Five Ways to Keep Your Bridesmaids Happy
The pressure of planning a wedding can cause any bride to get a little crazy, but unfortunately, bridesmaids absorb the bulk of bride's frustrations. In some cases, weddings can ruin friendships between the bride and her bridesmaids. Below are five ways to keep your bridesmaids happy, and to ensure that your friendships stay intact throughout the planning process.
Have Reasonable Expectations
Each of your bridesmaids has a life outside of your wedding, and respecting that goes a long way towards ensuring their happiness. Try not to bombard them with too many tasks, and take their individual circumstances into account. Give those with less going on at home more to do and vice versa.
As a general rule-of-thumb, you shouldn't ask your bridesmaids to do anything that you wouldn't want to do yourself. For example, asking your bridesmaids to lose weight can cross the line, causing negative feelings that extend far beyond the wedding day.
Don't Forget to be Thankful
It can take a great deal of work to plan a party, and it is important to thank your bridesmaids for their efforts. Your bridal shower or bachelorette party may not turn out exactly how your envisioned it, but when entrusting others to plan events, it is best to be gracious, no matter what. Be sure to thank your bridesmaids after your wedding for all of their help and hard work, as well.
Consider Their Budget
When possible, try to reduce the amount of money that each bridesmaid has to spend on your wedding. If you can, do your best to cover all of the expenses. For expenses that your budget can't handle, try to help them find good deals. If you are having each girl pay for her own dress and/or wedding day styling, don't choose the most expensive boutique or hair salon in town.
Choose Flattering Dresses
Just as you wouldn't want to ask your bridesmaids to do anything you wouldn't do yourself, you shouldn't expect them to wear something that you wouldn't wear. Some brides purposely put their bridesmaids in unflattering dresses so they are not upstaged by their wedding party, but this can make tempers flair. Many photos will be taken, an on the wedding day, and as such, everyone wants to feel attractive. Making sure that each girl feels comfortable in what they are wearing during your wedding can make a huge difference in morale among the group.
The best thing that you can do for your bridesmaids is to try to maintain a positive attitude throughout the wedding, as well as during the planning process. Someday, you may be a member of their wedding party, and you will surely want to be treated with respect. Micro-managing and pushing frustrations onto your bridesmaids is a good way to cause unnecessary friction, and can lead to major problems in your personal relationships. Remember to keep your bridesmaids happy, and you will be well on your way to having a pleasant, drama-free wedding day.
Posted by Anna K.
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