My 7-year-old daughter recently looked lost in thought. When I asked her what she was thinking about, she said, with a great deal of concern, “Mom. Who do you think my bridesmaids will be?” Even the littlest girls understand that choosing your bridal party is like solidifying your inner circle: whether we admit it or […]

‘Tis the season for a little (or a lot) of bling! Every holiday season, new engagement rings and lots of wedding plans scroll past on my social media timelines. When I got engaged and asked my 2 best girlfriends if they would be my bridesmaids, I accompanied the card with a mini bottle of champagne! […]

Making Sure Your Bridesmaids Are Still Your Friends After the Big Day Dear Bride, Congratulations! We know you’ve always dreamed of your wedding day, and part of that dream is having your best friends stand by your side as you marry the love of your life! I’m here to make sure that those best friends […]

Hosting a bridal dinner is a not-so-common way to ask your favorite girls to be your bridesmaids, but my step-daughter’s turned out so beautifully that we now highly recommend it! Shortly after Meleah got engaged, she decided who was going to be in her wedding party and she couldn’t wait to ask each one of […]

Your best girls are going to be your best bridesmaids; let the celebrating commence! But what are they responsible for? What should you expect from them in regards to the party planning, hosting, and all related expenses? Hi Cheryl, I am getting married in May and have a total of eight bridesmaids including a Matron […]

Being asked to be a bridesmaid for a friend’s wedding is exciting. But when the questions of travel, lodging, the bachelorette party and the wedding day itself arise, the bridesmaid may wonder, “Am I supposed to pay for that?” Money conversations are always awkward, but before you say yes to the honor of being a […]

As with all things “wedding year,” throwing a bridal shower comes with certain rules of etiquette—and we don’t just mean for the host. Whether you’re the host, a guest, or even the bride herself, follow the rules below to find out what you should and should not do. Bridal Shower Etiquette for the Bride It’s […]

You’ve been there before…your best friend just asked you to be in her wedding. You’re thrilled you get to stand with her on her big day. Thrilled that is, until you remember that you have to wear a bridesmaids dress. Fast forward a bit. Now it’s your big day and you’ve asked your closest girlfriends […]

From the bridal shower to the big day, follow these tips to be the best bridesmaid a bride could ask for! Being chosen as a bridesmaid is no casual commitment — when a close friend or family member asks you to stand up at the altar next to them on the biggest day in their […]

Hosting a bridal shower for the first time? Ace the celebration by following these eight easy steps! So, you’ve been tasked with throwing your very first bridal shower. While it might seem daunting, consider it a vote of confidence and accept the challenge. As the maid/matron of honor or a close family member/friend of the […]

What should you put in your bridesmaid bundles? Discover our 6 simple steps to a beautiful DIY assortment… Brides, it’s time to pop the question! Yep, you read that right — your fiance may have gotten down on one knee to ask for your hand in marriage — now you get to have the fun […]

When it comes to wedding movies, Father of the Bride will always be my #1. But have you ever noticed that we spend almost 2 hours watching Steve Martin and his family agonize over the planning (and paying) for the wedding, but the actual wedding scenes themselves only take up a few minutes? And most […]

Dear Cheryl, Help! I am getting married in 3 months and so far my bridesmaids haven’t helped me with anything! I’m starting to believe they think being a bridesmaid means they get to wear a pretty dress and walk down the aisle. The only time we have all been together was to pick out said […]

Gone are the days when every bridesmaid was forced to wear an identical dress, no matter her size, shape, or preference. Thankfully, the latest trend for bridesmaids calls for diversity in color and style, rather than conformity to just one dress—which allows for freedom to find a frock that flatters each individual girl! Brides, listen […]

Show each individual in your bridal party just how much you appreciate them with a personalized gift before the wedding. There is nothing accidental about a bridal party. Each individual bridesmaid and groomsman holds a special place in your lives as a couple — whether they’re childhood friends, siblings, or college buddies — and they’ve […]

We all know the saying, “tis better to give than to receive.” But both givers and receivers have run into the awkward situation of what I call “the missing gift:” for brides, that means not receiving a gift, and for givers, not receiving an acknowledgement of a gift they’ve given, leaving them wondering if the […]