Breaking The Ice: Getting Your Bridesmaids To Mingle

It's not uncommon for bridesmaids to be a mix of family members, friends, and people from different parts of the bride's life, so it's likely they won't all know each other. While it's the bride's responsibility to introduce them, the maid of honour can also help to ease the process. Here are some ways to get bridesmaids to bond and get to know each other:

- Set up a group text, email, or Facebook page. This will help them get to know each other and keep up with wedding details.

- Create a Guesterly Book, a booklet with photos and information about each bridesmaid, so they can learn more about one another.

- Try to set up an in-person meeting, such as a group cooking class, a winery tour, or a dinner at the bride's favourite spots.

- Host a brunch and share stories about each bridesmaid.

- Do a friendship photo shoot.

- Go away for a weekend or host a sleepover.

Set up a group chat

Setting up a group chat is a great way to get your bridesmaids to get to know each other, especially if they are spread out across the country or even the world. It's an easy way to get everyone talking and break the ice. Here are some tips on how to set up and use a group chat to help your bridesmaids bond:

• Choose a Platform: Decide on a messaging platform that works for everyone. It could be a simple group text, or you could use an app like Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, or even a dedicated wedding planning app like The Bridesmaid App. Consider everyone's comfort and familiarity with different apps, as well as their features. For example, some apps offer more interactive and collaborative features, which could be useful for planning.
• Include Everyone: Make sure to add all the bridesmaids to the chat, including the maid of honour. This way, everyone can be involved in the conversation and get to know each other.
• Start the Conversation: As the bride, you can kick things off with a simple introduction thread. Share everyone's names, roles, and contact information. This will help the bridesmaids put names to faces and know who they are talking to. You can also share a fun icebreaker question to get the conversation flowing, like "What's your favourite memory with the bride?" or "What are you most looking forward to about the wedding?"
• Encourage Interaction: Encourage your bridesmaids to use the group chat as a space to connect and plan. They can share inside jokes, funny stories, and logistical details about the wedding. If they are planning any pre-wedding events like the bridal shower or bachelorette party, the group chat will be a useful space to coordinate.
• Share Important Information: The group chat is also a great place to share important wedding-related information, such as dates for the engagement party, bridal shower, rehearsal dinner, and, of course, the wedding day. You can also use it to discuss bridesmaid dress shopping, hair and makeup plans, and any other details that need everyone's input.
• Respect Boundaries: While the group chat is a great tool for communication, be mindful of everyone's time and preferences. Not everyone may want to be part of a constant group conversation, so try to keep the chat focused and avoid sending lengthy messages or excessive messages. Respect everyone's responses, and if some people prefer to opt out, that's okay too.

Remember, the group chat is just one tool to help your bridesmaids get to know each other. You can also encourage in-person meetings, phone calls, or other activities to foster bonding and create a supportive bridal party dynamic.

Meet in person

Meeting in person is a great way to get your bridesmaids acquainted with each other. Here are some tips to facilitate these introductions and help your bridal party get to know one another:

Initiate Communication

It is important to take the lead and initiate communication between your bridesmaids. Start by gathering everyone's contact information, including names, roles, email addresses, and phone numbers. Share this with your bridesmaids so they can reach out to one another.

Set Up a Group Chat

Create a group chat, text, or email thread that includes all the bridesmaids. This will be a space for them to interact, plan, and get to know one another. It can also be a platform to share ideas, discuss bridal shower and bachelorette party plans, and establish a go-to person for any issues that may arise.

Host a Casual Get-Together

Organise a casual meet-and-greet for your bridesmaids to interact and socialise in a relaxed setting. This can be a fun brunch at your favourite restaurant, a cocktail bar outing, or even a happy hour at your place. If some of your bridesmaids are located in different parts of the world, you can also do this virtually via video conferencing platforms like Skype.

Explore Common Interests

Plan activities that will bring your bridesmaids together and help them discover common interests. For example, you could suggest a group cooking class, a winery tour and tasting, or a unique activity like tea leaf readings or tarot card readings. These shared experiences will create a comfortable atmosphere for your bridesmaids to bond and form memories.

Learn Something Together

Taking a class together is another excellent way to foster camaraderie among your bridesmaids. It provides built-in entertainment and gives them a shared topic to discuss and bond over. For instance, you could suggest surfing lessons if you're having a beach wedding, or a mixology class to create your signature wedding cocktail.

Facilitate In-Person Introductions

If your bridesmaids are local, make it a priority to introduce them to each other in person. This can be done through individual or small group meetings, such as a game night or happy hour at your place. These face-to-face interactions will help break the ice and create a more personal connection between your bridesmaids.

Remember, as the bride or maid of honour, your role is crucial in facilitating these introductions and creating a supportive and friendly dynamic within your bridal party.

Play games

Games are a great way to get your bridesmaids to bond and get to know each other. Here are some ideas for games to play to get the party started and the conversation flowing:

The Ring Game

This is a simple but fun game that will get your bridesmaids interacting and getting to know each other. Display a sign and a pile of plastic rings at the entrance to your party. Each guest takes a ring on their way in, and the aim is to avoid saying the words "wedding" or "bride". If they do, another guest can steal their ring. The guest with the most rings at the end of the party wins a prize!

Find the Guest

This game can be played casually throughout the party or with a competitive twist. Place game cards and pens in a central area and have guests fill in the cards with unique facts about themselves. They then have to find other guests who match the descriptions. For a faster-paced game, have guests search for matches after eating, with the fastest person to complete their card winning a prize.

Who Am I – Celebrity Edition

This game is a fun and engaging icebreaker, perfect for groups of all sizes and ages. Write the name of a celebrity on a sticky note and attach one to each guest's forehead. Guests then have to ask yes or no questions to deduce the name of the celebrity on their forehead.

