I am having a small, simple, private and romantic wedding. We have only invited family and close friends. Also, I will have a big reception for anyone that wants to come. I am only having one person stand next to me at the wedding, which would be my Matron of Honor. But, I have 7 friends that I would love to make my bridesmaids if I were having a BIG Wedding. I really want them to share this day with me and be apart of the ceremony, without ruining what we originally planned on which is a SMALL wedding! So, what I decided to do was to still have them buy dresses to participate in my reception. I want all my friends to be in unisom for the pictures. But my question is, What else can I do? I dont want them to feel like they're just buying a dress for pictures? Anyone have any creative ideas? PLEASE HELP!
2007-08-06 03:53:28 · 10 answers · asked by Nik 4 in Family & Relationships ➔ Weddings
Well, I hate to say it, but you ARE having them buy dresses just for pictures.
You're either having a big wedding with eight attendants, or you're having a small wedding with only one. I'm not saying that either option is right or wrong, I'm just saying you can't have your cake and eat it too.
If these girls are your friends, please don't ask them to spend money on a dress just so you can take matchy-matchy pictures. And please don't give them pity jobs. No one over the age of six wants to pass out bubbles, man the guest book or "watch" the gift table. Trust me, they'd much rather just be a guest at your wedding if they're not bridesmaids.
2007-08-06 04:00:16 · answer #1 · answered by sylvia 6 · 6⤊ 0⤋
One thing that I did was pick out a color and let my bridesmaids pick their favorite style of dress in that color so they would feel like they had a say in the process. Another thing you could do is have them walk down the aisle before you enter, and as they reach the alter have them take a seat and only have the matron of honor stand up for you. That way they are still a part of the ceremony but not a part of the ceremony you know what I mean? During the reception have them sit at the wedding party table with you and your husband. Hope this helps
2007-08-06 04:01:32 · answer #2 · answered by amithidius 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, buying a dress just to 'be part' is pretty expensive. Have you considered instead of buying a 'bridesmaid's' dress to just have them buy a really nice dresses in one specific color you pick than have them be the ones that serve at the reception. The cakes, coffee and punch. Basically they will be the house party.
Another idea it to have them be your ushers. I know you are only having very close family and friends but they could fill in as ushers. When I got married I taught 10 grade girls Sunday school at church. They had been with me all the way through the courtship and were so involved and excited for me that I felt I should include them. They made great ushers and it made great memories for them. Ten years later they still talk about it and most of them are married now.
Another idea is to take your mom, his mom, your maid of honor and your 7 friends (and anyone else that wants to go) to a salon for manicures and pedicures before the wedding. We have a salon here that will close at seven for the bride's night out. The party brings in trays of food and and coolers of drinks and it is a regular party. The bride gets it all free. You can make them fill part of it all by doing something like this.
Good luck. I think you are a good friend to consider them.
Include them in all you do before the wedding.
2007-08-06 04:09:11 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why not just have a reserved table for them at the reception? Perhaps a dance. I've seen sororities do that a lot, where all the girls stood up and sang the sorority song.
If you want to be uniform for pictures, ask them all to wear black dresses. That way they aren't spending tons of money just for pictures. Also invite them all to the bachelorette party and you could have pre-wedding something. Like I've seen brides have all the friends in the room helping her get dressed and stay calm, pouring a mimosa that morning. Ask one to go with you to the salon to get your hair done (which will also ensure you dont leave things behind). Plus you'll probably have tons of favors to ask--including finding someone to run back to the house and get something you forgot. It's good since they aren't in the actual wedding, they can help on things like that.
Or perhaps when you get your MOH a gift, you could get all of your close friends a small gift like that. A piece of jewelry or something.
But really just let them be guests. You chose to have a small wedding so don't feel like they are upset with you for your choice. That doesn't mean you love them any less!
2007-08-06 04:17:10 · answer #4 · answered by phantom_of_valkyrie 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
At a very small wedding, there are usually very few jobs to do, and pretty much none that require a special dress. Please don't ask them to buy bridesmaids dresses to pass out bubbles or man the guestbook for all twenty signitures. You're not going to be able to find seven different jobs that make it worth it to them to buy a special dress of your choosing.
Just ask them to come as guests and then arrange with the photographer to get a nice shot of all of you together wearing whatever they've chosen for the day. Believe me, they'll be happier in the end and you won't wind up with an embarrassing story for them to tell everyone you meet for the next thirty years.
2007-08-06 04:09:46 · answer #5 · answered by gileswench 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I agree, please don't make them get dresses!
If you want to distinguish them as your 'good friends' maybe get them corsages to wear. Do you have a special song that was a favorite to dance to or sing at the top of your lungs? Have the DJ play it and dedicate it to the group of you. Have 2 tables posted as 'Reserved for Honorary Bridesmaids' up front near the parents.
Just don't make them spend money for matching dresses! We all know what it's like to buy a bridesmaids dress for the whole day that you'll never wear again, but this is above and beyond. I like the idea someone gave of maybe asking them to wear a certain color - for example they all get green dresses in their own style - that will set them apart from your other guests, especially with a corsage and sitting en masse.
2007-08-06 04:23:20 · answer #6 · answered by Cory C 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I don't think that this is a good idea. If you want them in your wedding, then you have to have them stand with you at the altar. Yes, then you have a big wedding.
If you do it the way you planned, then they look like a bunch of girls who all bought the same bridesmaid dress for a wedding that they are not really in.
If you put them in the wedding program, then they are in your wedding service.
2007-08-06 04:03:16 · answer #7 · answered by chickemama 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Um, it seems to me like you ARE having them buy dresses just for pictures. Will they be attending the ceremony? Have a special row of seats marked off for them with flowers and ribbon.
Other than that, I would recommend not having them all buy matching dresses since they will have no official role in the wedding. Instead, ask them to all buy dresses in your wedding color(s). That way, they will all coordinate, but they won't all be mad at you for making them buy dresses just to stand in your pictures.
You can also make a toast to them at the reception and/or get them corsages to recognize and thank them.
2007-08-06 04:14:09 · answer #8 · answered by corinne1029 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Besides of the seen of cosmetics, how approximately a present certificates for $10 to get a nail cropping and/or pedicure. Another suggestion relying at the dimension of the beauty baggage is turn flops or comfortable slipper socks.
2016-09-05 08:44:45 · answer #9 · answered by belvin 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had all my friends dress up fun and serve everyone refreshments. They understood that there was not room for everyone, and no feelings were hurt. They really had a great time. It was a lot of fun.
2007-08-06 04:04:18 · answer #10 · answered by byroneann 3 · 0⤊ 3⤋