(Comfortable) Dancing Shoes

Anyone who has been a BM before knows there's a 99% chance that you won't last all night in your heels throughout the wedding reception. I've had this conversation with my mom numerous times. (My mother thinks spending hours in four inch heels is a cinch). I remind her that as a BM- you spend a lot more time in the shoes than your typical wedding guest. First of all, you start way earlier and are in your shoes for pictures and running around doing errands for the bride (fetching water, finding the photographer, keeping early arriving guests far away, etc). Second, while all the other guests are comfortably sitting through the ceremony- you are literally standing up the entire time at the bride's side, rightfully performing your duty as a BM.

So if you were not blessed with my mother's ease in stilettos, like me- you always bring a change of shoes for the party. However, I am always plagued with what to do with my cumbersome flip flops? I've hidden them in the bridal suite, then gotten locked out. I've made mad dashes to the party room to hide them under the table before the ceremony even starts, or made my date carry them in a shopping bag. Not exactly the classiest of moves.

But that will all change for my next wedding, now that I've discovered Rolleez. Rolleez are the answer to a BM's achy feet prayers. They are adorable ballet flats, available in 7 different colors that you can roll up and easily stash in your clutch, since they don't take up a lot of room. No one even knows that you are "packin" an extra pair of shoes. They are absolutely adorable, comfortable and most of all - easy on your wallet! (Plus if it's winter- you don't necessarily want to wear flip flops. No pedicure is required!)

If you are a bride reading this, Rolleez also make an excellent bridesmaid's gift. They come packaged as a gift in a little box with a tote bag. This way you can make sure that all of your BFFs are comfortable and literally have their dancing shoes on. I highly recommend checking them out.

Happy Bridesmaiding!

New York Weddings Event

Any NY bride knows that one of her best resources for wedding planning is New York magazine's New York Weddings, so imagine what a great BM you will be when you give her scoop that they are hosting "the year's biggest bridal shower."

The Spring issue comes out on March 23 (hint, hint--this will make a great thing to pick up as an "OMG! You just got engaged gift!" and their annual New York Weddings Event is taking place Wednesday, April 7 at the Metropolitan Pavilion from 5 PM - 8 PM. This is your chance to help your bride with so much of her wedding planning all in a one-stop-shop. They'll have tons of vendors on hand including photographers, florists, jewelers, bridal gown designers, etc.

Hurry up and buy your tickets ASAP! (There is an incentive for a bride to bring her BMs, as the ticket price is $35 for one, but $50 for two. Plus, they are including a one year subscrption to New York mag!) Have fun and let me know what you thought of the event...

Happy Bridesmaiding!

It's Cookie Time

At the first bridal shower I ever attended, I was not a bridesmaid. I was 23 years old and new to the wedding circuit, but it was where my creativity started to flourish. It was a childhood friend getting married, and I was chipping in for the gift with three other childhood friends. We didn't really understand why someone would want tons of pots, pans and other kitchen goodies- so we wanted to do something a little more special and personal so that she would look at it and think of us.

This was a perfect opportunity to buy her some gifts off the registry- but then add some fun items as well. So we bought her everything she needed to bake off her registry, including cookie sheets, measuring cups, rolling pins, etc. She really appreciated that because it was a lot of little things that people tend to neglect (it's much easier to buy a $40 serving piece then 8 $5 items). Then, we added in some fun cookie cutters (not something you typically buy yourself) and a cookbook dedicated purely to making cookies. Our main gift was a really fun taxi cab cookie jar to keep on her counter.

Why a taxi cab, you ask? Well, the five of us had always taken dance classes together- and always had these crazy outlandish recital costumes. One of our most famous was when the recital's theme was "New York City" and our costume was taxi cab drivers. This way, we knew the bride would always think of her dance class friends when she saw the cookie jar. Having trouble finding a cookie jar in the shape of something that reminds the bride of you? Just try these personalized cookie jars that you can customize with the bride's new name. They make the perfect gift for the bride who loves to bake!

Just click on the pictures above to order the cookie jars.

Happy Bridesmaiding!

