There are a lot of things about being a bride that can make a girl feel smiley all the time. Of course, with COVID-19 still calling the shots, several of those mood-boosting bride benefits have been hijacked for the time being. And while we can’t wait for social distancing to become a part of our past, since it’s such a present priority, bonding with bridesmaids isn’t exactly doable the way it once was. The after-work happy hour to celebrate your new bride status – on hold; the bottomless brunch to bring everyone together for that big ‘ask’ – postponed until further notice; the shopping trip to find the fashion your squad will slay in – not exactly #essential enough to book now.
It’s not great, for sure, but if there’s anything we’ve learned over the last couple of months, it’s that love is definitely not cancelled. Your crew can still feel it (the love), even if it’s coming from afar, so there’s really no excuse to make the bride-and-her-girls gush fest any less festive. Fortunately, our Style Me Pretty shop is stacked with all the cute things to help you build your bride tribe and love them hard – despite the hiatus.
Given the skyrocketing popularity of virtual game nights and bingo. We figured it might be fun to try out a bridal bingo/scavenger hunt-kind of game with ways to show your girls how grateful you are for them. We came up with 10 things so far, so you’ll want to keep the list going… It shouldn’t be hard when you’re thinking of ways to make the most cherished people in your life have a better morning, afternoon, or night.
Read on for 10 ways to show your bridesmaids love from afar.
And it doesn’t have to be with huge, grandiose gestures, either. These days, the littlest things in life can mean the most!
Granted, when you’re the bride, you’re usually the one who people check in on the most. But given the circumstances of today, we’re thinking that your flipping the script will be appreciated. It doesn’t have to be some Leslie Knope-organized COVID phone chain, but a simple text to each of your ladies every once and a while to make sure everyone is OK goes a long way.
Seriously, with everything being as crazy as it is right now, your people (sisters, cousins, best friends, roommates, colleagues, etc.) probably aren’t expecting an over-the-top ask from you. Tbh, they’re probably nervous to say much at all, because they don’t want you to feel extra pressure in the midst of this pandemic. That’s why we love the idea of sending each of your bests a “Will You Be My Bridesmaid?” notecard in the mail. Personalize your messages with as much or as little detail as you’d like, and if you’re really feeling ambitious, maybe try out those calligraphy skills you’ve been boning up on during quarantine…
Yep. We’re talking wedding planning hell memes for days. Even though they’ll probably text each other with ALL the side eyes and #issheserious shade, we’re telling you, they still want to be seen and included.
… And while we’re at it, schedule Zoom calls at the frequency of your choosing and give the squad a signature cocktail to fill their tumbler to the top with (you’re the bride, you have one, too!). Virtual toasts FTW!
Have you Netflix Partied yet? Okay, well now’s the time to pick something your friends will love watching and chatting about at the same time. All from the comfort of your own couches. We suggest Outer Banks, but there’s a ton of other bride and bridesmaid-worthy content to consume.
Sooo, if we weren’t social distancing, what would you be doing with your bridesmaids? Hitting up Sephora? Okay, so why not get creative and send each of your beauty-obsessed BFFs a makeup bag filled with your bride-eyed favorites of the moment. Skincare, nail care, hair care, whatever! And yes, you can admit that your friends are, like, really pretty…
#WeddingWednesday that is. Whether you’re sending some bridal party roles and responsibilities to everyone or just making note of the things that you’ve been stalking and loving lately, make a clever Google address like DaniellesRideorDies@____.com (that probably exists already, but you get the point!) and inbox your group regularly!
From behind your screens. Because the bridesmaid shopping experience is a BFD, truly. If your bridal party is suuuuper small, you might be able to get away with an at-home try-on party. But if you want to be safe, brands like Birdy Grey are getting ready to launch awesome new virtual bridal studio tools to make social distance-friendly bridesmaid shopping scores a legit thing!
About that ‘checking in,’ if one of your girls isn’t feeling her best or is just having an extra 💩day, then think about where she lives and order in one of her favorites. Not even kidding, there’s nothing that penne vodka delivered to her door can’t fix…
Obviously there are TONS of other ways to put smiles on your sisters’ faces, but this is definitely a start. Head over to the Style Me Pretty shop for some really adorable ‘can’t say I Do without you’ gifts to make this social distance situation a little sweeter for your special someones!
Danielle Halibey is a writer, editor, and publicist living in New Jersey. She has been immersed in the world of weddings since planning her own whimsical, romantic affair in 2014. And isn’t that what they always say, “those who can’t do, teach?” Well, once her nuptials were over, she still had stuff in the ‘I Do’ industry to do. She writes regularly for top wedding blogs including Style Me Pretty and Wedding Chicks, and has garnered millions of press impressions for brands in the wedding space: fashion, beauty, wedding talent+tastemakers and more.
