximum sales as early as possible. It helps with production flow, a company thing, and a salesperson wants your commission, not to spend time with no result, only to have you order months away with someone else. So walk in even to speedy delivery places like David's, and you will be told 6-7 months out is the latest you should plan on buying. But walk in at 5 months, they will still say, buy now, or it will be too late. And go in at 3 months, and they will still guarantee, your dress will be here in time. Rush delivery fees may be asked for under 10 weeks. But the last wedding I ordered for at 3 months, in Feb, we all ordered different salons ( not David's) , 3 asked and paid for rush deliveries, warned it was the only way. 2 of us didn't. And all of us had dresses within 6 weeks. There is a little of profit made in scaring brides, if you do not order early, Awful things. . . . But read on here, and one of the most divisive things, pitting brides against bridesmaids, is brides setting deadlines way out, getting angrier and angrier at bridesmaids which know very well they do not need to order so early, and have budgeted to spend that money 4 months out or less. So they won't have many alterations, or just because of their budgets. Lost of friendships are lost over this. So do not believe stores projections way out from your wedding. They still fill and deliver on time orders much closer to the wedding. Ask on here, you will get upset if you drop or fight with a bridesmaid over nit ordering by some deadline at 4-5 months. And she or others who order at 10 weeks get the dresses, needing only hemming , at 3 weeks. It makes all your previous upset look like you were totally unreasonable. So beware the pitfalls, right up front. Treat your ladies like adults who manage to get ready for every big occassion , dressed and groomed, from proms and job interviews to formal affairs, without anyone prompting it setting deadlines way ahead. Anyone who does not respond to group chats this far out is fine, too. Lots of people participate in group chats, and lots never will, only to individual phone calls or texts or emails. You as a bride see all these people as your group. Fine if you all grew up or were in the same friends group for 4-5 years. But bridesmaids are often 1 friend from home, one relative, one from some activity, one from school. And these people all love you, but may not have the slightest interest in conversations or meeting together to become friends. So they may respond with great interest the first time, needing info. And not again until 6 months out, except to talk with you. And that is fine. Those who volunteers to do showers or bachelorette parties in the last three months should volunteer earlier. But co-hostess may talk once or not at all again until 6 months out. And that is perfectly fine. . . So come to any meeting with a real idea if when things need doing, not when it will ease your mind. And remember that wedding industry will push, push, buy early. David's timeline for brides says dress ordering for BM, 6 -7 months. But a few electronic pages away, tell you 90 percent of their dresses that are not special orders, come in in less than 8 weeks, and special orders in 10. At the outside. And I have not looked at WE recently, but their timeline used to say 6 months, no later. While articles in the site said, no later than 3 months except chains known for fast delivery. Hmm. So prepare your year out info with these things in mind. And relax and be happy.

It’s not hard when you’ve already did the research on what YOU want them to wear. Decide what dresses, hair, and shoes you would like them to wear and tell them this is what you’ve selected. When you give them the option to decide, it can become more stressful on you as the bride. If people can’t afford to pay, then you need to evaluate who you selected to be apart of YOUR day. Most bridesmaids who have been a bridesmaid before know to expect to pay anywhere between $200-$500 for their entire look. Same thing with groomsmen.

Hope this helps!