When to ask my bridal party?!

10-12 months before the wedding.

I think the sooner the better! That way they can have time to help you with whatever you need, and start planning bachelorette and bridal activities for you! Asking them the day of wedding dress shopping I think would be super fun!
My FH and I aren’t having a bridal party, as we are doing a very small destination elopement. But before I am going wedding dress shopping I am doing a brunch with my best girlfriends I want there and giving them each a little gift at their seat with the invite. You could do something like that!

View Quoted Comment That’s what I was thinking!!

I asked mine right when I got engaged so I'd agree with the sooner the better

I agree with Caytlyn, no more than 10-12 months out max. That should put you in September so you should be good to ask then! I wouldn't ask just yet. There are so many stories on here of friendships thought to be so solid that the bride asked early, only to have the friendship break apart before the wedding, and the bride asking how to throw someone out of her wedding party. ☹️

Even though you're pretty sure of who you want to ask, put a little extra thought into it before you officially ask. If you search through this site and others like it, you will find that many brides have "drama" with their bridal party... situations likes - a bridesmaid that won't purchase her dress but goes out and spends money all the time, a bridesmaid that will not answer texts, a bridesmaid that doesn't care to attend any pre-wedding festivities that mean a lot to you. These situations are much more likely when brides ask friends they aren't CURRENTLY close with (old friends you've drifted from)

Personally, after I read all the "drama" that happened to other brides, I was very careful with picking my bridal party and it turned out great, I didn't have any issues at all. I asked 13 months from my wedding but that was after putting a few months of thought into who's truly a good friend that I picture staying close with for years to come.

View Quoted Comment Thanks for the advice! I Believe in quality over quantity and all my girls I plan to ask are either actual sisters or like sisters so I’m not worried! I’ll have 1 matron of honor, 3 bridesmaids and my then 9 year old as a junior bridesmaid!

I agree with Mikaela! I think it's fun to get them involved as soon as possible! It's a costly honor and they can save more if they need to, and you can't go wrong with dress shopping either! It's just a lot of fun to have them with you through everything!

I got engaged in July 2017 for a Sept 2019 wedding. Most people probably wont agree with this but I asked 3 out of my 4 girls in August 2017 and then I asked the 4th when she came into town in Jan 2018. If you know who you definitely want by your side then you can ask at any time.