Bridesmaids: Tasks To Delegate And How To Ask

Planning a wedding can be a stressful and time-consuming process. It is important to delegate tasks to ensure the process runs smoothly and that the bride can enjoy the day. Bridesmaids are often tasked with a variety of responsibilities to help ease the burden on the bride. These tasks can include sending out invitations, ensuring the bridal party is on time, keeping the getting-ready room clean, being a point of contact for vendors, and rounding up family members for photos. Other tasks that can be delegated to bridesmaids include planning the bachelorette party, overseeing the purchase of bridesmaid dresses and accessories, and recording RSVPs. It is crucial to choose reliable and organised individuals for these tasks and to provide clear instructions and timelines.

Organising the bridal shower

The bridal shower is a more formal affair than the bachelorette party, and the planner is responsible for the event from start to finish, including invitations, food, and entertainment.

• Decorations: Flowers, balloons, pictures of the bride and groom, etc.
• Gift list: Writing down gift information and who gave what while gifts are being opened.
• Games and prizes: Planning and organising games and prizes for guests.
• Set-up and clean-up: Helping to set up before the event and staying behind to help clean up and load gifts into a car.
• Bouquet: Creating a bouquet for the bride to take home by collecting bows from the shower gifts.

It is a good idea to send a group email to all the bridesmaids listing the tasks that need to be done and letting them choose which ones they want to do. This will ensure a quick response and prevent anyone from getting stuck with an unwanted task.

Communicating with vendors

The bridesmaid in charge of vendor communication should be organised and vocal. She should keep track of the wedding day schedule and ensure that all vendors arrive on time and have clear instructions on what is expected of them. It is also essential to exchange her contact information with the vendors beforehand and make sure they know that she is the go-to person on the wedding day. This will relieve stress from the bride and ensure that the vendors have a clear point of contact if they have any questions or concerns.

In the week leading up to the wedding, the delegated bridesmaid can also help by confirming the details with each vendor. She can give them a quick call to ensure they have all the information they need, including directions, arrival times, and any specific requests from the couple. This will allow the couple to relax and focus on enjoying their special day.

Additionally, if there are any final payments to be made to the vendors on the wedding day, the delegated bridesmaid can handle this task. The bride can prepare cash payments in individual envelopes with the vendor's name and payment amount, and the bridesmaid can distribute them accordingly.

By delegating vendor communication to a trusted bridesmaid, the bride can rest assured that everything is under control and focus on enjoying her wedding day.

Keeping the bride's room tidy

Assign a Responsible Bridesmaid: Choose a bridesmaid who isn't afraid to take charge and enjoys keeping things organised. This bridesmaid will be in charge of maintaining the tidiness of the room and ensuring that everyone's belongings are kept in their designated places.

Create a Designated Space for Each Person: Allocate specific areas in the room for the bride, bridesmaids, and anyone else who will be getting ready with the bridal party. This helps to ensure that personal items are not scattered everywhere and makes it easier to locate things when needed.

Establish a "No Eating or Drinking" Rule: Food and drinks can easily cause spills and stains, especially in a room full of people getting ready. To avoid any accidents, designate a separate area for snacks and beverages, preferably away from the bride's getting-ready space.

Provide Storage Solutions: Have plenty of storage options available, such as baskets, boxes, or drawers, where hair tools, makeup, and other essentials can be kept organised and out of the way. Encourage everyone to put items back in their designated places after use.

Implement a "Pack-Up-As-You-Go" Policy: Encourage everyone in the room to pack up their belongings as they finish using them. This prevents a buildup of clutter and makes the final tidying process much faster.

By following these tips and delegating the task of keeping the bride's room tidy to a responsible bridesmaid, you can ensure that the room remains neat and organised throughout the getting-ready process, resulting in smoother transitions during the wedding day and more beautiful "getting ready" photos to cherish forever.

Sending invites

Sending out invites can be a tedious task, so why not make it fun by throwing a little party with your bridesmaids? This way, you can all meet and get to know each other better, and it will be much more enjoyable than doing it alone. Here are some tips and ideas for delegating the task of sending invites to your bridesmaids:

Host a Party:

Turn the task of sending out invites into a fun event by hosting a party with your bridesmaids. This can be a great icebreaker if they don't know each other well. Provide snacks, drinks, and music to make it a festive occasion. During the party, you can work together to fold and address the invites. It will be a memorable experience for everyone involved.

Divide and Conquer:

Assign each bridesmaid a specific task related to sending out the invites. For example, one bridesmaid can be in charge of collecting addresses and contact information, another can be in charge of stuffing and stamping the envelopes, and so on. This will make the process more efficient and ensure that no one person is overwhelmed with work.

Creativity and Personalisation:

Encourage your bridesmaids to get creative with the invites. They can help with designing the invitations or adding personal touches, or even making them by hand if you're going for a DIY approach. If your bridesmaids are crafty, they might enjoy embellishing the invites with ribbons, wax seals, or other decorative elements.

Mailing and Delivery:

Delegate the task of mailing or hand-delivering the invites to your bridesmaids. This can be especially helpful if you have a large guest list or if your bridesmaids live in different areas. They can also be in charge of keeping track of RSVPs and managing the guest list.

Follow-up and Reminders:

Ask your bridesmaids to assist with sending out reminders to guests who haven't responded yet. They can also help with following up on any missing details, such as meal choices or accommodation preferences. Additionally, they can be in charge of communicating with guests who require special arrangements or have specific requests.

Remember, your bridesmaids are there to support you and are usually happy to help. By delegating the task of sending invites, you can turn it into a fun and memorable experience for everyone involved.

Wrangling family members for photos

Family photos are an important part of a wedding, but they can also be chaotic and time-consuming. Wrangling family members for photos is a task that can be delegated to a bridesmaid to ensure that the process runs smoothly and efficiently. Here are some tips to help with this task:

Choose the Right Bridesmaid for the Job

Select a bridesmaid who is organised, vocal, and preferably familiar with most of the family members. This will make it easier for her to communicate with them and ensure they are where they need to be for the photos. Provide her with a list of family photo groupings and the names of the people who should be in each photo. This will help her identify and locate the right people.

Prepare a Detailed Shot List

Work with the photographer to create a comprehensive shot list of all the family photo groupings you want. This will ensure that the process is efficient and that all the desired photos are captured. Communicate this list to the designated bridesmaid so she knows exactly who to look for and can help the photographer gather the right people.

Keep Things Organised and On Schedule

The bridesmaid in charge of wrangling family members should be provided with a timeline and schedule for the photo session. This will enable her to keep track of time and ensure that the photo session stays on schedule. It is also a good idea to provide her with contact information for the family members so she can easily reach out to them if needed.

Communicate with the Photographer

The designated bridesmaid should work closely with the photographer to ensure that the photo session runs smoothly. She can assist the photographer in locating family members, communicating any special requests or concerns, and ensuring that everyone is ready and prepared for each shot. This collaboration will help the photo session flow seamlessly.

Manage Family Dynamics and Special Requests

If there are any special requests or concerns regarding family dynamics, it is important to communicate these to the bridesmaid and photographer in advance. For example, if there are divorced parents or family members who prefer not to be included in certain photos, this information will help the bridesmaid and photographer navigate these dynamics sensitively and efficiently.

Encourage Cooperation and Efficiency

It is important to ensure that family members are cooperative and efficient during the photo session. The bridesmaid can help by reminding them of the importance of timely participation and keeping the atmosphere light and positive. She can also assist in rounding up family members who may wander off or become distracted, gently reminding them of the importance of their presence in the photos.

Frequently asked questions