2010-05-04 07:00:00 by SMARTBRIDE
Bride-To-Be: How to Deal With Attendants Who Live in Different Cities
Choosing my bridesmaids was easy because I immediately wanted to include two close girlfriends who I had grown up with as well as two of my roomates from University.
The Challenges:
- Dress Shopping: I live in a different city from our wedding venue, none of my bridesmaids live in the same city as me, and two of them live 10 hours away (at the other end of the province)! That said, we had to take an innovative approach to dress shopping.
- A Man-Maid: I went against the norm and included my male best friend in the wedding party. He’s someone whom I’ve been close to since the age of 4!
The Solution:
- Dress Shopping: I had decided on green dresses for the bridesmaids and looked for these while trying on wedding gowns. I found that Mori Lee’s metallic sage satin dresses were the perfect shade and style for my wedding. I’m a firm believer that different styles are flattering on different bridesmaids and that it wouldn't be practical for everyone to wear the same style.
With each bridesmaid’s figure in mind, I decided that the girls could pick whatever style they preferred so long as they kept with the fabric and colour that I had chosen. I wanted there to be unity in the dresses, but for each bridesmaid to wear a dress that she felt comfortable in. - Groom’s-Maid: To make this selection visually balance out, my fiancé decided to have his sister at his side during the ceremony.
How It All Played Out:
This past winter, one of my bridesmaids who lives furthest away was in my area for a concert, so I seized this as a dress shopping opportunity! Two of the bridesmaids who lived nearby came to try dresses on with her. At this appointment, three of my four bridesmaids chose their dresses, while the fourth bridesmaid wasn't able to make it because she was finishing her last year at optometry school.
My fourth bridesmaid ended up getting her dress in her hometown and although I was happy to have chosen a designer and gown colour that made it easy for her to purchase her dress anywhere, I was disappointed that I wasn’t able to share this experience with her.
*SmartBride Tip*: If you’re dealing with attendants who live in different cities or even regions, and won’t be able to shop together for their dresses, try to choose a style and designer that is readily available in most major cities. Be sure to accommodate everyone as best as you can so that dress shopping is fun for everyone in your bridal party!
Alicia
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About our Guest Blogger: Alicia Mason
On December 23, 2008 I got engaged to my best friend and soul mate. We set the date for September 25, 2010 and for the past year I have been sleeping and breathing everything wedding including; the venue, food, flowers, decorator, invitations, and finding the perfect dress…all on a budget!
While I didn't go crazy meeting with 10 florists and 10 decorators, I put a lot of thought into each decision and was able to find great deals along the way. I am thrilled that the SmartBride Boutique ladies have asked me to be a guest blogger in order to give you details about my wedding planning. While the planning isn't easy, it is exciting and I hope as you plan your wedding, you'll find my experiences helpful.
More posts from Bride-to-Be Alicia:- Choosing a Wedding Date
- Making the Most of a Venue in a Small Town
- Finding The Perfect Decorator
- Finding Budget Conscious Flowers Without Comprimising Quality
- Searching for my Holy Grail Wedding Dress
- What's the Magic Number?
- Choosing the Soundtrack to Your Big Day
- Fun and Fundraising at Your Stag & Doe
- An Eco-Friendly Favor Alternative
- Get Creative With Your Wedding Invitations
- Singers or Quartets? Choosing a Sound that's Music to Your Ears at Your Ceremony
