Your best girlfriends are going to be your bridesmaids; let the celebrating commence! But what are their responsibilities? What should you expect from them regarding party planning, hosting, and all related expenses? Hi Cheryl, I am getting married in a few months and have a total of eight bridesmaids, including a Matron of Honor. My […]

Wedding guests often wonder whether they should give the couple a gift, even if it means incurring travel expenses to attend the wedding. Dear Cheryl, I am going to my nephew’s wedding celebration out of state. The couple is already married. I have to purchase a flight and a hotel room, so I’m wondering: am I expected […]

One of the most frequently discussed topics on our @askarealbride Instagram page is bridesmaids. I hear variations of these questions all the time: How do I choose my bridesmaids? What if I don’t want the chaos of a huge bridal party? Will my friends be disappointed if they aren’t asked to be in the wedding? […]

Choosing your bridal party can feel like solidifying your inner circle: it’s a big decision that carries symbolic weight, as well as real-life responsibilities. Your bridesmaids are your best friends, but they’ll also be your advisors, party planners, personal assistants, and more in the months leading up to the wedding. So how’s a bride to […]

We’ve all heard the joke, “Always a bridesmaid, never a bride.” So when it’s finally your turn to be the one in white, you may struggle with two conflicting feelings: Brides juggling those conflicting emotions reach out to me week after week on our @askarealbride Instagram page with questions like this: The key to answering […]

Dear Brides, Choosing your bridesmaids is one of the first decisions you’ll make after becoming engaged. Most friends are honored to stand by your side as you say, “I do!” Yet year after year, my inbox is filled with stories and dilemmas from bridesmaids who are struggling to fulfill their responsibilities and remain friends with […]

Bridesmaids for a day and best friends for life, don’t forget to say thank you and hold on to your girls tight! If you’re anything like me, finding your tribe is almost as important as finding your guy! As a former bride and bridesmaid herself, I am here to share with you all the ways […]

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 […]

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 […]

Wedding planning comes with lots of decisions and questions, and sometimes, finding an answer requires some crowdsourcing. That’s how the Ask a Real Bride Instagram account came to be, and this month’s question is the perfect example of women coming together to help each other in the wedding planning process! A Real Bride asks: “Hi! […]

‘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! […]

With the Fourth of July right around the corner, we’re feeling extra patriotic! A July 4th wedding (or a patriotic-themed celebration any time of year) adds a playful, red, white, and blue twist to a traditional wedding. From star-spangled outfits to a menu full of classic American favorites, every detail can reflect the spirit of […]

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 […]

Bridesmaid dress? Ordered! Bridal shower? Check. Bachelorette weekend? Done! After months of anticipation, a few pre-wedding festivities, and around a thousand messages in the group chat, you might get the sense that your bridesmaid duties are winding down. But the hours leading up to the ceremony are some of the most crucial moments for bridesmaids: […]

Throughout the wedding planning process, the mother of the bride takes on many roles: she often plays the part of organizer, budgeter, coordinator, counselor, and confidante. But is “shower hostess” a title that should be taken on by the MOB? With the help of our Ask a Real Bride Instagram audience, let’s explore the traditional […]

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 […]