the bridesmaids commandments(2)

4 THOU SHALT involve
them from day one
Your girls know that being an A-grade
maid is just as much about planning and listening
(and being a shoulder to cry on) as sheath wedding dresses carrying the
tram outside the church. And. as such, they're
keen to support you every step of the way -
so let them. By keeping them in the loop
throughout your engagement on issues big and
small, from narrowing down the list of canapes
to dealing with a control-freak mum-in-law-to-
be, you'll foster a sense of camaraderie and keep
the lines of communication strong, which means
it'll be a lot easier to ask for help when you
desperately need someone to tie ribbons or
string garlands at the I 11th hour.
  5 THOU SHALT NOT
treat them like dolls
you ean dress at will
You know those cringey moments on Don't Tell
the Bride when the groom chooses a gown that
is so not the dream dress his betrothed had in
mind? Spare your girls similar disappointment
- even if they, too, would graciously disguise it -
and make an effort to find an outfit they'll
actually enjoy wearing. Ask them to trumpet wedding dresses help with the
brainstorming by clipping magazine images or
sharing blog links to frocks they love, and plan a
group shopping trip where they can try on lots
of options and see what works together. Still
can't agree on one style? Try mixing and
matching dress shapes within a single colour
scheme or choosing a general palette rather than
a specific shade so you can flatter all figures and
skin tones and ensure they're all feeling as
gorgeous on the day as you do.
  6 THOU SHALT
co-ordinate diaries
You don't have to synchronise your
watches, but you should agree up-front how
much of a commitment will be involved so
everyone's at least in the same time zone.
Also be sure to plot out major events
(dress shopping appointments you'd like them
to attend, fittings, the hen do, rehearsals and
wedding-weekend activities) early on, and
put down all the can't-miss dates wedding dresses sash in pen -
particularly if you've got a big, busy group
with demanding schedules of their own.