Category Archives: Bridesmaids

Miss Thirteen // Bridesmaid dresses

How do you pick a dress for five different women to wear? I knew that I wanted them in a hue of gray but the rest was a mystery. How do you choose what someone else wears? I just couldn’t do it.

I looked around at places with my sister, the matron of honor, but she was eight months pregnant at the time and couldn’t try anything on so I decided to wait, get all the girls together and then go shopping with everyone to find the right dresses.

We picked one bridal salon that had a good, but not over the top selection of dresses. I think this is important because bridesmaid dresses can all start to look the same after a while.

My original thought was to have each bridesmaid pick out a dress they like by the same designer in the same fabric and color. As we started trying on dresses it turned out they all had fairly similar tastes.

After all the maids had tried on a dress or two I was able to narrow it down to a long, chiffon gown. Since our wedding is in late October we could have gone with a long or short gown but we are still debating on indoor or outdoor so I felt it was safest to go long, just in case the weather is colder. You definitely need to consider the time of the year your wedding will be and if you will have an indoor or outdoor wedding when picking attire.

After trying on almost every long dress at the salon, we narrowed it down to two dresses. It came down to which was most comfortable on everyone. One had a lower bust line than the other and for the girls with bigger ‘girls’ (like me) I know how important it is to feel covered when wearing strapless dresses. Without even putting it on, I knew I wouldn’t like it and not all the girls would have felt their best in it. So we went with the second dress.

It was a much easier process than I thought it would be as all my maids are very easy going. Even though it is my wedding, I wanted each of them to feel good about themselves and what they are wearing and I think we accomplished that task!

I can’t wait to see everyone this October!

Bridesmaids // How to re-wear the dress

There’s always the question of what the bridesmaids should wear and the answer is always up to the bride — as it should be. But, that doesn’t mean you’ll be wearing your bridesmaid dress once and then it will sit in your closet collecting dust for a few years before you have the heart to throw it out or donate it. In the past, our advice has been for the bride to chose a dress that her bridesmaids will wear again. The only problem is that’s not always the issue. Most of the time it’s not that the bride chose a dress that the bridesmaids wouldn’t want to wear again, it’s that an occasion to wear a bridesmaid dress rarely presents itself.

But no worries, there is a way to re-wear your bridesmaid dress to fit any occasion and it starts with accessories. Whether you need to dress it up some more, or dress it down for a more casual event, accessories are going to be your best friend. Wearing a different pair of shoes, adding a scarf or hair piece, and maybe even a belt can help give that dress a makeover.

Maybe these accessories from Von Maur will give you some inspiration.

Event // 2013 Bridal University Photos

Bride Blogger // Bridal Showers

From Miss June:

The bridal showers were a blast. I had two bridal showers and one couples shower. My bridesmaids put together a shower that was tailored to my style to a “T,” and was based around all of the Ann Taintor sayings you see on all the mugs and pinterest icons. Pictures with fun captions on them. My maid of honor, Kelly, and the rest of the girls did a wonderful job. The guestbook sign-in was especially creative. Each person was to choice one of our engagement photos that were printed out, and add captions as to what Brad or I was saying. The pictures and captions were then glued into an old book with pages glued together and prepared, along with a note from the attendee.

Each of the bridemaids brought their own personal concoctions so everyone could find a beverage to enjoy. There were many delicious drinks and finger food for everyone to enjoy, and it was a great opportunity for old friends to catch up.

After the shower I gave each of them a gift for hosting such a shower for me. Each got a black photo book with a message from me written on the inside cover about our friendship and thanking them for being a part of such an important part of my life. The photo books and gift bags were decorated with a quick stick-on glitter initial for an added touch.

The other shower was just as fun and hosted by two of my Aunts. It was retro 50′s themed with old hats saved from my late Great Aunt and games geared towards old-fashioned housewife games and the like. It was such a fun weekend of showers! A couple of months later Brad and I attended a couples shower thrown my his side of the family at Mahoney State park. It was a great setting for people to spread out and enjoy catching up with family and friends while enjoying barbecue and celebrating our upcoming wedding!

Traditions // What is a Wedding House Party?

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I know, you’re thinking of a house party where your friends take over your abode with drinks, games, and bad dance moves from the 90′s. Nope, this is a new kind of House Party for us who reside above the Mason-Dixon Line.

Behold, a southern wedding tradition called “The House Party”. Essentially, the House Party is made up of women who for one reason or another are not a bridesmaid. Perhaps when a bride is only having family members in the wedding party, but still wants to include her friends, or already has too many bridesmaids.

Members of the House Party help with the bachelorette party, bridal shower and wedding day tasks like manning the guest book, handing out programs, serving cake, reading during the ceremony. They get a front row seat with the family, but do not stand up at the altar with the bride and her bridal party.

For example, Jenna Bush Hager had her twin sister, Barbara as her MOH, and then had 14 other women be in her House Party.

I’ve read different things about attire for House Parties. I’ve seen photos where they all wear the same dress – but never the same dress as the bridesmaids. Or, the bride will let them go ‘LBD’, or buy a dress of their liking in the bride’s color choice.

I’ve helped out friends at with day of type tasks but I was never officially grouped with other women, or asked to buy a specific dress for the wedding – and not be a bridesmaid. If you were helping to plan and pull off the shower and bachelorette party, would you be put off that you were doing as much as the bridal party, but didn’t get to stand up with the bride on this most important day?

Did you all see that episode of “Say Yes to the Dress: Bridesmaids” where there a bride had bridesmaids and “honorary bridesmaids”? The honorary bridesmaids didn’t seem too happy about it.

What do you think of this tradition?