As a wedding photographer, I have witnessed both ends of the spectrum when it comes to the topic of bridesmaids. Let me tell you, your bridesmaids can make or break your big day. Whether you’ve been best friends since diapers, or she’s your groom’s cousin you met at a dinner party last year, an open line of communication between you and your girls is an absolute must!

One of the biggest ways you can help your bridesmaids help you is to keep them informed of all anticipated delivery times and scheduled events (i.e. cake delivery, florist, caterer, etc).  I know you’ve spent 16 long months coordinating this one perfect day down to the minute, but it’s time for you to sit back, relax and delegate out some of those tasks so that you can truly enjoy your day. Assign a specific job to each girl and make sure that she is aware of all details involved, that way she has the ability and is prepared to snuff out any small crises that might arise.

When it comes to getting ready, there are a few key measures you can take to make sure the day runs as smoothly as possible.

Make sure that your girls are periodically picking up the room. I can’t express how much of a difference this makes when it comes to portraits for the bride.

The bridesmaids should be fully ready before you get your gown on. The images taken during this process are so incredibly precious and meaningful for all parties involved.  And pictures and video are the only documentation that you will have from quite possibly, the biggest day of your life.

When it comes to your hair and makeup timeline, start your appointment towards the beginning of that timeline. In the event that your day-of timeline starts to run a tad behind schedule, you don’t want your hair or makeup artists feeling the need to rush.

Hiccups are bound to happen, but with the right team by your side and with these few simple tips in mind, there’s no reason why your perfect day can’t run like clockwork.