My wedding is officially one year away and I have not invited my bridesmaids to be in the wedding. I am trying to find a cute, preferably new orleans themed, way to invite the bridal party to be in the wedding.
Haha -- all mine basically knew they were in the wedding, so asking them was mostly a formality. MOH was the best to ask since she's wasn't really expecting it and since she's the sweetest person I know. I bought her a red bean necklace from Jose Balli (local artist) with her initial "S" with a really detailed streetcar on the back. It's gorgeous.
Um, what about a day out Uptown? Ride the streetcar, go out to eat, shop, etc. Could be really fun.
The necklace thing might be really cute if you're looking for something New Orleans-y to give your MOH or your bridemaids when you ask or whenever later. http://www.joseballi.com/Rooms/Products.asp?shop=100&room=Jewelry&prod=Pendants Towards the top of the website. Initial on one side, then something to do with the city or Louisiana on the back. Loved the streetcar one!
I actually wrote each of mine a handwritten letter on my stationary telling each one of them why they were important to me and why I wanted them to stand next to me as my bridesmaid, and I mailed it to each one of them, they all loved it!!
I had to ask my BM's that live far away by phone, or facebook in the case of the BM that lives abroad and doesn't have a cell phone.
That said, if your wedding is a year away, wait a few months before picking your BM's. Even if you know in your head who you want, just wait a little while before telling them. One of the first things I noticed on the Knot was that lots of brides asking about how to "kick out" a BM from the bridal party. Which is not okay under 99% of circumstances, but everyone wants to know if they fit in that "one" special circumstance.
It takes about 3 months max for most BM dresses to be guaranteed to be delivered on time. So I'd tell them when there's 5-7 months to go before the wedding.
That said, having a nice little dinner party at your house sounds nice and cost-effective. Make a nice roast turkey or something and bake some cupcakes. Or a cake and write, "will you be my bridesmaid?" on it.
I bought these cards on Etsy. They're not New Orleans themed, obviously, but I'm sure you could find someone on there to make some that incorporate NOLA for you.
Re: how did you invite your bridesmaids?
Um, what about a day out Uptown? Ride the streetcar, go out to eat, shop, etc. Could be really fun.
The necklace thing might be really cute if you're looking for something New Orleans-y to give your MOH or your bridemaids when you ask or whenever later. http://www.joseballi.com/Rooms/Products.asp?shop=100&room=Jewelry&prod=Pendants Towards the top of the website. Initial on one side, then something to do with the city or Louisiana on the back. Loved the streetcar one!
paired with these cards http://www.etsy.com/listing/62794461/will-you-be-my-bridesmaid-or-maid-or