Issues with the bridesmaid dress: Each and every one of your bridesmaids is a close friend. Although they have their quirks, you love them for their honesty. But when one of them tells you the dress you picked for them is dreadful, well, what’s a bride to do? While it is your special day, it’s best to work out a compromise, after all, they have to wear the dress, and they’re probably paying for it too. You also don’t want to wreck a long-standing friendship over an outfit. Remember, there is no rule saying all bridesmaids must wear the same, in fact, these days quite the reverse is in vogue. So why not give them some general style guidelines and let them each pick their bridesmaid dress?
Complaints about expenses: A wedding is an expensive event for your bridesmaids, so try to be sensitive to this. They are only going to be wearing the outfit for a few hours, so you can either be considerate about the price – perhaps think about pre-owned dresses – or allow them to wear outfits that they would be able to wear again. Be reasonable and work within their budget. This is probably something you should discuss at the beginning to avoid conflict later on. Try mitigating other expenses too by paying for half of some things, such as shoes and jewelry.
Problems with bridesmaid’s duties: The friends you choose to be in your bridal entourage may or may not have been bridesmaids before. If one or more of them hasn’t, they may not be aware of the duties and responsibilities that are expected of them. The best way to get around this is to have your maid of honor talk to them at the outset. That way responsibilities such as help with invitations, organizing a bridal shower, booking the hen party, and helping with the flowers are all allocated fairly from the get go. If for some reason, one of your bridesmaids really doesn’t have time to manage all this, it gives her an opportunity to say so. Down the road, if you feel that one of your bridesmaids is not stepping up to the plate, it’s important that you talk to her about it honestly, without being accusatory or laying blame. She may after all have genuine reasons for her behavior, it’s best to clear the air and move on.
Keep these tips in mind for handing your bridesmaids, but most importantly, have fun with your girlfriends and let them help you make your wedding day perfect.
Phoebe Harrison has worked as a wedding planner for a few years now and loves her job so much! Her articles have tips and tricks for brides-to-be and appear around the web.