So, you're getting married. You're excited. Not only have you found the love of your life but you're planning the party of a lifetime. Well, Congratulations to you and your sweetheart. Marriage is a truly wonderful thing and it is great that you've found that special someone to share your life. However, before you get too involved in the actually wedding planning, don't forget that you also have to plan a party for your best friends. I'm not talking about the typical bachelorette party where you go out for one last "night on the town" before the "big day". Instead, I'm talking about the traditional gratitude luncheon that is specifically geared toward finishing up those last minute details and showing your bridesmaids and maid of honor how much you value their friendship and assistance.
In a nutshell the bridesmaid luncheon is a traditional party that can be a casual or formal affair. It can be a huge party or small get together where you and your friends get together and celebrate your friendship, how much they mean to you, and celebrate your upcoming nuptials. In this article, we'll discuss how to plan special bridesmaid luncheon that you and your girlfriends will enjoy and treasure for years to come.
Here are some tips to have a successful bridesmaid luncheon:
Don't wait until the last minute and then haphazardly throw your luncheon together. Instead plan out your special day. Make sure that everyone attends and that you have a special place set out. For instance, will you go shopping first and then have lunch or will you finish up wedding plans a few days before and then have the party the next day. Whatever you do, just remember to plan out these events about 1-2 weeks beforehand.
Inform everybody of your plans. Make sure that you give everyone plenty of notice and inform them of what you'll be doing during this special day. For instance, if you would like them to meet you at the final dress fitting or first shop for accessories then say so. Just make sure that everyone is on the same page.
Combine tradition with fun. Some great customs that you might want to include are passing out favorite recipes, writing special friendship notes and giving them to your friends or making a cake with a trinket inside for each bridesmaid. Just make it special and make sure that each friend is told how much you appreciate and value her friendship.
Have a blast. Remember this is your bridesmaids' special day so have a great time. After all, this is your special time to celebrate their friendship and to have fun in the process. So do it and enjoy the moment!
In conclusion, having a bridesmaid luncheon is a great way to tie up loose wedding planning ends and demonstrate how special your friends are to you. It is a time to explore your friendship and tighten the friendship bond before you celebrate your big day. By planning your bridesmaid luncheon and going with the flow, you'll create a special luncheon that will be enjoyed and talked about for years and years to come!
The Bridesmaid Luncheon is a southern tradition, but modern brides enjoy using it for current wedding traditions. A casual bridesmaid luncheon is a wonderful setting to delegate last minute tasks, introduce out-of-town guests, and present your bridesmaid gifts. This pre-wedding luncheon is all about showing your appreciation to the ladies that close to you. Since they have helped you celebrate your relationship with your fianc by hosting a bridal shower and a bachelorette party, the least you can do is host a brunch in their honor. Here is a Victorian wedding tradition on how to throw a fabulous bridesmaid luncheon.
A New Twist on Tea Attire
It doesn't so much matter, the formality of the affair, but the importance is making everyone have a good time and feel comfortable. This is not high-tea at the Ritz Carlton. Whether you host your tea at your home or bread and breakfast, make formal attire optional. Bridesmaid luncheons are held the day before the wedding when everyone is a bit stressed. A fun way to lighten the mood is with music and finger fare, like tiny sandwiches and chocolate-covered strawberries. A few edible wedding favors are another option. It is also a nice gesture to offer a signature punch or mimosas for the ladies and adorn the champagne or punch glasses with wedding theme wine charms. This is a perfect touch for the toast and speech that the bride will give to honor the ladies that are close to her
Past and Present Tea Traditions
When hosting your bridesmaid luncheon, throw in a few festive tea traditions. A popular tradition is the Victorian wedding cake charm tradition. You can pick out individual wedding cake charms for each woman that is close to you. The charms also come in standard sets of 6 or sets of 10 cake pulls. In the Victorian Era, a Bride would place wedding cake charms into the bottom layers of her wedding cake. Each bridesmaid pulls a ribbon from the wedding cake and discover the cake charm dangling from the other end of the ribbon, revealing her fortune. Wedding cake charms are used at the Bridesmaid Luncheons, where each bridesmaid pulls one ribbon from the center of a bundt cake to find her cake charm and her fortune is revealed.
The Best Time for Bridesmaid Gifts
A great time to hand out your bridesmaid gifts is at the bridesmaid luncheon. It's standard etiquette, so if you're planning a bridesmaid luncheon, take the opportunity to present your bridesmaid gifts. Thank your bridesmaids in a speech for putting up with you throughout the wedding planning process. If you invited your mother or future mother-in-law, be sure to thank them in your champagne toast.
A ladies luncheon is the one last time to get together before your wedding day. It can be a casual afternoon tea party, spa day, bridesmaid brunch or a barbeque. You don't have to make it super traditional and stuffy, so long as you find a way to honor your friends.
Both Jim Ecklund & Jenny Moore are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Jim Ecklund has sinced written about articles on various topics from Wedding Bells, Wedding Invitation Ideas and Blogging. Jim Ecklund is an ordained Deacon in the White Robe Monks of St. Benedict.If you are interested in finding more