I Have Bridesmaids!

Congratulations on your engagement!

What a lovely idea, and very thoughtful of you to make little cards with personalised messages inside....I bet they loved that!

I may be wrong, but i think the main gift giving comes nearer the wedding or afterwards, once all their BM duties have been performed? Remember that the costs will soon mount up if you're planning on funding dresses, shoes, hair & make up and nails and so forth. IMO it's a huge honour to be asked to be someone's BM and that in itself and all the excitement going on at the moment is probably enough for the moment

I've been engaged for a few months and we have 9 months to go until our wedding, and there's still a lovely 'buzz' amongst us girls! Apart from the usual outfit and beauty arrangements before the big day I'm not really doing or getting much else. Obviously I try to arrange meet-ups for a gossip but this can prove difficult with 4 BMs who all work, have social lives and most have kids....but I'm also arranging DVD nights for girly weddingy films (Bridesmaids...Mamma Mia...) every now and then

Congratulations again Miss Toffee......are you going to flash us your ring or share your proposal story? I love proposal stories! (Sorry if this is already in another post...just redirect me lol!)

xxx

Congratulations and also fab news that you have your bridesmaids, how exciting.

I think the main things needed for the BMs are; dresses, shoes, bags, flowers, hair & make up, thank you gifts, wraps/cover ups, hair accessories, jewellery, if you are going to ask them to plan the hen do.

All I can think off the top of my head that was on my BM list.

I think it's also worth deciding what you can actually afford to pay for, also making this clear to the BMs so there are no surprises.

A few months after I asked mine I sent an email out just outlining that I would be paying for everything and that they could choose their own hair styles and shoes etc. I just thought it would be useful to know and I have had a similar email off a bride I am bridesmaid for since and it's so useful to know where you stand also how much I need to budget. Just an idea.

No no not at all, its what your budget allows, but I think its worth outlining this to your BMs from the start, just so they know and can maybe put aside some money for what they need to buy. Just thinking from their point of view thats all.

Just thought it was worth mentioning for the OP after deciding bridesmaids, sitting down and seeing what the budget will allow. It was something I didnt account for right away.

Thanks all; will definitely have a get together soon, is quite tricky as one lives across the country but she's back every now and then and might go to see her too. Am hoping to pay for their dresses and hair or make up (depending on which they feel confident doing themselves) obviously flowers and everything else I'm hoping they'll be OK to sort themselves but will obviously let them know; I was asked to be BM once then after I'd been to try on the dress the first time (and a deposit was put down) was then asked to pay for it!! Was so annoyed ended up not doing it!

https://www.hitched.co.uk/chat/forums/t/408633.aspx --my introduction and proposal story (ring flash not included, will add one soon!)

Hitched really isn't my friend today, just written quite a long reply and it hasn't posted properly.

Congrats on choosing your BMs and them accepting you must be so excited! I would love some advice on how to ask mine 'officially,' when I finalise who those girls will be of course. My MOH has pretty much been assumed as we have been best mates since we were little and there's no way either of us would choose anyone else. But I haven't 'officially' asked her yet and will probably do something special like a letter like you have done. What did you include? Was it just a blank card or a special bridesmaidy one?

I too was thinking about the conversation of what to pay for, which I guess will be kind of uncomfortable even with best buds. I am likely to have OH's sister as a maid and although she is pretty and has a lovely figure she wears horrid shoes! So I think I will have to stretch the budget to cover those lol! My MOH has said she will wear whatever I tell her to bless her! She also doesn't mind high street/cheaper options so perhaps this will mean I can cover hair and makeup, who knows.

With regards to buying your BMs presents etc. I would just wait until nearer the wedding or the actual wedding day. If you want to show your appreciation you could arrange a dress shopping day and buy them a drink or cup of tea afterwards or something similar.

Aww, mine keeps saying there's been an error but then posting anyway!

I am SO excited!! This is the card I made--

I typed and printed a message inside; for my two oldest friends I talked about stuff I remembered from way back and for the other newer friend it was more recent stuff. For all I said why it was important for me that they were there on the day; one because she always makes me laugh, another just because she's always been a close friend and the other because we're already like sister-in-laws (H2Bs brothers gf) I also did a "PS (The non-soppy bits) which included date and venue and how I wouldn't make them wear awful dresses.

Yeah awkward but definitely necessary, would rather get it all out in the open as know how it can feel to be on the recieving end of vague information about funding!

Aww that's a lovely card, glad you have bridesmaids sorted Exciting!

Aw those cards look so lovely and something I'm sure they will treasure for years to come. Good effort!

I think the only things you should buy bridesmaids are the items that you want them to have that they would not 'normally' be expected to have to coordinate with your wedding - if you want them to have green shoes to go with green dresses then you should pay for them

Thanks all, they seem to have made a good impression!