A good wedding brings everyone together and its a great excuse to spend some time with your besties. There will be so many times that you need their help and advise before the big day that it is really important you choose the right ladies. Valleys Bride Vicci tells us all about the special way that she went about asking the bridesmaids to be a part of the wedding. If you missed Vicci’s first post find it here . Over to you Vicci.
The Bridal Party & The Asking
Hello Again! So before I delve into too much detail about Wedding Planning, I thought this a good opportunity to introduce you to the Bridal party. I’m as sure as there is rain pouring down outside (and right now it really is resembling a tropical storm, but without the amazing lightning and thunder), I will be speaking about them throughout my blogs, and of course they are a big part of the day.
So my Mam and I are very close, and as an interior designer and artificial florist, she will most definitely be helping me with colour schemes and all things decorative (winner!). This does not mean that I do not have ideas of my own. Oh no no no, quite the opposite in fact, my Pinterest and phone gallery are bursting at the seams already. My Mam will most definitely be ensuring that I keep everything in line with our chosen theme and not getting to carried away. (Warning, off tangent alert – very me to do this, I would liken myself to a Miranda character who does get side-tracked from time to time, ok a lot!)
Now, at this point, I must share that there will be limited sharing of specifics and details within my blogs, but plenty of reference to (sorry if that is confusing). The reason for this is that we are keeping things small and intimate, and want to surprise our guests (hopefully some of whom will read these blogs).
(Back on track)
So on to my Maid Of Honour; Hollie. I would, and do often describe Hollie as the happiest person I have ever met! She is always smiling, always looks on the positive and is never in a mood. Exactly the person you need when you know you may need someone to look at the positive and keep you upbeat (off tangent alert – I hear Wedding planning can get stressful, and that things don’t always go to plan…..hmmm!!!). Hollie and I have known each other for many years, and don’t really know how. You see, we didn’t go to school together, we have never worked together, we aren’t the same age, and we have different friendship circles (strange I know). We have however come to the conclusion that it must be through our Mam’s. As I referred to earlier, my Mam was an artificial florist, and Hollie’s mam was a very good customer! Hollie and I have many a story to tell about each other….that seems like a good point to move on!
(doing very well to stay on track, even if I say so myself)
So Bridesmaid number 1 comes in the form of Noodle (or Nicole). Nicole wasn’t always called Noodle, her name stems from her private number plate that really resembles the word Noodle! Noodle and I worked together many moons ago, and have remained in contact. Noodle is the organised bridesmaid, and also the voice of reason. Noodle has a heart of gold and I know she will be a huge support to me.
Completing my bridesmaid line up is my sister-in-law to be, Kelly. As you will recall from my first blog, Jamie is 4 years my junior, but is his sister is only 18 months younger than me so we have a lot in common and naturally we have become very close. So close, that Kelly now forms part of my friendship group, and has made friends with my friends. Kelly really is my sister-in-law to be but also a fab friend and I’m sure she will make our day as special as possible.
The Asking…
As I have introduced to you the Bridal Party, I feel it only right to share with you how I asked them to be a part of mine & Jamie’s big day…
So, after we got engaged, Jamie and I discussed who we wanted to form our Bridal Party and Groomsmen. Once that was decide, I spent hours scouring through Pinterest and Googling interesting, unusual, fun and sentimental ways of asking them. I really couldn’t make up my mind, I really had given myself a strong case of idea overload! Whilst I had so many ideas, they really were a bit more ‘showy’ than personal.
Then came the light bulb moment (ping)! I decided to be creative, and do what I really wanted;
- A sentimental poem
- A satin dressing gown to be worn whilst we get ready on the morning of the Wedding with their names and their part in our big days on them
- A suitable chick flick for the night before;
- Made of Honour for the Maid of Honour
- Bridesmaids for the Bridesmaids
Ta-Da!!!
So that was the idea, next came the hatching of the plan to ask them, or should I say plans, as all 3 are very different….
Plan Hollie …
We planned a night out to celebrate our engagement and Hollie’s birthday. You see, we never buy presents for each other, but instead do like to celebrate every opportunity possible with a meal! We decided upon our favourite Indian Restaurant, and headed out. Hollie looked quite confused when I gave her a little gift bag, and told me off for buying her a present.
As I said earlier, Hollie is the happiest person I know, so when she saw the Made of Honour DVD on the top, she started laughing hysterically, but hadn’t really clicked on to what was happening, joking ‘Oh my gosh Vic, are we going to have to watch these types of films all the time’, thinking that I was cracking a joke!
Then she saw the dressing gown with her name on, and just looked confused (still laughing may I add – could have been the wine, but the night was still young).
Finally she opened the card with the Maid of Honour poem inside! Finally the penny dropped…
Needless to say, by this point we were all in fits of laughter, and Hollie shot out of her chair, chuffed to bits that I had asked her, thanking Jamie and I for asking her to be part of our day!
Plan Noodle…
Hmmm, different kettle of fish here! Very suspicious, a little like myself! I know Noodle loves a bargain I thought!
So, a creative white lie later, I arranged to visit Noodle with a dress I had bought in a wrong size in the sales (not really). ‘Too good to send back’, I told her!
So I popped up her house with my little fore-mentioned bag of goodies.
Very different reaction to Hollie! She saw the dressing gown first, and immediately got emotional, and with bleary eyes grabbed hold of me very tightly (a little too tightly if I’m honest) and begun thanking me over and over!
And last but by no means least…
Plan Kelly…
Kelly was quite heavily pregnant, when I asked the other girls, and I didn’t want her to get involved in the stress of planning a hen until my nephew arrived (he’s sooooo lush, I could eat him, may I add I won’t though, obviously not, maybe a little bite, haha…).
So a little after Lucas was born, I invited Kelly to pop in to ours when she was free. She called over, and I gave her a bag with her dressing gown in.
Here comes reaction number 3…’really, you want me’ she said repeatedly. Such a lovely genuine reaction of shock from my future sister-in-law!
So my tip really for all you brides to be joining me on such a lush journey, is to enjoy and make the most of each and every part of this journey, especially sharing your excitement with your bridal party.
Seeing their reactions to being asked really was a huge memorable experience for me, and one which I am glad I thought through and planned…
Until next time,
Mwah x
I think that you can agree that asking the bridesmaids is so exciting but if you can make it memorable for them as well even better. If any of you have any stories of asking your bridesmaids then please drop us an email info@wordpress.com ~ Kate
