What to put in bridesmaid binders?

Early out I sent my BM's a cute card that had a "Thank You" page for being in my party, their color for their dress, guidelines for their dress/shoes, and a page with contact info and a "how I know them" for all the other maids, and finally the events they should plan to attend (shower, bachelorette, rehearsal, big day). Otherwise, I plan on e-mailing them all in a week or so with actual times for the rehearsal and then our day-of timeline. I don't think they need all of the vendor info, that seems excessive.

I passed out a durable folder sized envelope I included a very vague time line as I had nothing set in stone a pocket sized calendar, pen, post it, paint swatch from home Depo in my colors, a picture and information of the bridesmaids dress, they get to choose between long or short, and a list of contacts of the other girls

I just had a Facebook group and gave them all the information they needed that way...if a bride handed me a binder, I would be seriously confused/overwhelmed.

And it is not for them to carry around on the day of its just a little info, and a place to put any thing pertaining to my wedding in one place, some time they would text me pictures of stuff if it was the right color so just in case I gave them sample of the right colors

Just TMI. Not necessary.

Wow, some of you can say its not needed a little nicer.

I think it could be useful for your MOH to have that information, in fact my MOH bought a binder and asked me for all that info without me suggesting it, but I do agree with others that it seems a bit excessive to give all of that info to the other BM's. I'm sorry people's answers weren't exactly kind but you know how it is on WW people are just blunt! I think you should just provide a timeline for all of the BP a week before the wedding so they know what will be going on and can be prepared.

You could print out one page for them, but I don't think they need more than that. Also, maybe create a google doc or send an email so they can access it easily on their phones? It may be easier to use a document so the girls can pull it up if they need it. The FB group could work too because you could post links, pictures, important details and get feedback from them.

Please don't give your girls all this information. They will call you a bridezilla behind your back and I'm sure you're not trying to be one. They don't need to know most of this information and they'll think you're expecting them to do way more than they signed on for. Send a group email so they have each other's addresses and work from there.

As for the timeline, don't even try to create one yet. I don't think I had even a tentative one before 2 months out and it changed several times after that.

I never knew this was a thing...interesting.

I think most people are reacting to the fact that you ever thought it was needed.

I would definitely side-eye even my best friends if they handed me a wedding binder over six months before their wedding.

Do you have a day of coordinator? I would assume they would take care of all of this for you. If not, All the information they really will need will likely fit on to a small card. (This is what a friend's DOC gave us and worked out perfectly.) It included the key people's #s (MOH, BM, MOB, DOC...basically everyone BUT the bride), and a timeline. For Ex: 8:30AM: BMs hair and makeup, 10AM: Bride's hair and makeup, 1PM:Groomsmen arrive, 4:30PM: ceremony, 5:30PM: cocktail, 6:30PM: wedding party introductions, 7PM:dinner, 8PM:Toasts, 8:30PM:Cake Cutting...Basically an outline of how the day will pan out so everyone knows where they need to be. Hope this helps!

ETA: This was given to us the night of the rehearsal. Anything prior to was done via group text or by email.

I second the facebook group idea.

I did this for my girls. Here's what I posted for them:

The links for where they can order their dresses.

The link for the petticoats that go under the dresses.

This is where I ask them about if they want to go to Bridal shows, and where they can ask me questions about shoes, jewelry, etc.

But they don't need vendor info. Why would they need that?

Please email them any info or create a private facebook group. They need each other's contact numbers, maybe your parents' cell phones, a timeline, and addresses of where they will be getting ready, etc. They definitely don't need your vendors' numbers. Or anything printed on paper. I lose or recycle paper.

I never heard of this. When I was a BM in the few weddings I been in, the only person who gave me a very brief timeline was the brides planner. It was only 1 page and usually just told us what time hair and make up is coming, who will be going first, and then when we should put our dresses on- it is nice to have all the BMs dresses on while helping the bride into hers because it is a great photo op. Also, just a reminder of what time to be at the ceremony if I wasn't staying with the bride the night before, our line up order. That is it. No vendor numbers. nothing. That isn't a BMs job. It is the planners. That why she is there.

