All About Bridesmaids
On a wedding day, the bride is the star of the show! Today, though, we’re going to give the spotlight to the ladies who make things happen the day of the wedding– the bridesmaids! I’ll also give a list of some of my favorite tips for bridesmaids at the end of the blog, so stay tuned until then.
Brookelyn & Andy
Brookelyn’s bridesmaids screamed Spring! Purple isn’t a bridesmaid color that I run across very frequently, so I loved getting to see a more unique color palette with this wedding. Brookelyn’s bridesmaids went more traditional and all wore the same color and a similar style of dress. The monochromatic purples were such a beautiful choice for their green, full, lush venue. Also, Brookelyn’s bridesmaids weren’t afraid to liven up the dance floor (as pictured!) which made their wedding so much fun!
Morgen & Aaron
This wedding was such a pleasure to capture. I’m sure that you can tell just through the photos that the day was relaxed, quiet, and full of familial love. This bride tribe all chose their own patterns and fit for their wedding day attire which is a trend that I am really loving recently! They all still “matched”, but it was so fun to see their own personalities shine through what they chose to wear.
Morgen's bride tribe was also so committed, and at the top of their game for Morgen the entire morning. They did their own hair and makeup, steamed her dress before it was time for her to put it on, and spent time with family in the moments in between. The sweetness and love from these lovely people on this wedding day truly shines through these moments caught on camera!
Hannah & Weston
Hannah’s bridesmaids were so helpful, grounding, and loving throughout her entire wedding day. They got ready wearing matching blue flannels which were adorable, and helped do Hannah’s hair and makeup before she walked down the aisle. I always love when brides have their family and friends assist them in getting ready– it makes for some really precious moments (and photos)! The bridesmaids wore blue floor length gowns in various mis-matched styles during the ceremony. Some of my favorite pictures were the individual shots with Hannah and her loved ones… they turned out so sweet!
My Top Tips for Bridesmaids
If you have a wedding coming up and are in the wedding party, this section is for you! Here are some of my favorite tips for bridesmaids:
Take “behind the scenes” photos to send to the bride post-wedding.
Make sure not to get in the way of the photographer, but feel free to take behind the scenes pictures. A simple iPhone picture of a special moment can mean a lot to a bride. Many times friends catch additional sweet moments that the photographer doesn’t even catch.
Order your bridesmaid dress early to prevent any stress.
Many bridesmaid dress companies are based online. While this is convenient, you never know if a dress is going to need alterations, or if it’s going to fit awkwardly once it arrives to your house. In order to give yourself room to fix any surprises before the wedding day, order your wedding attire early!
Help pack the Bride and Groom’s car towards the end of the wedding reception. Make sure that their luggage, gifts, cards, and all other essentials are ready to go when they are.
So that the bride and groom can leave their reception stress-free, make a plan before the wedding to help them load their car before they leave. Have the bride and groom stage their belongings in a communicated area, and have a designated area for all gifts and cards. Assign a few bridesmaids and groomsmen to collect their bags/gifts/cards/personal items and pack them into their getaway car. This helps out the bride and groom so much!
Make a getting ready playlist with the bride’s favorite music.
If you’re in the wedding party, chances are that you know the bride pretty well! Use that to your advantage to make her feel special on her wedding day, and pre-make a music playlist with all of her favorite artists. Ask her if she wants to get ready to upbeat, or more relaxing music, and base your selections on her wedding day vibe!
Bring pain medications/an emergency kit with all of the essentials that you might need for the wedding day.
With how stressful wedding days can be, a headache is more common than you’d believe. Plus, you never know when a cold will sneak up on someone last minute. Pack a medicine kit/ emergency kit with essentials such as Tylenol, Advil, Benadryl, DayQuil, Pepto Bismol, Tums, etc. A sewing kit is also always a great idea to prevent any last minute hiccups.
Make sure that the bride is getting something to eat and is staying hydrated the day of the wedding.
It’s incredibly easy to lose track of time on a wedding day, because the day flies by! Make sure that the bride is eating snacks, and staying hydrated with water throughout the day. Trust me, this will make her wedding day so much more comfortable, even if she claims to be “too nervous to eat.”
Bring a steamer to steam bridesmaid dresses and prevent wrinkles before walking down the aisle. Also, a Tide Pen is a great idea.
Transporting dresses can be tricky business, and sometimes they get thrown around in the craziness of it all. A steamer can take care of a any wrinkles, and packing a tide pen can prevent a stain where you don’t want one!
Pack an extra pair of comfortable shoes to change into for the reception.
Heels are such a cute accessory, but they get uncomfortable after an entire day of walking, standing, and dancing. Pack a comfortable pair to ensure that you can have fun and enjoy the wedding to the fullest until the night ends!
Most importantly: be a calming presence for the bride on her wedding day.
Above all else, the bride has you at her wedding because you are special to her, and have walked by her side through seasons of life both good and bad. That’s why you’re there! If she needs a moment to breathe or to rest, be the calming presence that gives her that space. That’s one of the greatest ways that you can show love to your bride friend on her wedding day.