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You've got your future husband thing all figured out, so now you need to figure out which of your girlfriends will make the exclusive cut in your bridal party. You want a crew that will stand by you even when you're being a bridezilla. Before you propose to your gal pals, check out some common mistakes brides make when choosing bridesmaids. There's way more pressure behind it than you think.
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Going Overboard On The Proposal
You should have set a pretty tight wedding budget, so there's no point in blowing your bucks on elaborate "proposal" packages to send to your potential bridesmaids. Proposal gifts seem to be the norm when brides ask their bridesmaids these days, but your bridesmaids will already feel honored enough to stand by you at your wedding. They don't need a necklace, pair of earrings, a customized bottle of wine, chocolates, lotion, monogrammed makeup bag, AND cookies perfectly packaged in a decorative box. Something simple that says "bridesmaid," like a cup or hanger, will do the trick.
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Choosing Too Many Bridesmaids
Yes, it's hard and almost a little cruel to narrow your besties down to a select few for your bridal party. But you definitely don't want to have a full-on parade by your side on your big day. The more people there are, the more dresses and bouquets (and even drama) you have to worry about. Keep your bridal party as minimal as possible.
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Not Choosing Your Fiancé's Sister
If your fiancé has a sister, it's common courtesy to give her a spot in your bridal party. Not including your groom's family in your wedding can potentially stir up some major beef. If he has multiple sisters, you can consider yourself off the hook. But ultimately, it's your special day and you get to call the shots. If you'd rather not have your future sister-in-law in your bridal party, talk it out with your fiancé.
[Photo: Shutterstock]
Picking Contrasting Personalities
Everyone has that one friend with a big mouth and an even bigger personality. You two might get along just dandy, but that doesn't mean everyone else in your bridal party will love her as much as you do. You're the bride, so you need to have the biggest personality in the group. Choose friends that you know will get along, even if they don't know each other very well. You might as little drama as possible on the big day.
[Photo: Shutterstock]
Assuming Someone Will Say No
Some brides feel so guilty about excluding friends that they ask people to be their bridesmaids while secretly hoping they'll be too busy or decline the offer. But that usually never works according to plan. Say you don't want to offend your old college roommate, but you know she just lost her job, so you're confident she'll say no and there won't be any hurt feelings. Think again! Old colllege roommate says she would be thrilled to be in your bridal party, and now you're stuck with one extra person you could do without. Never choose someone out of guilt or because you were in their wedding, blah blah, blah. It's your weddig day, so you have permission to be highly selective and picky.
[Photo: Shutterstock]
