Bridesmaids' Luncheons: Everything you need to know...

Let’s face it – weddings go by in such a blur that after the dishes have cleared and the flowers begin to wilt, many brides realize they never really had a chance to spend some quality time with their nearest and dearest. That’s what makes bridesmaids’ luncheons so great – they afford the perfect opportunity to get together and enjoy some time with your closest girlfriends one last time before the main event. They’re entirely optional, but this fun and typically hassle-free soiree is definitely worth your while. So what does it entail?

This article spells out everything you need to know about hosting a bridesmaid luncheon…

Bridal Showers - 5 Unique Bridal Shower Ideas

Where did we get the idea that sitting in a circle and opening hand towels or scandalous underthings was the best way for a woman to spend some quality time with female friends and family before her wedding? Somehow a bridal shower focused on kitchenware and awkward games seems to fall short of adequately preparing a bride-to-be for the significant transition involved in getting married.

Looking for a more meaningful way to usher yourself – or your friend – into marriage? Here are some ideas and rituals that will help the bride come away from her shower feeling nourished and connected with herself and her friends.

1. Showers for a Cause

The bride doesn´t necessarily have to be the one getting showered with gifts. Instead, shower for a greater cause, and give something back with a day dedicated to a charitable contribution that holds special meaning to the bride.

Some ideas:
Pink Envelope Bridal Shower -
Help the fight against breast cancer. Have a Pink Envelope Bridal Shower through the Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation. They´ll send special pink donation envelopes for inclusion in the shower invites, and guests can make a donation to Making Memories on behalf of your bridal shower. Be sure to take plenty of pictures, as they´ll feature your bridal shower on their website.

Green Bridal Shower –
For the conservation conscious, host a bridal shower that´s good for soul and the earth. Make the event focused on green causes instead of perfunctory shower games. Plant a tree instead of playing pin the tail on the groom. Serve locally grown vegetarian cuisine, register for eco-friendly items and housewares, and of course, make sure invitations and paper products are recycled.

2. Thought Exchange

Have a shower focused not on the exchange of tangible gifts, but rather on the exchange of heartfelt gifts like advice, emotions and feelings. Using the bridal shower to involve sharing and listening will help the bride connect with her friends and her own feelings about the wedding and marriage.

Some ideas:
Have attendees "shower" the bride with advice on being a good partner. Each guest can come with their thought to read aloud, or the maid-of-honor can gather submissions from everyone ahead of time to compile into a scrap book that´s presented to the bride at the shower. Another idea is a traditional recipe exchange with a twist. Each guest brings a recipe card, one side featuring the recipe for a great dish, and on the other side, the recipe for a good marriage.

3. Memory Lane Shower

Have a shower focused on reminiscing shared memories and friendships. This pseudo-separation ritual will help the bride reconnect with her old self as she prepares to take on a new identity.

Some ideas:
Create a memory book – asking every attendee to write a page or two detailing their fondest memory with the bride. Gather these stories along with photos into a memory scrapbook. Or have each attendee bring a gift that represents a memory – a cd of favorite songs from high school, a photo album, that old cheerleading uniform once worn every Friday. Another idea is a slide show of photos set to music, where everyone contribute some of their favorites. You can also play memory games; each guest describes a memorable past event – and the bride must guess the year, location, and people who were there. The evening is sure to provoke a lot of heartfelt reminiscing.

4. Slumber Party

Break out the PJs, sleeping bags, and tubs of ice cream – it´s time for some serious female bonding. A slumber party is another great way for the bride to revel in that special connection she has with the women in her life, and it affords her an encouraging setting to share openly any feelings she has about her upcoming marriage. Consider incorporating some of the above ideas into the slumber party – such as exchanging advice or creating a scrapbook.

5. Poetry Shower

John Donne, T.S. Eliot, Constantine Cavafy, Robert Frost, Robert Herrick… treat a bride with a passion for the literary arts with a feast of beautiful poetry. Have all attendees bring a poem containing wisdom or sentiment about love or marriage, and take turns reading. The evening will be intellectually enriching and inspiring.

Get even more ideas for bridal shower games at Elegala.com - Elegant Galas Made Simple.

How to Be a Stellar Bridesmaid

She asked you to be in her wedding, and now you’re wondering what the job entails. The good news is that you don’t have to be an etiquette guru or event diva to play this role perfectly. You simply need to be your most fun and supportive self and handle a few basic tasks.

But just what are those tasks? Many of us, especially if we've yet to play the bridesmaid role, are admittedly clueless about the world of weddings. That's where this extremely useful list of bridesmaid duties comes in. Nail your job with poise and grace with this cheat sheet of essential bridesmaid to-dos.

Bridesmaids - 5 Ways to Keep Them Happy

Keep the Peace with Your Maids!
After the initial congratulatory exclamations subside, distress can erupt on the bridesmaid front. From gripes about bridesmaid dresses and wedding planning logistics, to deeper issues of insecurity and envy, there's enough drama potential to strain even the closest friendships.

Here are the top five stumbling blocks on the road to happy bridesmaids - and tips to avert each crisis.

