It’s a whole new day, and there is a whole new look for
bridesmaids. It’s a welcome change from the past years. At it’s
not just the bridesmaids look that has gotten a facelift, the
brides are sporting a whole new look too.
Traditional wedding gowns and traditional white will always be a
choice. That’s a tradition that’s just not going to disappear.
And that’s okay. But the choices now available for the modern
bride are welcome change, allowing those creative juices to
flow, and one’s own personality to stand out.
The history of the bridesmaids attire is quite interesting. In
past centuries brides wore elaborate colorful gowns, and
bridesmaids wore similar gowns. This was to disguise the bride
and protect her from being kidnapped by evil spirits. By the
Victorian era things had changed producing brides that wanted to
stand out in the crowd. Thus the formal elaborate white wedding
gown entered the wedding fashion scene. However the bridesmaids
attire didn’t change, remaining bold and frilly.
Well this century bridesmaids have a lot more to say about what
they wear. Not only have the traditional dresses taken on a more
sophisticated and elegant look. Many brides now let their
bridesmaids choose their own dress based on the chosen color
scheme. All bridesmaids weren’t created equal. By allowing them
to choose a dress that flatters them, you have happier
bridesmaids and better photo ops.
Gowns and dresses worn by the modern bridesmaid are often
functional enough for other formal events and gatherings. A much
smarter alternative to the expensive gown that’s worn once then
buried deep in the closet never to be seen again. We all
remember wearing one of those “awful” dresses at some point.
There are also no longer fast and set rules on how many
bridesmaids you must have. The size of your wedding often
relates to how many attendants, and these days the choice is
entirely up to you. Tradition has gone out the window, a
pleasing thought for many future brides. You can even have more
than one maid of honor if you wish. The rules you must play by
are your own rules.
The same new rules apply to your flower girl[s] and ring
bearer[s] choose more than one, have only one, have one of each.
The best age range for this very important little people’s job
is between 5 and 7. Younger children have a harder time staying
focused. Now if you don’t’ mind if they mess up a little bit,
then by all means you can choose a younger child. After all they
can be a great source of amusement! Older children will also be
thrilled to be chosen to man the guestbook or help guests. It
makes them feel extra special.
The more bridesmaids you have the more coordination and
communication your going to have to take care of. Remember
you’ll have plenty of issues to deal with from dresses, to
nails, to hair, to jewelry. So don’t choose more bridesmaids
than you think you can handle. This is supose to be a happy time
for you and stress doesn’t make a person happy.
Forget the old theory that if you don’t include everyone that’s
close to you, there will be hard feelings. Most women have
outgrown this childish thought pattern, and recognize that the
modern bride has tough choices to make to stay within budget and
fulfill her special day. Sometimes a future bride just has too
many close friends to have them all in the wedding party. Relax!
Invite them to the wedding, and if you want ask them to do
special favors such as perhaps your nails or your hair,
depending on their own unique talents.
The maid of honor has a role to play besides in the wedding
party. She needs to be the brides right arm and help with any
wedding tasks she can. She can help select the wedding gown, get
the invitations in order, arrange a wedding shower, help with
choosing a reception location, help decorate, or even help
prepare the food. The duties that can be assigned to your made
of honor are endless, just be sure not to overwhelm her with too
many requests. Your maid of honor is like the brides personal
first aid kit. Ready to fix anything that’s broken.
Bridesmaids also play an important role by planning the bridal
shower, preparing munchies, cake, or sandwiches for the shower.
They are also there to support and help the bride whenever they
can.
For the modern bride these are happy times, choices are endless,
you can make your fashion statement and let your bridesmaid’s
make theirs. No more having to follow traditions unless you want
to. Planning the perfect wedding has never been easier!
© Copyright Sher Matsen, All Rights Reserved.