"How to Ask a Friend? How to Choose a Dress? An In-Depth Q&A on Bridesmaids"

I Want to Ask My Friends to Be My Bridesmaids at My Wedding!

Asking friends to be a *bridesmaid* at the wedding. A bridesmaid is a person who assists the bride, helping her move and preparing her attire.

Bridesmaids are a common aspect in overseas weddings, but in Japan, they are still fairly rare. Many brides may think, "I want to ask someone to be my bridesmaid, but I don't know how to ask..."

This time, we present a Q&A about bridesmaids for those brides who are feeling troubled.

＼Bridesmaid Q&A: How Do I Ask?／

Once you decide who you want to be your bridesmaid, you should reach out to them first. Ideally, they should be unmarried women, but it seems there are many brides in Japan who don't mind. It is common to ask friends from middle school, high school, college, or from the same work group.

Since the people you want as bridesmaids are often good friends, you usually contact them before sending invitations. Make sure to confirm their availability early and express your desire for them to be your bridesmaid.

In overseas weddings, it is customary to give a small gift called a *Bridesmaid Box*. It’s a great idea to include a present that conveys your feelings of “please say yes!”.

Do You Know About the 'Bridesmaid Box' That Overseas Brides Give When Asking Bridesmaids?

＼Bridesmaid Q&A: How Do I Choose the Dress?／

Once you have chosen your bridesmaid, the next step is selecting the dress. Generally, the bride purchases the dress as a gift for the bridesmaid.

You may want to ask for opinions on *color, skirt length, and dress style* from the person you are asking to be a bridesmaid. Since they will be wearing it, you want to choose something they like.

Sometimes, all the bridesmaids gather for a girls' night to help pick out the dresses together. It would be nice to actually go to stores to try on dresses or search online for cute options that everyone agrees on.

＼Bridesmaid Q&A: What Will They Do on the Day?／

A bridesmaid's primary role is to assist the bride. However, it seems that many brides in Japan don't usually request specific roles from their bridesmaids. Just having them there adds splendor, so be sure to take lots of photos together!

＼Bridesmaid Q&A: What to Do with the Worn Dresses?／

After the wedding, the used bridesmaid dresses are generally gifted to the bridesmaid. However, some brides choose to keep them stored for future weddings of friends in the same group, which is a very thoughtful idea.

＼Bridesmaid Q&A: Are Groomsmen Necessary?／

While bridesmaids assist the bride, there are also *groomsmen* or *ushers* who assist the groom. In overseas weddings, there are specific roles assigned to both bridesmaids and groomsmen, making groomsmen essential.

In Japan, since bridesmaids often do not have specific roles, there's no need to feel pressured to have groomsmen. Some brides have given matching bowties to their male friends as a substitute for groomsmen.

Let’s Ask for Bridesmaids and Make the Wedding More Glamorous!

We’ve introduced how to ask for bridesmaids and how to choose dresses. While bridesmaids are still not very familiar in Japan, they can add a wonderful flair to your wedding. Consider asking your friends to be your bridesmaids for a lovely wedding!