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#TheMaids: Ideas for Brides and Bridesmaids

You’re engaged!

 

Incredible surprise proposal shot by Shay Stephens via MarryThis.com

 

We love helping Lower Mainland women get ready for all of life’s milestones, and weddings are a frequent topic of conversation at our Vancouver eyebrow threading studio. There’s so much to think about and plan – and it’s so much more than just saying yes to the dress!

 

Once your love has proposed and you say yes, the work begins.

 

And we know that our #BlinkBeauties appreciate having the best women to help with the planning, preparations, emotions, and all those special moments. So here some of the best ideas for proposing to your bridesmaids, getting your bridesmaids and bridal party ready for the walk down the aisle, and – finally – thanking them all for helping to make your day extra special.

 

Popping the Question

 

A Bridesmaid Survival Kit

 

Asking your close family members or best girlfriends to be part of your big day is a huge moment in your relationship and your life – one that you can turn into a very special memory with a little extra thought and effort.

 

Image c/o WeddingBells.ca

 

We turned to the Canadian wedding pros at Wedding Bells magazine and their 10 creative ways to propose to your bridesmaids. They have so many inspired ways to pop the bridesmaid question, and while we really liked the specially labelled bottle of wine, the wedding survival kit has just the right combination of fun and truthfulness to stand out.

 

Giving a wedding survival kit is thoughtful and cute – filled with little sweets, lotion, and a bit of make-up. Plus it’s festive – with a tiny bottle of champagne to toast a new chapter in your lives and a formal note to ask this special gal to be in your wedding party. And remind them that when you’re in it together, anything is possible!

 

From the heart…

 

The Wedding Planners Institute of Canada consulted wedding planners from across the country for their most unique ideas for asking friends or family to be in the bridal party. Check out these darling personalized spoons Carmen Luk of Devoted to You in Toronto gave to her bridal-party-to-be at an afternoon tea!

 

Image c/o The Wedding Planners Institute of Canada Inc.

 

We also loved what Kim of Morganley Events shared: “My friend…wrote each of us a card, reminiscing about the past and our friendship, then at the end asked, ‘Will you be my bridesmaid?’  She also gave each of us a picture with us and the bride many years ago…I keep the picture and the card on a shelf in my bedroom.”

 

Puzzle Pieces

 

Will you have a flower girl in your wedding party? Make sure that she’s included, too, in the fun and formal “asking” (even if she can’t toast with champagne!). Etsy is full of countless clever ideas for cute gifts appropriate for all ages, but we just loved this personalized puzzle invitation for a flower girl:

 

Image c/o XOXOKristen on Etsy.com

 

Let the planning commence!

 

If organization and details make you happy, you have to OCD this cute idea we found on Pinterest: Get pretty planners for all the girls you want in your bridal party and have them ready for them (with all the important dates you know so far pencilled in!) when you ask if they will stand with you on your wedding day.

 

Image c/o Pinterest.com

 

Countdown: Getting Ready

 

In the weeks leading up to the wedding ceremony, plan to do something fun with your bridal party. We all hear the horror stories of Bridezillas and strained friendships, so make sure to focus on your bridesmaids and maid of honour and not just Your Big Day. Sure, you can chat about some details but all work and no fun is not the way to make warm, fuzzy memories!

 

Your bridesmaids will likely plan your Bridal Shower and Staggette, but consider treating the whole bridal party to a fun activity, a day out together, some pampering! These will all help to keep the focus on your friendships and remind them that you’re grateful for their participation. The Knot has some wonderful ideas for a Bridesmaids Tea that we think are super sweet.

 

Image c/o TheKnot.com

 

How about a group visit to a beauty studio or spa? This can be cost-prohibitive for some brides, but a visit to an eyebrow threading studio like Blink, for example, is very affordable so you won’t break the bank but you will all have a great time. (We offer chocolate, yummy Chai tea, and a complimentary mini massage that always gets us top marks on social media!)

 

Blink Brow Bar Vancouver
Pic of stunning Blink Beauties and beauty experts, Rose and Lea

 

What’s more, selfishly – sssssh, don’t tell! – you’ll be sure your entire posse will look perfect in all those wedding photos! (Brows are an often forgotten but exceptionally important part of a beauty routine – especially for brides and bridesmaids, when all eyes will be on them and cameras are out in force.)

 

Make a day of it! Clear your calendars and head out for lunch, a little window shopping, and a treat like gelato or coffee. There are so many fab places to see near Blink Brow Bar’s location in beautiful Coal Harbour.

 

After the Fact: Saying Thank You

 

More than words

 

If you take our advice, you’ll give your bridesmaids a little something when you ask them to share in your big day, but don’t forget to thank them after too. We turned to the lifestyle experts at Canadian Living magazine for tips on finding meaningful gifts for bridesmaids and the maid of honour. They didn’t disappoint!

 

Image c/o CanadianLiving.com

 

The key takeaways? Be practical and find something that they will treasure and actually use. Glassware etched with your wedding date might be a lovely idea, but will other people actually use it in the years to come (other than for your anniversary party)? Consider personalized gifts that mean something for the women themselves – perhaps matching pendants to wear down the aisle with their own birthstones.

 

Accessories to wear for your wedding that will also work for other special occasions seem to be the frontrunner of thank you gifts. Consider local artisans when you’re looking for earrings, necklaces, or bracelets.

 

Are you getting married? Share with us what you’re going to do to make things special for your bridesmaids. Already walked down the aisle? Tell us what you did or what you wish you had thought to do! Share with us now on Facebook,Twitter and Instagram.

 

When you want to get ready for all those wedding photos, do what all the smart #BlinkBeauties and #BlinkBrowBros do: call Blink Brow Bar for an appointment or book online. Our Vancouver eyebrow threading shop is open daily at 577 Bute Street with eyebrow threading services starting at $21; eyebrow and eyelash tinting from $19; and facial + body waxing from $17.