When to ask your bridal party when you're having a long engagement?

I asked about a month after being engaged. I was so excited! I don't rhink there is a specific timeline as long as it's obviously beforehand and people have enough notice to be a part of it.

OUR WEDDING IS APRIL 2024, AND WE DECIDED TO ASK OUR BRIDESMAIDS&GROOMSMEN LAST WEEK. I WAS EXCITED TO ASK THEM AND ALL MY BRIDESMAIDS THANKED ME FOR GIVING THEM ENOUGH NOTICE TO PREPARE FOR THE WEDDING PHYSICALLY AND FINANCIALLY.

I feel you!! I go to school full time and work full time. I got engaged 07/16/21 and set out date for 10/21/23. We started planning this April and let me tell you we got a lot of things booked and out of the way already. I asked my bridesmaids last month, just bc we are planning our bachelorette a year from now

I’ve been engaged for a year and my friends all pretty much know who is in the party however I am doing my official proposals this week! So they will find out who the maid of honor is and everything, I felt like waiting until we had the venue and date locked in made the most sense. It sucked waiting but honestly it’s like my engagement is starting all over again with all the renewed excitement!

We each asked 6 people to stand with us… some were obvious and not going anywhere! We asked those people right away! Those people included his two brothers, my life long best friends, my brothers, my cousin…. The only ones we really waited to ask were friends we haven’t known for ages. We have a close group of friends though with little drama, and asking 2 years out wasn’t a big deal.

I chose mine far ahead of ever getting engaged lol. I asked them about a year and a half in advance of the wedding. These are all friendships that have stood the test of time, distance, and lack of contact. I am 100% confident that nothing will change between any of us. I know lots of people have bad experiences by choosing people too soon, however, I feel like that mainly happens when they're trying to fulfill obligation, reach a number quota, people they have prior reservation about, or they're college or school friendships that haven't had the stresses of being adults and not living near each other. I had zero concerns choosing mine or notifying them that early at all.

We created a group chat of people we already talked to and informed them about the wedding and how we would like things to go. However we wanted to make sure the chemistry was right so at our first meet and greet with the potential party members we are going to give them asking boxes with items catered to their personalities that has something similar in all that ask them to be apart of our day
A couple ideas from Pinterest we are thinking about using

Groomsmens https://pin.it/2L5urj9Bridesmaids https://pin.it/6QPmIAN

I asked my younger bros...groomsmen and two younger sisters and asked my sister permission to ask her two boys to be ring and coin bearer. I have yet to ask my 2 older sisters to be my matrons of honor and get permission for their kids to be Jr bridesmaids/groomsmen. I like watching them open proposal envelopes/boxes. I'm in the works wrapping my nephews coin counter jar gift and treasure box with key toy and ring pop. I made labels in the library. I think doing that is on the top of list as well as finding a venue. Wedding is February 2023!

Most of my girls already know they are standing just don’t know where or their titles yet! But I’m telling them at Christmas. They each will get a present with cups with names on them, a T-shirt with their title, a card, and liquor! And I’m going to do it early like that so we can plan for a full year before the wedding and still have some time to not stress out!!!

My wedding is November 25,2023 and I've already started asking my girls. I know it's slightly early but since we are pretty scattered out I feel its better this way so that when I start planning brunches and gathering I won't be still stuck on that part. This year is flying by and soon it will be January wish my birthday is the January, I feel by then everyone should know if they are fully committed for sure. Good luck on your decision dear.

I’m finally over half way through a 2 year engagement, and I understand completely. That was literally one of the first things I wanted to do. I was so sure that it wouldn’t matter to ask 2 years in advance. THANK GOODNESS I waited!!! I’m having 3 bridesmaids, and the relationship has changed between one of the girls and I, over this last year. So if I would have asked back then, it would have been a sticky situation, as I chose a new bridesmaid, lol. A lot can happen over 2 years. I would wait until at least a year, as hard as it may be :-( but then again, I do not know your relationships, and if you know 210% that those are your people, and you need them next to you, then go for it!

I asked my girls about 15-16 months from the wedding. More time is so much better in my opinion and experience. Then trips can be planned far enough in advance to get deals on flights/hotels and plan for time off work and whatnot. Big supporter of sooner the better!

I asked my bridesmaids a little less then a year out !

I asked my Maid and Matron of Honor about 16 months out, because I knew right away that I could not say “I Do” without them. We’ve all been friends since high school. They’ve been by my side through everything and even helped my FH set up his surprise proposal. For the rest of our wedding party, we plan to ask them at our engagement party 14 months out from the wedding as they will be the only guests besides family.

I’m all for waiting until 8 months out. Be very mindful of who you are asking and why. I made the mistake of buying personalized $80 gifts from Etsy for mine about 16 months prior and 2 of them turned out to be a bad choice and it caused a lot of drama.