I made myself my personal binder. It is supercute (got it on sale for $3) and I bought sheet protectors and put in all our contracts, timelines, receipts, vendor info (email/number), I bought colorful dividers to section it out: The first page is a page I printed off a site and it says "Welcome to Wedding Planning" and you fill out your name, fiances name, wedding date, location and time. Then my dividers are labeled, in order: timeline, checklists ,contracts, vendor infor, budget, Wedding party info (names, phone numbers and emails this has actually came in handy because FH is lazy about contacting his GMs), attire, I printed out a calendar from the month I started planning up until our wedding month, so I can write down appts. etc.,, HM info, guest list, RSVPs (printed out a template on excel where I added everyones name and wrote chicken beef or vegetarian, and a column for the accepting or declining guests. ), hair and MU (who will be getting what done so I can have that in writing to email to our MUA/HS, then I have seating chart. Oh, and a divider labled Vendor packets ( I have my DJs 15 page packet in there, and my officiants packet).

I actually have another divider 'Keepsakes' in the sheet protectors in that section have our keepsake STD, Invite, our first picture when we got engaged, and a few Congrats on the engagment cards. I will leave them in there until I can frame them except the cards- they can stay in there forever. I almost want to laminate all my hard copies after the wedding and replace the sheet protectors, so I can save it forever. I love looking through it for no reason. Once were married I am sure I will still look through it from time to time

Anyway, I just gave my MOH all my Bms numbers and email addresses and she took it upon herself to make a group message. Set up shopping appts. (well 1 for the BMS), she is planning the shower with them and then will start planning my bachelorette.

So, I don't think you need to give them all that info. Your MOH can take charge. My MOH never done this before, but she is super smart and crafty. So, she googled what MOHs do, what BMs do, ideas for showers. We have a shared pinterest board where we first share BM dress ideas now thats done we share shoes! She also always tags me on IG wedding stuff or sends me a pic via text or email if she thinks I'll like it and knows I am looking for it.

Point is, your girls don't have to do anything but show up in the dress. It is up to them to do more or less for you. If they want to know what they should be doing they can always google it or ask you if you need help.

So, the group text message keeps us all in the same place. Not one wants to know my DJs number or florist. That is my planners job.

Please not give them anything telling them what they should do or even share your vendors info because TBH they don't care. My girls don't give a crap who my vendors are. My mom cares who my planner is because she keeps things going. My planner will make a timeline for my vendors, a master time line for herself and FH and I. As well as a very small timeline to give to the wedding party during rehearsal. Just so they won't be asking me a million questions the day of because they have their day of timeline or they can ask my planner if they need help doing something.

GL!

Mrsford2016, I know you're excited and want to buy things for the wedding (which is exactly what a manufacturer of BMs' binders is hoping to cash in on), but they are kind of pointless. That's why you can't really think of what else to put in them (and please, don't give your BMs your vendors' phone numbers. There is absolutely no reason for a BM to have the phone numbers of another woman's wedding vendors).

ETA: Actually, if I were handed a binder, I would immediately think that the bride was going to also have monthly planning meetings -- I'm not saying you would, I'm saying it would definitely cross my mind.

Maybe a FB message with all of this? So if they need something in case of an emergency they can pull it up assuming one of them has a smart phone?

I'm with everyone else on this. Never received a binder or folder as a BM. I'm planning to communicate everything via email for a total of 4-6 emails max (hotel, dresses/hair info, reminder email about hotel and ordering dresses if needed, rehearsal dinner info and day of timeline). There is really not much more info they need unless they ask.

If you've already bought them, maybe just fill them with fun things instead...like someone suggested, a letter thanking them for being a part of your special day, maybe a couple printed pictures of you with them, and then maybe a picture of dress ideas or something along those lines...

OOH or you could keep them until you give them your gift, and make it a part of the gift. Take pictures of them trying on dresses, and put them in there, etc...

Just a thought. I know that might be a lot of extra work to put all that together, but if you've already bought them, I'd hate to see them go to waste, you know?