During early Roman times, bridesmaids formed a kind of bridal infantry as they accompanied the bride to the groom's village. This "protective shield" of similarly outfitted bridesmaids was supposed to scare off any robbers or vengeful suitors tried to hurt the bride or steal the dowry.The Western bridesmaid tradition seems to have originated from later Roman law, which required ten witnesses at a wedding in order to outsmart evil spirits believed to attend marriage ceremonies.
The bridesmaids and ushers were dressed in identical clothing to the bride and groom, so that the evil spirits would not know who was getting married.Even as late as 19th century England, the belief that ill-wishers could administer curses and taint the wedding still existed.
In Victorian wedding photographs, for example, the bride and groom can look very similar to other members of the bridal party!In modern times, bridesmaid are chosen by the bride herself. And they are generally close friends or sisters. Meant to take care of every possible need that the bride might have to confront in her run up to the wedding ceremony and after, and to aid her in other ways, which lay man cannot be allowed to do, they are people who have been taken into confidence.And undoubtedly, they deserve befitting bridesmaid gifts, both for their traditional significance and their modern utility.
Our range of bridesmaid gifts is unlimited and varied, to suit every individual's personal taste. Simple gifts like, dolphin-seashell filled bottle opener, bottle opener- sea shell with thank you tag, funky felt purse/bag, paper album, engraved bookmarks are a few of the many ways to say thank you to your bridesmaids.And if your personal style is close to sophisticated and elegance, you can try the diamond fire covered box, or the compact mirror chrome heart with pouch, which is definitely an elegant wedding favor gift to present to your favorite wedding party guests.They will appreciate your thoughtfulness and good taste when they see the beautiful chrome case featuring a triple layer of hearts in graduated sizes. The black velvet pouch is the perfect presentation package for this useful and glamorous gift. This compact mirror chrome heart with pouch will certainly leave your guests feeling exclusive and remembering your special day for years to come.
Other interesting and unique bridesmaid gifts include the superbly elegant and multiple Karen jewelry case, Rhinestone heart compact, rhinestone heart jewelry box, and the list can go on. T-shirts, bride to be tiara, photo albums, purse key chain, Figaro jewelry box, cosmetics bags, manicure set with a silver heart shaped pouch, double heart pewter finish candle holder and many more.
Whether you are planning to surprise your bridesmaids with a unique gift, or if you are planning to say a simple thank you with an elegant gift, there is everything to fit into your personal taste. Bridesmaid Gifts are the gifts that will be remembered for years to come. From bottle opener's to coasters, manicure sets to cheese boards. Selection is endless.
Wedding & Bridesmaid Dresses
Though it's true that the dress may never be worn again, you also want to factor in that your friends are going to be photographed for posterity. And that you want them to still be your friends at the end of the wedding day.
Make it comfortable
Nothing is worse that a dress that doesn't fit the person. Just because the bride has a certain style in mind for her wedding party, she may want to think of the various shapes as well. Most dresses can be altered to fit most women, but plunging necklines or short skirts may not always be flattering.
One of the ways to avoid this is to ask your bridesmaids for their input on the dress that you choose. You can all go to a bridal store to try on different kinds of dresses. This can be a fun way to start off the bridal excitement—usually this takes place well before the ceremony.
Or you can give everyone some options as to what they would like to wear. Of course, this may mean that one person's choice does not win the vote.
Another option is to let everyone select their own dress, so long as it is a particular color that you want. This actually looks quite classy and each dress will reflect he individual's personality. A lot of brides will buy their wedding party coordinating jewelry to help everyone ‘match.'
Choosing the color
There's a lot to be said for the basic colors that are available. Even if you are decorating the entire reception in lilac, you may not want to choose that color for your bridesmaid dresses. Pastels in general can be tricky.
Here's some advice.
Try to dress your bridesmaids for the season. If it's cooler, then select a deeper shade for the dresses, if it's warm, something lighter might be an option. Try a champagne color or a nearly white option. Not only will this look clean and classy, but you will also avoid the trap of looking like Easter eggs.
When it comes to the bridesmaids dresses, you want to remember that these are people that you love in the party. Talk to them about what they like or what they might like to wear. And although in the end, it will be your decision, you'll have a much better time when the bridesmaids are happy.
Both Joe Palladino & Amy Spade 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.