Bridesmaids proposal

Typically, you would ask around 8-12 months before the wedding! Since your wedding is just about a year away, I think it would be fine to ask them anywhere between now and 6 months from now. Don't ask them until you are completely confident in those choices - once you select them, you can't remove them from the wedding party without damaging the friendship. Once you're 100% sure about your decisions, ask away!

Not doing gifts/boxes because the ladies on my list live across the country/overseas and would not use any bridesmaid related gifts. It's customary in our social circles to ask one on one over the phone or a coffee date without gifts .

Do not ask anyone prior to 6 months before the wedding. Dresses do not take that long to come in and there is nothing they need to do earlier than that. Make sure these ladies are your current bestest friends ever. Do not ask anyone out of obligation to please others or because you want to reconnect. Also countless posts on the forums tell plenty of horror stories backing that up.

Almost everyone is going to tell you to not ask anyone to be in your bridal party too early into your engagement. Which makes sense because there's so many forums on here where brides need advice on removing people from their bridal party. (YIKES)

I was confident in who I picked for our wedding, so I asked my ladies early on in like November of last year. I met with each one individually and gave them a box with a hand written note and a few goodies inside. You have plenty of time to ask them, so waiting a few months until you ask them is perfectly fine!

This might not be a popular answer, but as long as you're sure about your selections, there's no harm in letting them know in advance. Depending on how extravagant your wedding is, it's nice to give them time to save up for dresses and other expenses that come with the role. I asked my girls in February 2020 for my May wedding this year.

View Quoted Comment I agree! I’ve been engaged since October of 2019 so I’ve been engaged for quite some times so I’m confident in my choices. I just don’t want to wait too long or ask too early!

View Quoted Comment

I think you're fine then! If you're really confident in your choices, I don't see why you can't ask now! You could even have a fun girls weekend this summer and ask them all there if you wanted to do it all at once! Just depends on how your group is. I know some people don't like to be asked in front of people, so do what you feel is best for your group!

View Quoted Comment I agree! I was in a wedding last year and it was difficult to save up for the bachelorette the bride wanted. I just don’t want to wait too long or ask too early!

October or November is plenty of timr for a May wedding. I do notlike it when I have been asked with gifts at hand, or in a surprise group. It is hard to say know when you really feel you should, with any gifts, or otger people present. Gists are a recent fad I hate. You are not being thanked, you have not done anything. So it feels like the littlte kids who try to buy friends by steadily giving small gifts.
With gifts, you set things up tp humiliate yourself, or the bride. I will never forget a bride who surprised 5 of us in a restaurant, champs and presents. And all 5 had to say no. The bride had hysterics. In person or by phone or by letter, privately, ask. Including date and location, and knoe costs of travel. And be prepared to wait a few days for an answer, to check other calenders or with other people. There is no point in getting a yes, only to have that person pull out in 2 months.

View Quoted Comment

Agree with this! I was SO excited to ask my bridesmaids, it was literally one of the first things I did after getting engaged. We have a year of engagement. There's no time limit on when you can ask.

It also depends on your engagement plans! Asking my bridesmaids 6 months prior to my wedding would be quite literally impossible. We've had so many things planned throughout my engagement - cramming them into 6 months wouldn't even be doable. And as far as dresses, I don't know if you're familiar with the postal service right now LOL. I've been waiting two months for my eye makeup remover. I wouldn't bank on bridesmaids dresses being delivered quickly for my wedding, in my opinion!