But, I want them to feel good when they’re at the wedding, too.

One of the many things I love about these girls is how unique all of their personalities are — including their styles.

That’s one of the reasons I’m letting them choose their own bridesmaid dresses.

The only stipulation?  The dresses have to be navy. Other than that, they can be any style, fabric and length that they want.

Some women look at me like I’m nuts when I tell them this. But, here’s the deal — being in several weddings gives you lots of perspective when planning your own. I know what it’s like to have to spend more money than you’d like on a bridesmaid dress or to buy a dress that you don’t feel comfortable wearing. It blows. Yes, being part of the bridal party is an honor and a lot of fun. But, it can also cause emotional and financial stress. I don’t want that for my bridesmaids.

I want the girls to pay as much as they want for  a dress and to buy one that they’ll hopefully wear again at some point. They’ve sent me pictures of what they plan to wear and I have no doubt they’ll look gorgeous, as always. And, having them in different dresses will fit in well with our rustic theme.

Now, I know there are lots of brides who prefer to pick out dresses for their bridesmaids. That’s completely understandable — your wedding day is all about what you’ve been dreaming up. It should reflect your personality and style. Even if they aren’t fans of the dresses, your bridesmaids will happily wear whatever you choose.

If you decide to go this more traditional route, I suggest taking some of the girls shopping so they can try on dresses before you settle on one. That will give you the opportunity to see what the dresses will look like on different body types. You can also get their opinions, which will make them feel like part of the process.

And, what’s better than a day spent shopping with your best girls?

The post Wedding Wednesday: Picking Out Bridesmaid Dresses appeared first on The Broadcasting Baker.

But, having 18 bridesmaids just isn’t my style.

For me, deciding on a bridal party was easy. There were certain people in my life who I knew I wanted by my side on my big day. They’re the girls who know me best and who will help me keep a level head in the days and moments leading up to the ceremony. My two best friends from college will serve as maids of honor while my high school best friend and two cousins will be bridesmaids.

When you have a large group of girls you’re close with, I know narrowing down the list can be difficult. Even with having a small bridal party, I was nervous about hurting people’s feelings by not including them. The great thing about weddings is they’re personal. There’s no rule that says you have to stick to a certain number of bridesmaids. There are also other ways to include people in your wedding day —we’re having my older sister get ordained so she can perform the ceremony. Ultimately, this is your day to celebrate your love and your future with your partner. All decisions should come down to what the two of you want — not what you feel pressured to do.

Once you know who you want to include in your bridal party, the fun part is asking them to be a part of your big day! I wanted to do something special and fun for my girls. Naturally, I turned to Pinterest for suggestions.

I decided to go along with a cute popcorn-themed idea I came across. A local chocolate shop where I was living at the time made several varieties of gourmet caramel corn, which I knew would work perfectly. I attached a tag that included a fun play on words, along with a card that I printed for free from Wedding Chicks.

It was so fun getting calls and texts from the girls with their reactions! It means the world to me that they’ll all play such a big role in our wedding day.

The post Wedding Wednesday: Choosing Your Bridal Party appeared first on The Broadcasting Baker.