Choosing your bridal party and introducing them to each other is one of the most important components of your eventual happiness on the Big Day. Really, the last thing in the world that you want to do before you prepare to walk down the aisle is deal with disputes between bridesmaids or dispel misunderstandings between groomsmen. Ideally they are there to help ensure that your Wedding Day runs as smoothly as possible. So what are some of the ways that you as the bride can do your part to make the Bridal Party's job easier?The first part comes down to choosing your party well. If you have a list of childhood best friends that have known each other since second grade, then consider yourself lucky! But what happens when you are bringing friends from several states and several phases of your life together for the first time? With a little bit of planning on your part, you can ensure that everyone becomes fast friends and has a great time while supporting you on this momentous occasion.
If you are dealing with pressures to include that cousin, friend, step-sister, distant relative twice-removed, and you know that they are not going to be someone that you want to have with you every step of the way, nip that issue in the bud early on. While it might initially create some hurt feelings, in the long run everyone will be much happier.
When my best friend from college was feeling pressured to make her step-sister a bridesmaid, my friend planned a lunch date to talk it over with her step-sister and share with her why she wasn't caving to the pressure. Yes, it might sound cold, turns out that the step-sister wasn't interested in being in the wedding anyway. Much better to have had the conversation early on than to have a glum bridesmaid the day-of. (Believe me, I've photographed weddings with the Glum Bridesmaid. It's hard to Photoshop her out too!)
So once you have your bridal party chosen, think about how far apart everyone lives. Can you plan several small get-togethers to introduce everyone? The ideal would be to have several long weekends together with activities that encourage conversation and interaction. If your bridesmaids are sporty gals, getting them involved in a game of volleyball, laser tag or hitting the local climbing wall might be a great way for them to meet. Even an evening in with Pictionary, charades, arts and crafts and a bowl of popcorn could suffice.
The better your bridal party knows each other, the better they will work as a team. And of course, the better they work as a team, the less stress you will have. You will be able to fully enjoy your Wedding Day, knowing that the people you have chosen to support you will be happy and able to work together.
Jen Kiaba is a photographer and burgeoning crafter who lives in Rhinebeck, NY with her lovely boyfriend, two crazy cats and an adorable basset hound. When her hands aren't covered in tacky glue, she specializes in taking romantic portraits of happy couples in the Hudson Valley!