You’ve recently gotten engaged, and now it is time to pick the bridal party and bestow the honor to one of your closest girlfriends the role of Maid of Honor. Your BFF is excited to stand next to you on your big day, but when it comes to the responsibilities of the MOH, sometimes that can be a little fuzzy. Here are the basic roles and responsibilities of your MOH:
1. Communicate with all bridesmaids their duties and responsibilities during the planning process. This includes informing them about their dress fittings, brainstorming on showers/parties, and making sure they are aware of the wedding day timeline.
2. Host the shower and/or bachelorette party for YOU, the bride-to-be. Work with both the bride and bridesmaids to figure out an available date for the events. Then, decide everything from invitations, decorations to food and favors. Typically, these events are hosted and paid for by the entire bridal party, but led by the MOH.
3. Help shop for dresses for both your dress and bridesmaids’ dresses. Most brides will invite the MOH to come to dress fittings and appointments and also try on different colors and styles of bridesmaid dress to pick the one you both like.
4. Keep groom’s ring and arrange bride’s train during ceremony, as well as any other duties you requests. The MOH might also hold the your bouquet or share this duty with another bridesmaid. The MOH should always be prepared to make sure the bride’s veil and/or train are presentable throughout the wedding ceremony.
5. Prepare a toast for the shower, rehearsal dinner and wedding reception. The MOH should talk with you about which events, if any, you would like for her to give a toast, and have something prepared. Many couples have their Best Man and MOH briefly speak at the reception, so having something prepared is a must.
Remember, selecting a MOH is a great honor and privilege, so make sure you are communicating about your requests and expectations to ensure you both have an enjoyable planning process.
Do you have bridesmaid dresses hanging in your closet that you will never wear again? Now, we have the answer for you! Newlymaid is a website that takes your old bridesmaid dresses and gives you a little black dress. The best part is, instead of throwing the bridesmaid dress away or letting it hang in your closet forever, Newlymaid recycles your dress or donates it to charity. Finally, you can feel good about getting a little black dress.
Newlymaid asks that you search your closet and send in an old bridesmaid dress based on their criteria. Once the dress is received and inspected, you will be notified via email of the special pricing available for you. Once you log on to newlymaid.com, you can unlock the special pricing and shop for your new fabulous black dress.
Your bridesmaid dress will then be recycled, if possible, or donated to a charity that can use and distribute the material around the world. More details found here.
For more information about Newlymaid, please visit their website.
Nowadays, brides and grooms are trying to be conscience of the environment when planning their big day. We believe it is important to be a green as possible in all elements of planning. Here are a few green suggestions:
1. Invitations and programs printed on recycled paper is a great way to try and keep your wedding green. Using paper from a company that recycles helps the environment and you still have fabulous invitations and programs. If you still want to be more eco friendly, consider sending Save The Date’s on invitations paperless through email.
2. Re-use decorations you already have around your house. Find old bottles and vases to use as the centerpieces of the guest tables. Also, climb up in your attic or look through your grandma’s old boxes for vintage linens and tablecloths. Having those classic touches can really help you from spending money on those decorations.
3. Using eco-fetti instead of paper confetti or streamers is another environment friendly way to cut back on your wedding. Eco-fetti is made to dissolve when it hits the ground, therefore it doesn’t hurt the environment, and it still has the great “confetti” effect when the bride and groom exit the wedding.
Photo Credits:
Invitations: Shindig
Bottles: Martha Stewart Weddings//Trove
Eco-fetti: Brooke Schwab
The wedding weekend is finally here, and the first big wedding festivity arrives: the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner. Of course, the bride wants to look her very best to kick off her wedding weekend. Here is some inspiration to help you find the perfect rehearsal dinner dress.
Of course, wearing a white, cream or neutral colored dress is appropriate for any bride on her wedding weekend. You can also mix it up by wearing a style different than your wedding dress. For example, if your wedding dress is strapless, wear a rehearsal dinner dress with lace sleeves, one shoulder or an embellished neckline.
For the more daring bride, find a dress matching the color of dress your bridesmaids will wear during the wedding, or a bold color that matches the wedding. It is your time to shine, so buy a dress you might not wear for any occasion.
Photos (in order):
1. Bloomingdale’s
2. Nordstrom
3. Ivy & Aster
4. BHLDN
5. Dillard’s
6. Phoebe Petal
7. Dillard’s
8. Anthropologie
9. TFNC
10. Milly
11. Lulu’s
12. BCBG
Bridesmaids spend a lot of time and money on being part of your wedding. Not sure what to give your best friends to thank them for being a part of your special day? Here are a few fun suggestions:
1. Robes are a cute (and comfy) way to give your bridesmaids a functional gift they can use long after the wedding. Plus, it provides the perfect photo-op.
2. Personalized necklaces to wear on the wedding day, or any day, are also another fun idea. Individualizing the jewelry with an initial or birthstone also gives it a personal touch.
3. Tote bags are a functional and cute way to give your bridesmaids the perfect thank you gift. Bags can be personalized as well, and look cute in tons of different sizes and colors.
You can also give service type gifts — A pre-wedding spa day and pay for their treatments or dinner out with just the girls.
Not into the matching gifts? Think about something special for each girl that only they would love — their favorite bottle of wine, a gift card to their favorite boutique, that item they’ve been eyeing for weeks… etc. Really make it meaningful for each one.
Happy shopping!
Photos:
Robes: Pretty Plum Sugar
Necklaces: Delicacy J
Bags: Totes by Charlotte