Stand By Me

In this day and age, it's not only the groom's responsibility to ask his betrothed to marry him in a creative and clever way. No, once that question is asked, it's now up to the bride to ask her favorite friends, sisters, cousins, etc to stand by her on her big day. Without fail, every time I tell someone that I was asked to be a bridesmaid, the follow up question is always "How did she ask?"
Since I have many brides as well as BMs reading, I thought I would share my readers the way in which I was asked to play a special part in each of my brides' days.

Bride #1 invited us all over for dinner. Right before we ate, she said she had a special announcement. One of her (now) sister-in-laws didn't live in NY, so she called her and put her on speaker. She then read us a beautiful and hysterical poem (I may or may not have shed a tear), where we all had our own special stanzas (the groom video taped the entire thing!). Of course we all said yes, ate a delicious home-cooked meal, and got copies of our poem to take home. I still have mine in my memory box today.

Bride #2 asked those who lived in NY individually, but sent the out of towners' their requests in the mail. Bride #2 got married on 7/7/07 and coincidentally had 7 bridesmaids. She made us this beautiful card with a poem asking us to be part of her "Lucky 7". In the card was a folder with seven "Lucky 7" lottery tickets- very creative and so apropos! I may not have made big bucks off the lottery, but was very "lucky" to have been chosen.

Bride #3 works in catering sales, and one of her colleagues was a semi-professional baker. She enlisted her help, and dropped off at all of our apartments a cookie basket. In it there were decorated cookies of a bride (with the bride's name on it), a bridesmaid (with our names on it) and a wedding cake. Included in the basket was the cutest "Will you be my bridesmaid card" asking us to be a part of the big day. You can order similar cookies here.

Bride #4 also dropped off a package at our buildings. This time I got a bottle of champagne with a clever note that said "Groom #4 popped a question to me, now I am popping one to you. Will you be my bridesmaid?" I'll toast to that!

Bride #5 doesn't live in the same city as me- and she wanted to make sure to send her BMs something practical they would use. She sent us all deliciously-smelling dress sachets with a gorgeous handmade "Will you be my bridesmaid?" card- with the most sentimental poem inside.

Bride #6 really impressed me. She is not known for being the planner or organizer in my group of friends- but one Sunday night she organized a group of gals to go for (what else?) Chinese food. We went to a restaurant that does not serve fortune cookies, but at the end of the meal- the owner came over to check on us. She said that as we know, they typically do not serve fortune cookies- but tonight was a special occasion. She handed us all gigantic fortune cookies- and sure enough, the fortune inside said "Will you be my bridesmaid? Love, Bride #6 and her wedding date" How do you say "yes" in Chinese? Like this idea? You can order yours at customfortunecookies.com.

Bride #7 asked all of her BMs in different meaningful ways. I have a group of friends from high school who do "group" dinners every now and then. She happen to organize one shortly after she got engaged so we could all catch up and dish some gossip from our recent 10 year reunion (which some of the girls had to miss). At dinner- she gave us all these really heartfelt sentimental cards and included a friendship poem inside. Her grandfather had recently passed away and while cleaning out his desk- they came across this anonymous poem. It really resonated with Bride #7 and reminded her of all of her wonderful friends, so she included it while asking us to stand up in her wedding.

I was at dinner with another friend last night who is recently engaged and is currently brainstorming about how to ask her BMs. I loved her idea so much, I just had to write about it. She is ordering custom M&Ms. One one, she'll print her and the groom's monogram and wedding date. On the next she'll print "will you be my..." and on the third "bridesmaid". So cute!

Some other ideas I have seen, are build-a-bears with customized printed t-shirts that said "BM Name, Will you be my bridesmaid? Love, Bride", picture frames with a picture of the bride & BM, cookie cakes that say "Will you be my bridesmaid?" and even a Hanky Panky bridesmaid thong.

Any way you do it- the most important part is definitely the card. This is the bride's opportunity to be sincere and speak from the heart. This is where she can tell her BM why she is so important, and special, and why she wants her by her side on her special day. Of course, you can use any card you want- but why not be festive and get one made specially for the occasion, like this "Will you be my bridesmaid" card. (FYI, also available in flower girl, Maid of Honor, etc).

Looking for some easy gift sets? Here are a few of my favorite from yourbestfriendswedding.com.

These are all great ways for your BM to proudly display her title of honor!

