Wedding Party 101

A crash course in all you need to know about preparing your bridal party to look their best on your big day

Bridesmaids

The key to a successful, modern ensemble on your female attendants is to take a step back and allow some individuality to shine.  After selecting and finalizing color and fabric, consider allowing your girls to choose the neckline and silhouette.  This allows you to have all the control you need as both bride to be and head coordinator while at the same time leaving room for a bit of variety within your overall design, making everyone feel like a valid contributor.  Just make sure to have everyone on board with your decisions on hair, make-up, shoes and accessories, that way you won’t have any surprises once it’s time to walk down the aisle!

Groom & Groomsmen

Know the lingo and be sure you can differentiate between a shawl, notched and peaked lapel.  It’s also handy to familiarize yourself with terms such as boutonnière and how accessories such as ties, vests and pocket squares help the groom stand apart from the rest of the party.  Uniformity is all well and good, but the groom should sport details that are absent from the rest of the guys ensembles as a rule, it makes for better photos!  Lastly, there are options for dressing the guys, more than you might assume.  Although the classic tux never really goes out of style, you might want to consider destination suits if you are having a theme wedding or for an ultra formal affair, cutaway coats, pinstripes and ascots are the perfect choice.

Flower Girls & Ring Bearers

Be sure to dress the little ones age appropriately.  If tuxedos are unavailable for guys six and under, a black suit and bow tie would be a fine substitute.  Halter tops or strapless dresses might be a bit to sophisticated for very young girls, if this is the case, then many companies and designers make a variety of styles that are both practical and elegant to ensure that the little miss blends in perfectly with her older counterparts.