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Pre-wedding Parties
Knottie1427748723
member
Say yes to the dress party - what theme?
Hello everyone!
First, I'm really sorry for my english, but i really need an advice from you girls. 
I'm maid of honour for my best friend wedding. I'm also a event planner in some europen country where pre-wedding parties aren't so popular like in US, but i like to export new trends and ideas partly beacuse it's my job, and partly beacuse i love idea of celebrating every important situation in life.
So i would like that my bestie have "full wedding experience", and what is the better ocassion to create girls party then day of shopping a wedding dress.
I think in the morning all bridesmaids and our bride would go to wedding shops, i would like to create "wedding shopping dress kit". What should i add to it? I think about some home made snack(granola bar, mini salad etc.), water, mini champagne, painkillers, bobby pins, hair brush, diy signs for bridesmaid("yes", "no", "say yes to the dress", "next" etc.). What else?
And second problem is what theme should this party has? After the shopping i want to make lunch. I'm a good cook, and my diy decoration skill are also ok, so i think i can manage. I will arrange everything in the morning and then only invite girl.
But i don't know what theme use? I think about disney movies(princesses and all), parisian, fashion, but i'm affraid it will be to sweet for our brides, who likes girlly things but not so much like i do. I don't want to overwhelm her.
Then i think about chesee and wine tasting party(she loves wine), but i'm affraid this is "too distant" for such femine party.
I need something on the middle. She likes nature(but it's to cold for picnic 
), fantasy, games(LOL), books, art, beauty(she is nails-freak), but she is also a "cold" buisness women, in prive she is casual(don't like too "fancy" and "expencive" places).
), fantasy, games(LOL), books, art, beauty(she is nails-freak), but she is also a "cold" buisness women, in prive she is casual(don't like too "fancy" and "expencive" places).Please help!
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Re: Say yes to the dress party - what theme?
Does your friend want all those people there? I'm not the slightest bit introverted/shy around my friends but the signs sound like a nightmare. What if I come out in a dress I love only to see everyone with a "no" or "next" sign?
Is this happening at one shop or are you going to multiple bridal shops all in 1 day? She might feel pressured to buy that day if you go too crazy with this.
As for lunch I would make this as calm/casual as possible. Wine and cheese are okay starters but don't count as a full meal. Simialr to what we think about weddings- good food is memorable, not decorations. Put some fresh flowers around and make sure your house is clean.
As for food after if it is something she does want then I would honestly keep it simple. You don't need a crazy theme just have some good food and drinks and everyone will be happy!
Lunch at your house sounds very nice afterwards. Just keep it simple and serve a full meal if it's actually at lunch time, not just snacks. Champagne is always a good idea IMO... just don't put pressure on the bride to find her dress that day so you can celebrate. She may not find the one she loves on this trip, and that's ok. Just keep it light, relaxed and fun.
First, I would check with the bride and find out if she even wants anyone to go shopping with her. Most brides prefer to shop with just a best friend or mom. If she does want to invite the BMs, invite them along, without gimmicks.
A nice lunch with mimosas or wine after is perfect. No need to come up with a theme or to turn it into a big production.
You are right, sign with "no" or "next" is not good idea.
We have event planning "company"(bride, second bridesmaid and me) and that's why we like every event(in our buisness and privete lifes) to be pre-planned, big and with theme, that's just our style.
There is also no pressure to buy dress, we will just celebrate this beatifull time with girls.
Also your English is excellent!
So, I made final preparations. We will go to four bridal salons, and then to lunch to very nice place. I go to every salon and talk to the ladies work here and ask for everything. We will have an hour in every place, there will be no other bride(we don't have big multibrands in our county, so there is no problem that we will be disturb anyone). Some place are more open(in one there will be music witch our bride like, we can eat snack and drink champagne
I ask about number of people who can accompany the bride, about taking a photo, can we take stuff with us, how is the policy about buy and book a dress. Do I miss something?
Also, we decide on modern theme. Restaurant in which we book a table is little lofty(dark tables, brick walls etc.). We want go with black white stripes on the table, blush pink flowers, gold mason jar and bottles. And mimosa bar of course.
