Yay, bridesmaids! As y’all have probably picked up by now, BM fashion is one of my fave parts of wedding design- even after doing this job for so long, I always do a big OOOOOH! at any perfectly styled bridesmaid party! And just when I thought I’d seen it all, this year’s bevvy of bridesquad beauties came in and made everything fresh and pretty and awesome once more. From mismatched lineups to ladies rocking the same gown, every one of these 20 examples is sure to inspire! And not just for bridesmaids, for the love of fashion too! Which makes it extra handy that we’ve included lots of shopping options. (Post includes affilate links – SBB may receive a commission on any sales.)
Whether you’re looking for the most awesome bridesmaid gift ideas or christmas shopping for your BFF, you’ll find a selection of unique gifts here – all reasonably priced (bonus!). The holidays are a great time to show your appreciation for your besties, not just for everything they are and all your years of friendship, but for the fact that, let’s be honest, it has probably been all about you in the run-up to your wedding. These are the women who’ve been helping you with DIYs or listened to you endlessly nattering away about colour palettes, created Pinterest boards just for you, or Whatsapped you pics of everything they see that might be perfect for your wedding vision. They’re the ones who’ll be feeding you Rescue Remedy on the big day, and who will be keeping the dancefloor pumping all night long. Basically, they deserve a lovely present. And PS: each of these would also make perfect last minute Christmas gifts for the other women on your list! Links in bold denote affiliate links. SBB may receive a commission for any sales made.
So earlier today, we looked at how to choose your bridal party and as a bonus, I thought we’d look at how to ask them! Bridesmaid proposals have become a THING, and while I don’t think anyone should feel obliged to do any more than sit down with your favourite friend and say, “how about it?”, at the same time it’s such a special moment and doing something special to mark it and make your friends feel loved and appreciated can never be a bad thing! There are some great DIY ideas for bridesmaid proposals out there, but for the time-strapped bride, the makers at Etsy have created a range of super cute gifts that will make saying ‘be my bridesmaid’ a pleasure – everything from wine labels to jewellery to mini unicorn pinatas (!). Here are 20 of our faves! (Links in bold denote affiliate links. The cost to you remains the same, but SBB may receive a commission for any sales made.)
Choosing your bridesmaids! Easy, right? Um, not so much. For some brides, it’s a simple decision, but for many, the whole bridal party selection process can be a huge source of stress. It’s supposed to be fun, but you only have to watch an episode of Say Yes to the Dress: Bridesmaids to see evidence of how easily tensions can creep their way in. And that’s when you also throw in who’s going to be maid of honour and what you’re going to dress them in. For me, your bridal party are a HUGE part of the day (in fact, it’s the only part of my hypothetical wedding that I’ve ever really thought about – forget the dream dress or decor, if George Clooney proposed tomorrow, I just know who I’d want standing up with me). They’re your special witnesses, the people you’ve chosen to go through your life-changing experience with a front row seat. It’s an affirmation of friendship or family bonds, and a chance to make new memories. Those are all good things. So how do you get past the tricky bits? Here are my top tips for picking an all star supporting cast.Read More
Bridesmaid gowns are one of my FAVE parts of weddings, you guys, and let me tell you, when I’m looking at submissions they always catch my eye. And catch my breath sometimes too, because some brides get this so, so right. Whether the look is uniform or mismatched, classic or fashion forward, and whether the colours of the bridesmaid dresses complement or reflect the wedding palette, a well dressed group of ladies always stands out, and they always make the bride look extra amazing (tell THAT to anyone who says your bridesmaids shouldn’t upstage you by looking good). This year we’ve seen such a range of looks, and I loved every one, but eventually managed to narrow them down to these twenty favourites. So get inspired, and then if you like them, get shopping – links in bold denote affiliate links; SBB may earn a commission on any sales made.
