Earn cash as you plan. Get a $20 gift card for every 200 points with The Knot Rewards
Wedding Party
muldoomi
member
Entire Bridal Party Out of Town
How do you handle having the entire wedding party out of town?
We have 11 people in our party and we have a total of ONE person actually in town. Originally my sister/MOH was also in town, so I was a lot less worried. Now she's moving to Pittsburgh to be with her boyfriend of 4months the week we were planning on going dress shopping...but that's a whole different story! haha
How do you deal with getting dresses and suits for the wedding party if they are all out of town?
I'm a planner and really organized, I'm just worried that people (especially the guys haha) won't get their suits in time.
I was wondering if any of are in the same sort of situation and how you handle it. Thanks!!
We have 11 people in our party and we have a total of ONE person actually in town. Originally my sister/MOH was also in town, so I was a lot less worried. Now she's moving to Pittsburgh to be with her boyfriend of 4months the week we were planning on going dress shopping...but that's a whole different story! haha
How do you deal with getting dresses and suits for the wedding party if they are all out of town?
I'm a planner and really organized, I'm just worried that people (especially the guys haha) won't get their suits in time.
I was wondering if any of are in the same sort of situation and how you handle it. Thanks!!
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Entire Bridal Party Out of Town
As for the suits, what ever company your using for your rentals will have forms either online that you can print or fax or they will have paper copies that you can send to the men in the bridal party. They can go to ANY local tux shop or alterations shop and most of the shops will measure them for free or for a very small charge. They send you the numbers back and you give them to shop you are using. Try having the guys arrive if possible two days before to check that everything fits, dont forget to check even shoes.
This works nearly the same for the women. If you are using a large store like Davids bridal who has branches all over, they can go in to the local one near them and tell them which dress you chose for the bridesmaids and get their measurements sent in just the same.
Good luck. Its all about planning it out. Make sure that both sides know that if their measurements fluxuate to let you know the new measurements by the deadline of placing the order. They can pay when they pick up too.
[QUOTE]How do you handle having the entire wedding party out of town? We have 11 people in our party and we have a total of ONE person actually in town. Originally my sister/MOH was also in town, so I was a lot less worried. Now she's moving to Pittsburgh to be with her boyfriend of 4months the week we were planning on going dress shopping...but that's a whole different story! haha How do you deal with getting dresses and suits for the wedding party if they are all out of town? I'm a planner and really organized, I'm just worried that people (especially the guys haha) won't get their suits in time. I was wondering if any of are in the same sort of situation and how you handle it. Thanks!!
Posted by muldoomi[/QUOTE]
<div>Just choose stores/designers that have locations nation-wide. Then pick out some dresses and ask the girls to go try them on when they get a chance. Then vote on one. What I did was choose long dresses in the color lapis from David's Bridal and then each girl can choose the dress they like best in that color and length...I think they all really appreciate that they can choose what looks best on them...it also makes it a lot easier to coordinate.</div><div>
</div><div>For the tuxes, again, just choose a place that has nation-wide locations and pick what tux you want and give them the info and when they need to get measured and whatnot.</div>
Another option for the bridesmaids is to pick a store where you can order online ... AnnTaylor.com, Jcrew.com, Nordstrom.com, etc. Pick out a few dresses you like and send them the links, and let them vote on their favorite and majority rules. If they can try on the dresses in their local stores, give them a couple weeks to try them on before you ask for a vote.
With AT and JC, sometimes you can get different styles in the same color/fabric/length, so you can always give them a choice. I did this with my two BMs using Ann Taylor, and they got a choice between three similar dresses. One BM ordered one and it fit so she was fine, and another BM ordered two (to decide between styles) and had to return them for a different size, but the whole process only took about three weeks and in the end she got a well-fitting dress that she's happy with.