We are inspire by this: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/8a/a4/99/8aa499a80fda15b99831ce56b759bada.jpg
I have problem with wedding shopping dress kit. Should i create one, or for every bridesmaid and separate for the bride? What items should i throw there?
I think we should have items for everyone, like food, champagne, note with pen to write what dress our bride like the most, mini emergency kit, celebration confetti, sign(but without "no" and "next"), mints, water. I don't know what else?
In our bride kit should be stuff which help her in fitting, such as items for hair(bobby pins, mini hairbrush), tissues, hand lotion, lip balsam, a few cosmetics for improve make up. What do you think?
Also I don't what snack make? It must be something small, tasty, elegant, girly, not "smelly", not messy to eat, and something which we can easly pack and take to "road" with us. I have: homemade granola bars, macarons, brownie bittes. I think also about salad in the jar but I don't know.
Also, four salons in 1 day is really, really intense. At least four hours of shopping plus 2 hours of lunch?? You are putting a lot of pressure on the bride to select a dress that day. This is a recipe for her just getting worn out and just picking a dress to have it over with. I am very extroverted and this is seeming incredibly overwhelming.
You don't need "kits", signs, notepads, tampons (!) anything!! Just take your friend out to a salon or 2 and then have lunch. This whole thing just seems very, very intense.
I really don't think the kit is necessary, but if you insist, maybe just champagne. But you might want to check with the salon on what items you're allowed to bring in. Some places do not allow you to bring in outside food and drinks. Salad in a jar in a bridal salon? No. That's messy. And weird.
I tried on many wedding dresses, and at no point did I need any of these items you're putting in a kit for everyone. You're way overthinking this.
I have anxiety on behalf of this bride.
This is WAY too much.
I'd limit this trip to just two shops, one before lunch and one after maybe, and honestly I'd probably just do one shop and then go out to lunch.
None of the salons I have ever been to have ever allowed food or drink, so you can just scratch those off your "kit" list. Have some bottles water in the car in case people get thirsty.
"Love is the one thing we're capable of perceiving that transcends time and space."
I understand pre-planning things and making everything a theme is completely "you." But I think it may be best to tone things down and not to make everything a production. Go to two salons and have lunch in between.
Seriously, scale it back.
This is probably one of the craziest things I've read on here! A party for when the bride tries on wedding dresses? This will be the next big thing for the wedding industry!
OP - This is too much, too far, and just plain crazy. Scale back times 1000! Just pick 2 salons and have lunch in between. Even asking the bridal salons to have no other people in the salon at the same time you are there is just plain crazy. You are asking them to basically close up for you on the chance that your friend may buy her dress from that salon. Unless your friend is super rich or a celebrity of some kind, this is just overkill.
I also think all of your added things for the lunch are overkill. You said there will be 4 people total at lunch? But yet you want to dictate the type of tablecloth that is on the table? You also want to go as far as dictating the décor of a table, for 4 people. If the 4 people at lunch want mimosas, that is fine, they can order them on their own. I'm afraid you will have too much champagne go to waste if you try to create a mimosa bar. Also, who is paying for all these extra things YOU want at the lunch? If I am tagging along on this day of crazy and am asked to help pay for a mimosa bar, when I'm not drinking the mimosas, will be a big shock to me. I also would only pay for the food and drink I did consume.
And no to confetti, in almost every aspect of life, you can just say no to confetti.
On second thought, yes to the mimosa bar - today. You need a drink or 12 to help you chill out. Seriously, even Flavor Flav thinks this is over the top.
OP, I love your enthusiasm. Truly. You obviously care about your friend a lot, and that's great. Sometimes, less is more. One of my favorite podcasts has a saying: "Do less, enjoy more." I would definitely apply that here. Hit a couple of salons, have a nice lunch, and enjoy each other's company rather than worrying about macarons and mimosa bars.
I also suggest attending two salons at most. But both should be BEFORE lunch. There is no way I'm going to enjoy my lunch and mimosas if I know I have to try on clothes in front of people again after eating.