Custom 'Maid - Modern Alternatives to Bridesmaids Dresses

Picking one dress that a group of women of varying shapes will like is always a difficult task, but new online boutiques allow brides to create one-of-a-kind bridesmaid dresses.You can have as much or as little control as you like. This modern alternative ensures your 'maids feel fabulous while providing a cohesive look for the wedding party.

read more about custom bridesmaid dresses | digg story

Wedding Planning Guide for Bridesmaids

Most wedding planning resources are geared towards brides, a fact that often leaves bridemaids feeling clueless about handling tasks such as the bridesmaids luncheon, shower, and bachelorette party. That's where this guide to being a bridesmaid comes in. With advice on planning all the parties and helping the bride pick a bridesmaid dresses that is actually acceptable to everyone, this guide will help the 'maids nail their job with poise and grace.

Bridal Party - Other Ways to Honor Friends Beyond the Traditional Bridesmaid Role?

Q: I don't want to have a huge wedding party, but between my fiance and I we have four sisters, and I have a lot of close friends from college and highschool. What are some options to include important people in my life other than asking them to be a bridesmaid?
- Tricia -

A: When it comes to casting your wedding “VIPs” you have plenty of options beyond the traditional roles of bridesmaid or groomsmen. You could designate a few close friends as “honorary attendants.” Since the role isn’t an “official” role – you can make it entail whatever you want. Your honorary attendants can attend all showers and pre-parties; you can designate special seating for them at the front during the ceremony; you can give them a single flower or nosegay to carry at the ceremony to further set them apart (without giving them a full bouquet), and you can list their names in your program.

They’ll essentially have the role of bridesmaid – without standing and wearing matching bridesmaids dresses at the wedding.

Another option is to designate a specific role to each – one can be a reader at the ceremony, one a candle lighter, one a bell ringer, one a guest book attendant, etc.
-Cori Russell - style and etiquette editor

Problem Bridesmaid - Kick Her Out Of The Wedding Party?

Q: One of my bridesmaids is driving me nuts. She criticizes every decision I make and is ruining the whole process. Can I kick her out of the wedding party?
-Leslie-

A: Ideally you two should sit down and talk it out. Ask what's bothering her and try to determine why she has issues with the decisions you're making. Perhaps she's jealous? If this is the case, a good talk between two friends may solve the issue. If she continues to behave badly, you have two choices: 1) tell her that while you value her friendship, you feel it would be best if she were no longer in the wedding party (tread lightly here though, as this may be a fatal blow to the friendship) or 2) assuming that you really do value her friendship, ask your maid-of-honor to run interference with bridesmaidzilla until after the wedding.
-Cori Russell - Style and Etiquette Editor

Find Tons of Ideas for Bridesmaids Gifts

They have done so much for you, not only as a part of your wedding party but also as a friend and confidant over the years. How to even begin to say thanks to your bridesmaids? Start by presenting your wedding attendants with heartfelt gifts to express your gratitude.

Looking for an inspiring bridesmaids gift idea? Look no further than through this convenient, interactive Bridesmaids Gift search. Here, you can sort by theme, style or price to view tons of gift ideas that meet your criteria. Best of all - each gift is linked to the online retailer where you can order them in time for your wedding.

Happy Shopping!

The Top 3 Bridesmaid Dilemmas - how to avoid them

After the initial congratulatory exclamations subside, distress can erupt on the bridesmaid front. From gripes about bridesmaids' dresses and wedding planning logistics, to deeper issues of insecurity and envy, even the best support systems can buckle under the strain. But you know that a blissful wedding day relies on a happy bridal party – and the best way to ensure that is to avert potential problems in advance. Here is a list of common stumbling blocks on the road to a happy bridal party – and tips to avert them:

1. Dilemma - Attire Backfire
There is a reason for the clichéd status of the heinous bridesmaid dress – and that’s because some brides just don’t think before selecting the “perfect” ensemble for their ‘maids.
Problem Solved – seriously consider allowing your attendants (or maybe just your maid of honor) to help in the dress-selection process. You can designate a color and even the style, and let them find something that suits them. There really isn’t even a rule that says they all have to match. Here is a great Bridesmaid Dress Search tool to help you and your maids find a style you can all agree on.

2. Dilemma - Money Woes
No doubt about it – being a bridesmaid is a costly endeavor, and almost every wedding party in history has included some gripes about expenses.
Problem Solved - be considerate. Don't book the room block at a 5 star hotel; don't insist your bachelorette bash be an extravagant weekend at a fancy resort; don't mandate every girl get their hair and makeup done (unless you're footing the bill.) Remember – yours is probably not the only wedding they'll be in this year – or even this month – so try to mitigate expenses at every turn.

3. Dilemma - Green with Envy
It’s often hard for us to admit – but most girls do have a bit of a jealous streak. While it’s not always intentional, it can be difficult to be completely happy for your newly-engaged friend when faced with the prospect of being the last person sitting at the singles table.
Problem Solved – reach out. Arrange a girls’ night, and celebrate your ‘maids for a change. And don’t just talk about the wedding; ask them about their lives too. Just remember to always keep the lines of communication open and be a friend.

Read even more tips on keeping your bridesmaids and wedding party happy.