Romantic Comedy Charades

Get your guests acting out famous scenes and titles from romantic comedies in this hilarious game. Guests team up and mime scenes without speaking, while the others guess what they are portraying. This game will test movie knowledge and acting skills, creating an atmosphere of laughter and camaraderie.

The Toilet Paper Dress Game

This classic and humorous game will get your guests' creative juices flowing as they split into teams and use toilet paper to design a wedding dress for one of their team. It's a fun way to get guests interacting and working together, and is sure to generate laughter and memorable photos.

Bridal Shower Bingo

A twist on the classic game, bridal shower bingo is tailored to the occasion. Players fill in their bingo cards with gifts they think the bride will receive, then mark them off as she opens her presents. It's a fun way to add excitement to the gift-opening process and keep guests engaged.

Two Truths and a Lie

This classic game is a great way to get your bridesmaids chatting and learning more about each other. Have everyone come up with two truths and one lie about themselves, then take turns sharing them, in no particular order, as confidently as possible. The others then have to guess which statement is a lie.

Heads Up

Download the "Heads Up" app for a hilarious game that can be played in teams or individually. Each player must describe a word that appears on the screen without using any of the words listed. For example, if the word is "cup", you could say "you drink out of it". The team with the most words guessed correctly wins!

Pre-Wedding Field Day

A little friendly competition is a great way to get your bridesmaids bonding. Divide your party into teams and create an obstacle course with challenges such as three-legged races or passing water from one bucket to another. This will bring out the competitive side of your bridesmaids in a relaxed environment.

The Shoe Game

This game will challenge how well your bridesmaids know you and each other. Set up two chairs back-to-back and take off your shoes. Hand one shoe to the person on the other chair and keep the other yourself. An MC then reads out obscure questions, and you raise the shoe that you think the answer relates to. Neither you nor the other person can see each other's answers, but it will create laughter for the audience.

So there you have it, plenty of games to get the party started and your bridesmaids chatting, laughing, and getting to know each other!

Share stories

Sharing stories is a great way to get your bridesmaids to bond and get to know each other. Here are some ideas to facilitate this:

Host a Brunch

Host a brunch for your bridesmaids and share your favourite stories about each of them. It can be heartfelt, hilarious, or something in between. This is a great opportunity to thank your bridesmaids for their support and also to tell them why they are so important to you. While sharing these stories, you can also find ways to connect your bridesmaids—maybe they met in a similar way, know someone in common, or had the same experiences, like hating the same professor in college. Helping them find common ground will facilitate their bonding.

Create a Guesterly Book

Ask each of your bridesmaids to answer a short questionnaire and include their photo and information in a cute booklet. Share this booklet with your bridal party so they can learn more about each other before the big day. This is a great way to facilitate ice-breaking and conversation among your bridesmaids.

Start a Group Text or Email Chain

A group text or email chain is a simple and effective way to introduce your bridesmaids to each other. It can start as a place for everyone to say hi and share basic information, but it can quickly evolve into a space for sharing inside jokes, funny stories about the bride, or logistical details about the wedding. It is also a convenient platform for planning bridal showers and bachelorette parties, allowing your bridesmaids to connect and plan without constantly going through you.

Girls' Night Out

Organise a get-together that isn't entirely centred around the wedding, such as a night out for dinner and drinks or a day trip to a local winery. This creates a comfortable setting for your bridesmaids to bond and get to know each other beyond the context of the wedding. While there will likely be some wedding talk, be sure to encourage other topics of conversation so that everyone has a chance to open up and connect on a more personal level.

Girls' Night Games

If your bridesmaids have already met and you want to add a fun element to their interactions, consider organising a girls' night with games! There are many games that can serve as icebreakers and facilitate storytelling, such as "That's What She Said". These games will not only create a fun and relaxed atmosphere but will also encourage your bridesmaids to share stories and learn more about each other.

Create a questionnaire

A bridesmaid questionnaire is a great way to get to know your bridal party and help with wedding planning. It can be used to gather important information about your bridesmaids' preferences, strengths, and limitations, and it can also be a fun way to get everyone involved and excited about the wedding. Here are some tips and suggestions for creating a bridesmaid questionnaire:

Format and Delivery:

You can create your questionnaire using an online survey tool such as Google Forms, Airtable, or SurveyMonkey, which allows for easy sharing and privacy for respondents. Alternatively, you can send it via email or print and distribute physical copies. If your bridal party has an active group chat, you can also share the questionnaire there, but it's best to reserve the chat for discussions rather than the questionnaire itself. Don't forget to set a deadline and follow up with any bridesmaids who may need a reminder.

Questions to Include:

• Scheduling and Accommodations: Ask about any conflicts or commitments that may affect their availability, pre- or post-wedding events they won't be able to attend, their travel plans, and accommodation needs.
• Budget: Find out how much they are willing to spend on their dress, hair and makeup services, the bachelorette party, and the bridal shower.
• Style and Beauty: Understand their dress and shoe size, colour and style preferences, jewellery preference, and how they plan to wear their hair and makeup.
• Wedding Planning: Ask about any specific talents or roles they'd like to take on during the planning process, pre-wedding event ideas, tasks they'd like to avoid, and their availability for set-up.
• Bachelorette Party: In addition to budget, find out their activity and location preferences, ideal duration, dietary restrictions, and song requests.
• Support and Suggestions: Ask how you can best support them throughout the process and if there's anything else they'd like to discuss or add.

Remember to keep the questionnaire detailed but concise, and assure your bridesmaids that their responses will be kept confidential. A well-crafted questionnaire will help you plan a wedding that considers the needs and preferences of your bridal party, making the experience more enjoyable for everyone.

Frequently asked questions