Another option is to send them a paint swatch and ask them to get a dress that closely matches that color. You can also specify length and anything you may or may not want (a solid color, no sparkles, certain types of fabric, etc.). If you are open to a non-matching type of look, this can have really nice results:
http://www.bigfatcake.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/fall07_bridesmaids6a-300x300.jpg
http://images.theknot.com/blogs/stylefile/Blog_BM_ToddPellowe.jpg
http://www.weddingtimes.com/articles/4-hot-tips-on-choosing-bridesmaids-dresses/
Or ask them to get a black cocktail dress, or long gown, from anywhere they want. You can add in your wedding color by getting them sashes or wraps, or just use their bouquets as a nice pop of color.
The guys could use a nationwide chain like Mens Wearhouse. Or you can just ask them to wear a plain black suit and a white shirt, and then buy them matching ties.
"I think bablingbrooke is the 13 yr old marring her cousin at the town hall. Lets all give her a big hand. And hope her inbred children can live normal lives." -tabs.
A word of warning from your friends at Cracked.com: Remember that text is going to be how you make your first impression over the internet; if every third word you type is misspelled, people will automatically assume that you're a moron.
I'm a super planner too. I choose David's Bridal to get the dresses because they are everywhere. I chose Men's Warehouse for the tuxes because they are also a national chain. The tux shop said they just need 24 hours notice to get a tux for the guys that are over seas. I gave the girls a few choices of DB dresses I liked and everybody agreed on the same one. My girls went and tried dresses on in their own time. Some even sent me pictures in the BM dress.
Email and phones are your friends. Talk to your tux/BM dress shop and they can guide you on how to handle OOT wedding parties.
As for the girls, pick a dress company or line that is carried throughout the nation.
Sunbonnet or cone of shame? You be the judge! Trixie's Blog
My Planning Bio
My Married Bio updated March 4
If they're in the "Whatever" category like I was that can work. If that doesn't, you can always give them broad guidelines.
I used mens warehouse and davids bridal. the pick the place they will pick it up: some are getting them here, others are using their cities. either way it works. don't stress out about it - it will all work out
Complicated: being in school in Alabama, planning a Tennessee wedding (over 300 miles away), and having bridesmaids from school (in AL), home (TN), in Kansas, and in Arizona!!
Lol!
We actually planned a "wedding weekend" in Atlanta (another variable, that's where my FH lives!!) exactly one year to the day before my wedding and everyone was able to go! We picked out the dresses there and it was also good for them to meet each other ahead of time! We just had everyone send in their measurements and the store will ship the dresses to them when they come in!
As for the tuxes, I again have a very complicated set-up (adding Oklahoma, Missouri, and Florida to the aforementioned mix), so we went with Men's Wearhouse for our tuxes. That way, everyone is able to go and give their measurements at their convenience!
Also, a nice stern e-mail or a phone call will do the trick for those who do not have their tuxes or dresses ordered!
Hope that helped! I know what you're going through!
For the guys, I think they will really respect that this is a WEDDING, a big deal, and will put their best foot forward to fulfill their responsibility. We all know guys just don't communicate the way we do. But encourage your fiance to be proactive early on with informing the groomsmen of clothes, schedules, etc.
Kind of sad to not have your best friends with you during such an exciting and emotional time, but the destination Bachelorette party will sure be worth it!!
For dresses and tuxes, we picked clothes from national chains. tux shops will measure the guys for free as a curtesy, too. IF you find one that charges (some do), go to a better store! Most of them do it for free. Then we let the girls pick their shoes/accessories. My sister (the one in eastern europe) got her measurements, and I bought her dress based on those. Then we spoke with a seamstress in town and the 3-4 days before the wedding, she will be doing any alterations.
Pretty easy. I don't think it's really any different than when the wedding party is in town, actually!!!
We're using American Commodore in the town where the wedding is and having the GM get measured and send them over. I chose Alfred Angelo for the BMs so that shouldn't be too hard for them. I think the hardest part will be having to do a lot of this stuff without my friends and family. Someone said they feel left out since their maids are far away and I understand.