How To Choose Your Bridesmaids

Bridal suite bride with her family

Getting Your Head Around The Selection Process

Who do you want to spend your final hours as a single lady with? Make sure you pick a team of bridesmaids who will be the best support to you on your big day!
A wedding is the ultimate union of two people and a fantastic chance to celebrate your love for each other with your nearest and dearest. So, who better to surround yourself with, than a team of fun and supportive bridesmaids? They’ll be able to help you with everything from going to dress fittings to planning a send-off to remember at your hen do! But unfortunately we all know that weddings can be political, so when it comes to choosing your bridesmaids, it’s important to bear some points in mind when you’re considering which of your siblings, best friends and other half’s relatives to invite into the fold!

How Many Bridesmaids?

The bottom line here is that there is no set number of bridesmaids that you need to aim for. If you only want one, or even none, then that’s absolutely fine. Equally if you want an entire hockey team to accompany you down the aisle, that’s completely acceptable too! You don’t need to worry about having a certain number, whether it’s an even or odd figure and also don’t forget that you can include male bridesmaids too! The only thing to consider if you’re going for a large support group, is that if you’re buying bridesmaid outfits and styling for each of them, then this can get a little pricey.

Returning The Favour

If you’ve previously been a bridesmaid for someone else, then you might feel the pressure to return the favour and invite them to join you as a bridesmaid too. If you’re still close to the person then this will be a no-brainer, but otherwise it might be a good idea to have a discreet conversation and explain that you’re not able to include them as a bridesmaid as you already have siblings, your groom’s family members and close friends lined up to help you. If they take offence, then they’re probably not the type of person you would have wanted to be with you on your big day anyway.

Age Of Bridesmaids

Again, there’s no hard and fast rules in play here, so just go with what feels comfortable for you! If you’d love to have your nieces or other young children as your bridesmaids, then this will look exceptionally cute and is a really special way to include the little ones in your plans. Be mindful though that younger bridesmaids are unlikely to be great assistance when you need help getting into your dress or giving your hair one final spray before you set foot down the aisle. At the other end of the scale, take feelings into account when you choose older bridesmaids as they may feel uncomfortable about their age or own marital status.

The Photographs

Wedding venues in Essex are ideal for any size of bridal party as our stunning grounds can easily accommodate either large or small line-ups of the bride and her bridesmaids in any outdoor photos. When planning your bridesmaid outfits, be aware that your girls will likely come in different shapes and sizes, so you might choose for some of them to wear a short dress whilst others can opt for a longer length if that’s more flattering for them. Selecting a colour that they’re all happy with can also be tricky so it’s best to have some honest conversations about what you have in mind, long before you get to the shopping or fitting stages.
As with any part of your wedding day, it’s important to remember that this occasion is centred on you and your other half, so as hard as it may be to keep everyone happy, it’s essential that you don’t let others take over!