What’s wrong with this picture?
“Get excited!! I have chosen YOU to spend at least $1000 on me in the next year AND be at my beck and call for anything I might need.” “Um…. Thank you? I’m so honored.”
If you ask me, everything. However, as many of us girls know, that is the underlying truth behind what will happen when your best friend pops the big question, “I’m getting married – will you be my bridesmaid?”
I’ve heard it more times in my life than I (or my bank account) would like to admit and every time I promise myself I’m not going to do it again. However, here I am again in the troughs of fittings, party planning and bridal bazaars. So this time I’ve decided to do it differently. This time I’m going to harness the power of social media and get everyone else in on the action.
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Twitter: Use the hashtag #bridesmaidinneed - put out requests for party game ideas for the bridal shower and bachelorette party.
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Facebook: Poll friends for outside-the-box ideas on where to go for the bachelorette party (read: not Vegas… The Thunder from Down Under is so 2008).
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Gowalla: Set-up a (Name Withheld)’s Wedding Tour for guests that includes places to eat, places to play, rehearsal dinner, wedding and reception locales, hotels, etc. And to top it all off, I’m going to include the couple’s story. Cue the “oooooos and ahhhhs” now.
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Instagram: Capturing all of the best moments leading up to and at the wedding just got a whole lot more fun. I’m creating an entire album that I plan to make into a picture book. This sure beats the hours I spent a few years ago putting together a wedding scrapbook for a friend. Walden filter… don’t mind if I do!
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Wedding 911 by The Knot Application: She’s engaged… and now the questions begin. Any bridesmaid worth her weight in wedding cake knows she needs to keep her bride calm – from the start. So knowing answers to all her burning questions is part of that – “When do I send out invites? When is my bridal shower?” So if you’re like me, you fake it til you make it – and The Knot’s Wedding 911 has got us covered.
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Intersect.com: Weddings = stories. Some being hilarious, while others are touching and heartfelt. By setting up an intersect.com storyline, I can have guests tell their stories about the couple and then adapt them into an official wedding page.
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Foursquare: Would it be rude to be the mayor of my friend’s wedding? We will see, after I set up the official wedding check-in location. I think I’ve already earned my “Bridesmaid Badge.”
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Google+: There are so many odds and ends, and sometimes it’s just easier to get everyone together to discuss. By using Google+, all of the bridemaids can chat via the video “Huddle.”
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Pinterest: I’m no wedding planner, but I do know inspiration can get overwhelming. Pinterest helps to keep it all in one place and offers more inspiration than any bride could dream of. Sharing this little gem with my bride is going to be a better gift than the blender I just spent my winter boots budget on.
- Group Text: Last but not least, let’s be sure we’re all where we need to be on time. I’m going to get us set up on group text, so that we can all be in touch throughout the weekend with times and places.
So there we have it… bridesmaid 2.0. There are new things popping up every day that can help make the process a little easier and more fun. So hand me the champagne and let’s get this wedding started!