Generally brides choose friends and cousins of their own age to be their bridesmaids. But you can also have junior bridesmaids at your wedding between eight and fourteen years of age. Besides if you are quite close to someone elder to you, you can ask her to be your senior bridesmaid like an aunt.

If we delve into the history of bridesmaids, we find that their role was a bit different in the earlier times. They acted as protectors of the bride and their dresses were not as fashionable as of today.

Let's go back in time to find out how the custom of bridesmaids started:

The history of the bridesmaid varies across cultures and time periods. During early Roman times, bridesmaids wore almost identical dresses as the bride. They would also accompany the bride to her groom's village. This custom was followed to prevent evil spirits from harming the bride and to ensure that the bride was safe and sound. The motive behind dressing identically was to confuse the evil spirits who intend to harm the bridal couple.

Bridesmaids were also responsible for protecting the bride from robbers or suitors who might try to hurt her or steal her dowry. In later years, Romans made it mandatory that there must be at least 10 attendants at a wedding ceremony to ensure the safety of the bride.

Bridesmaids accompany bride on a very special day of her life and it is a custom to gift them so as to thank them for their efforts, love and affection. Brides can shower them with gifts ranging from earrings, necklaces, bracelets, gloves, scarves, body products, aromatic candles, chocolates or even bottles of wine and wine glasses.

Although bridesmaids today no longer wear identical dresses, their dresses are still chosen keeping in mind the style of the wedding dress and overall theme of the wedding. Their role is vast right from assisting the bride in shopping, booking hotel rooms for out-of-town guests to hosting bachelorette party and bridal shower.

The bridesmaid dress can slightly vary in design or color of the wedding dress but it should complement the bridal dress and overall theme of the wedding. Considering the body shapes of all bridesmaids are different, you can opt for A line dress or empire cut dress as they suit almost all body types and look great too.

Bridesmaid's dresses nowadays come in a variety of styles and designs and are very fashionable and stylish. For instance, and Forever yours bridal gowns come in an array of styles right from classic, informal, elegant to trendy. You can check out the bridal stores offering bridesmaids dresses by Alexia, Forever yours, Dessy and other designers. But make sure that you take along your bridesmaids and don't force them to buy something that they don't wish to wear. After all, they have to wear the bridesmaid dress and they need to feel comfortable and happy in it.