bridesmaid

Fun With Your Bridesmaid Proposals

The pageantry and rituals surrounding weddings can be exhilarating for many couples. This is evidenced by how many extra steps couples have taken in recent years to add more Insta-worthy moments to their engagement periods. Nowadays, it is commonplace for brides and grooms alike to get creative with aspects of the process that used to be quite simple. Asking people to be a part of the wedding party, for example, has transformed into a series of miniature proposals for many. If you want to go the extra mile for your event, then this idea might be appealing to you.

Bridesmaid proposals are all about asking your gal pals to be a part of your special day. Have some fun with this task by exploring these interesting options. 

Finalize Your List First Fun

Before you start planning the proposals, you should nail down exactly how many people you want in your wedding party. Since you’re asking someone to commit to being a part of your big day, offer a small token of appreciation as a way of saying thanks in advance. Though you don’t have to spend a lot, you still need to account for whatever proposal gifts you purchase so you stay within your budget. 

Finalizing your list in advance will help you figure out how much you can spend on each proposal gift. What’s more, it will also give you a better idea of how to approach what you buy. If you’re interested in customized gifts, getting an early indication of which friends you’d like involved can help you get the ball rolling on the personalization process.  

Go for Something Practical

You absolutely don’t need to go the personalized gift route if you don’t want to. With so many decisions to make about your upcoming event, you might not want to add more choices to the mix. Giving the same item to each member of the wedding party is the best way to keep your stress levels as manageable as possible. One of the best ways to select a present that everyone will appreciate is by grabbing something practical. A scented candle is a gift that anyone can put to immediate use at home.

Go for a Themed Gift

If your wedding is going to have a specific theme, then you can express this through the proposal gifts you grab. A couple hosting a garden party wedding, for example, might want to offer a bouquet of fresh flowers to those they’d like involved. Whether you’re hosting a black-tie affair, an intimate gathering of close friends, or a rustic wedding in a barn, matching the gift to the theme helps to set the tone from the very start.

Go for a DIY Present

When you have a bit of extra time on your hands, you can also explore DIY gift options. Presents made with love are those that tend to hit the heart the hardest. Since the people you want involved with your wedding are some of your closest friends and confidants, it makes sense that you’d want them to feel the emotional weight of the moment. Get as creative as you’d like and explore sites like Pinterest for a little inspiration along your way. 

Go for a Simple Message

In some cases, the best gift is a message. Writing down your thoughts and feelings about those you’d like in your wedding party can cut right to the core of the request. A simple card containing words that come from your heart can do a lot more than any gift could.

Though it is a somewhat new concept, proposing to bridesmaids seems to be one that has gained speed in recent years. No matter what you decide to do, you should always show some type of appreciation to the members of your wedding party at every chance you get.

Five Ideas for Repurposing an Old Bridesmaid Dress

So you’ve gone and done it. You were a really great friend to someone and performed your duties as a bridesmaid exceptionally. This included buying a dress of questionable fashion that you would’ve never gotten on your own. Now the thrill is gone and there’s no way that piece of clothing is staying in your closet. Whether you’re a sustainability-minded person or not, you don’t just want to throw the outfit away. Consider these ideas for repurposing an old bridesmaid dress.

Sell It

You probably paid for the dress, so why not get some of your money back? Websites such as eBay, ThredUp, and others allow you to advertise clothes for resale. If your dress is in good condition and from a label that’s in high demand, you may be surprised what you can fetch for it. Different websites will require different levels of effort when it comes to creating the listing. Take a flattering photo of your dress or a selfie, post it online, and see what happens. You may be saving another bridesmaid some cash.

Donate It

One person’s trash can become another person’s treasure. Donating the dress to a local charity or resale shop is easy enough, but consider that your threads may be the basis for a fabulous outfit for a prom or other event like a sweet sixteen party or quinceañera. Organizations such as Toronto-based The Corsage Project provide prom dresses and makeovers to high school students who can’t afford to go. Your donation could help someone else’s day more special.

Maybe your outfit has a unique appearance that doesn’t lend itself to a second life as formalwear. Theater companies and performance troupes often need gently used clothes. Consider donating to an organization such as Calgary Young Peoples Theatre or the drama club at a local school or college. Someone somewhere can make great use of that outfit.

Repurpose It 

Another option is to reuse or repurpose your dress as a Halloween costume. You could go as a bridesmaid or take inspiration from film, television, or literature. Instead of the Bride of Frankenstein, you could be the “Bridesmaid of Frankenstein.” Get creative with accessories, hair, and makeup, and have fun. You already have the main part of your costume, saving you some money in the process. If you don’t think you’ll get enough mileage out of a Halloween outfit, consider making cushion covers out of the fabric.

Alter It

If you’re more practical and creative, consider making alterations so that the dress can be a regular part of your wardrobe. The classic Disney animated film “Cinderella” featured a ballgown made from cast-off garments and accessories. Shows like “Project Runway” and “Making the Cut” sometimes feature aspiring designers making new garments out of old ones. Scratch your creative itch and make it happen with some scissors, a needle, and thread. Turn a long dress into something appropriate for a hot date or cocktail event.

Gift It 

Married couples will often hold onto items from their wedding day as keepsakes. Items such as wedding programs, party favors, and even pieces of wedding cake are common mementos. Consider giving your dress back to the bride as a keepsake. You can gift it in its original form or send it back reborn as a quilt or cushion. Make things all the more special by sending it as an anniversary present.

When you were a bridesmaid, you stepped up and committed to wearing something that wasn’t in line with your tastes. You paid for a dress and now you can do something else with it. Consider these creative ideas for giving a one-off outfit new life.