Hot Shorts Gift Box Set

Will You Be My Bridesmaid? Tank Gift Box Set

Been a BM before? What's your favorite way you have been asked? Already a bride? How did you ask your BFFs? Superbridesmaid wants to know!

BTW- I am dedicating this posting to Work Bride #2 who recently got engaged, and had asked SuperBridesmaid for advice on how to ask her BMs. I hope she finds this helpful!

Happy Bridesmaiding and Happy New Year!

Jersey Girl Gets a Jersey

Anyone who knows me knows that I love giving personalized gifts at a bridal shower, and rarely buy anything off the registry. Leave that to the groom's mom's friends who barely know your BFF. If you don’t get her something special and personal, who will? Bride #3 recently went to a shower, and told me about such a cute and original gift, that I had to write about it!
The bride is a Jersey girl (what up Garden State?!) who moved to Long Island when she moved in with her fiancé. Apparently, he’s also a big hockey fan, and like any good Nassau county resident- a diehard Islanders fan with season tickets. His loyalty for his favorite team rubbed off on his soon-to-be-bride throughout the course of their relationship, and one of her BMs took notice. Instead of buying her bride another vase, serving piece or place setting, this creative BM ordered the bride a personalized NY Islanders jersey- the back had her first initial and new last name on it. (Props to the BM for putting the first initial so the groom didn’t try to steal it!).
According to my sources, the bride was ecstatic and could not stop gushing over this extra special and clever gift. She can’t wait to wear it to a game and proudly display her new name. I thought this would be helpful to all of my followers because I think we all know a girl whose fiancé is a little sports addicted. And if you can’t beat ‘em, you might as well join ‘em (and look good doing it!).

Happy Bridesmaiding!

Bridal Gown Bargain

Wanna know how to be the best BM ever? Help your bride save oodles of money on her wedding gown! You heard it here first (unless you were perusing the Styles section yesterday, and saw it there)...Saks Fifth Avenue is having their bi-annual bridal sample sale Wednesday, December 2 through Sunday, December 6 in their New York flagship store. So hurry up, grab your bride and run to the 9th floor where she can save up to 70% off original retail prices on hundreds of designers like Vera Wang, Reem Acra, Amsale, Kenneth Pool, Monique Lhuillier, Anna Maier~Ulla-Maija and many more. Who knows? Maybe she'll repay you by picking out a dress you'll actually wear again.
Happy Bridesmaiding!

Bridal Underwear Makes A Great Gift!

One of my favorite gifts to give a bride is underwear. It could be for her "OMG! You just got engaged!" gift, part of her shower gift, or part of the lingerie shower/honeymoon gift game at her bachelorette party. It's always a great gift, because not only do they make a festive commerative of the big day, but they can still be used after that. Everyone can always use an extra pair of undies as it helps push off doing laundy for one extra day.

When your bride gets engaged, you can rush on over with a cute white lacy pair that says "bride" or a blue "I Do" (check that "something" off the list!) for her to wear on the big day. Everyone's favorite thongs, Hanky Panky, has a whole bridal offering and are even offering free shipping on their new website through 12/31/09. I highly recommend checking out their bridal selection. They are so comfortable, and all of our lingerie drawers are stocked with them anyway- so why not get her favorites for her big day? Anyone who attended Bride #6's wedding, got a little show of her bridal Hanky Pankys all weekend long!

As you know from previous posts, I am a big fan of "the honeymoon gift bag" gift for the shower, and love adding in personalized undies, that say "Mrs. Groom's Last Name." All of my brides' husbands have loved seeing their name in rhinestones across their new bride's tush. I prefer to do this on boy shorts (gives you more room!), and this pair from advantagebridal.com is my go to. If you don't have time to get it personalized (don't worry, SuperBridesmaid sometimes procrastinates too!), then I recommend this pair of "Just Married" boyshorts from exclusivelyweddings.com.

Is your bride a little racier? She might prefer something with a bit of a joke like the options from customizedgirl.com- but note to self, keep this pair for the bachelorette party. Your bride might die of embarrassment (or never forgive you) if she opens up a pair of thongs that say "Groom's playground" in front of her boss, grandmother, and future mother-in-law. Pairs like this are like penis straws, and meant for our generation's eyes only.

Do you have any favorite pairs to give your brides?
Happy Bridesmaiding!