We’re still talking fashion but today we’re focusing on the bridesmaid end of the equation. I think when it comes to your girls you have two options – you can go for something that’s more classic and traditional, or you can have a little more fun and pick something on-trend. And yes, if you go for the second option, it’s going to look dated at some point – but then, don’t we all love looking at those pics from our parents and grandparents’ eras and checking out the fashion of the day? Of course, some brides manage to find their balance somewhere in the middle, by picking the more classic-looking of current styles. Whichever way yo go, it’s always worth keeping an eye on the runways in the years leading up to your big day, to get a sense of the cuts and textures and colours that will be available off-the-rack – and you may just fall in love with one of them! So with that in mind, I’ve rounded up ten of the trends that have already begun to make their way into our everyday fashion vocabulary, and that are sure to be the key new bridesmaid looks for 2017 – as well as some of my fave shopping links to get you started. Top image: Aglow Photography/Alana van Heerden on SouthBound Bride
I’ve probably said this before, but one of my absolute favourite times in a wedding day is those blissful (and busy!) few hours spent between a bride and her retinue on the morning of the big day, sipping champagne and giggling with excitement as hair and makeup get done and the big moment approaches. It’s such a special time to spend with your girls – the women who have supported you, and loved you, and are there on this day to usher you into this next magical phase of your life. A memory to cherish. So I’m all for making sure that you all feel pretty and comfortable, even before the dresses are on and the shoe straps are tied. That’s one of the reasons I adore Plum Pretty Sugar, whose whisper-soft robes in garden-inspired prints are perfect for a wedding morning. But beyond that, the Plum Pretty Sugar accessories and apparel are part of a feminine, romantic lifestyle brand, and you’ll feel beautiful in their line long after the wedding day… the honeymoon, newlywed life – even on into maternity. So when Aisle Society bloggers Elizabeth Anne Designs & Coastal Bride teamed up with PPS to create a Southern styled shoot, you can imagine how excited I was to share the images! These pics take us right up to those moments before the walk down the aisle, with the girls in their dreamy PPS Couture bridesmaid gowns, and the beautiful, laughing bride, complete with protea bouquet (you know I love that!) And don’t forget that PPS ships to South Africa, and beyond.
I absolutely LOVE bridesmaid fashion – as you may have noticed by the fact that I regularly round up inspiration from the web and from my favourite shops! It’s such a gorgeous way not only to express your colour palette, but to make your favourite girls look absolutely gorgeous as they help to walk you down the aisle! And as always, bridesmaid fashion has evolved throughout 2015 – from ice cream pastels to pastel prints, for example, or cute little cocktail length gowns to long, elegant ones. There are so many wonderful looks to choose from, and this was seriously a bumper category to narrow down, but in the end I’ve nailed it down to yours and my Top 20. We’ll be breaking some of these down into shoppable ideas in the new year, but for now, let’s take a look back.
I remember when I was little – every Christmas my mom would go to Woolies and pick out little gifts for her girl friends – sniffing all the different flavours of soap and talcum powder (do they even still make this?) and hand cream. I loved helping her, but I didn’t totally get why she would buy them all something similar when she was such a thoughtful gift giver – it seemed like a token gift. Roll on adulthood, and I totally got it. Because when you give someone you love a little something for bath and body, what you’re really giving them is a moment of personal indulgence, an excuse to pamper themselves, a tiny break from the rigours of daily life. Personally, I really love getting little pamper gifts and for a while I’ve been wanting to try making them (because something homemade is always extra special). As it happens, I think these would also make great budget-friendly bridesmaid gifts, especially if you make up a basket for each of your girls to let them know how much you appreciate all the spoiling they’ve been giving you. Here are 15 fab DIY tutorials that will help you do just that.Read More
Can you believe it was only a few years ago that flower crowns were a bit of a rarity in weddings? Now they’re as much of an option for most brides as any veil. But why should the bride get to have all the fun? Flower crowns for bridesmaids are a growing trend, and boy are they pretty. Whether you go for a subtle spray or a statement ring of roses, it can turn a simple bridesmaid look into something really special. So as usual, I’ve rounded up some of my absolute favourite examples from around the wedding web.Read More
