bridal parties

It's an honor for your child to be part of a loved one's wedding, but with that special position comes a bit of responsibility. With wedding season in full force, we're outlining some of the must-know duties for flower girls and ring bearers. Will your little one be walking down the aisle? Here are some tips and details to guide you through the experience:

Parties
Between engagement parties and bridal showers and bridal party luncheons, the number of prewedding events can be high. If your child is invited to one of the get-togethers, here are a couple tips to keep in mind:

• Consider the party an opportunity for your little one to establish relationships with the rest of the bridal party. You may not be present for all the day-of festivities, so it's important that your child feels comfortable with the others.
• Get to know the maid of honor or another person who's close to the bride so that you have another contact to reach when the bride is busy — both before and during the wedding day.

Attire
Whether your child is the flower girl or the ring bearer, the wedding attire is definitely something you should discuss early on. You want your little one's style to fit in with the rest of the bridal party, but it's just as important to find a comfortable option, too. Keep these specifics in mind:

• The bride likely has a vision for the entire bridal party, so reach out ahead of time to see what she prefers. Plus, since it's probably a one-time wear, be open and honest about your budget from the get-go.
• Depending on your child's age, you may want to wait until a month or so before the wedding to buy their outfit. Not only will you ensure a better fit, but you'll also have a chance to adjust the pieces as necessary.
• Shoes should be purchased in advance so that your little one can break them in and be extra comfortable for the big day.

Read on for more bridal party expectations.

• Feel Spring-y with this Mad Men-esque inspiration shoot — 100 Layer Cake
• A wedding shoot inspired by Downton Abbey — Style Me Pretty
• 5 marriage equality-themed cocktails — Equally Wed
• Check out a chic, modern wedding with pink ombre details — Green Wedding Shoes
• Watch this woman propose to her girlfriend at a hockey game! — Glamour
• A creative way to make an entrance at an outdoor wedding — The Bride's Guide
• How to throw a barn wedding — The Wedding Chicks
• See the world's first all-diamond ring! — Huffington Post
• A comic book-inspired wedding — GeekSugar

Some brides are major veil girls, while others choose to opt out of this traditional bridal headpiece. If you're not the type of bride who's interested in wearing a long, cascading bridal veil as part of her bridal ensemble, why not make it part of the decor instead?

At a Camarillo ranch wedding, the bride decided to opt out of a traditional veil and show off her gorgeous mahogany curls instead. But the allure of the veil wasn't lost on her — she added cascading veil-like tulle behind her dessert table instead. I love the effect — it softens the rustic barn and adds romance.

Here are a few more ideas for adding tulle to your wedding's decor.

• Wind it around a trellis or arbor for a dramatic entrance to your wedding.
• Use it as a table runner for your reception.
• Tie it in bows around the backs of chairs at your ceremony.
• Braid ribbon into lengths of tulle and use it as an alternative to bunting.
• Create a transparent tented effect when you hang it from the ceiling.

Did you use tulle in your wedding's decor? Tell me about your technique in the comments!

Photo by Stone Crandall

Once you're invited to an engagement party, you may be facing a gift conundrum. Chances are, the happy couple hasn't yet registered, and even if they have, you may want to save those offerings for the actual big day. Engagement parties are the perfect chance to go with something more thoughtful and personal, whether that be an experience gift or a small, inexpensive present with sentimental value. Here are some ideas!

Give them something useful: After all the money they'll be spending on the wedding, a splurge like a luxe photo album for wedding pics, personalized guestbook, or thank-you cards for after the wedding would be much appreciated.

Help them make their house a home: When a dear friend of mine had an engagement get-together, I got her and her fiancé a pretty and sweet-smelling candle. I knew she had an affinity for mood lighting, but I also knew it'd cozy up their new home together. Pay attention to the little things that mean a lot to the couple but may not make it onto their registry.

Give them one-of-a-kind art: Give the couple something truly personal with a custom portrait of the lovebirds from Etsy or their favorite illustrator. Another idea is to find a cute photo of the couple and turn it into wall art.

Help the bride stay organized: Gift a wedding planning book or a purse-sized planner with a calendar to help give the bride-to-be a jump start on her to-do list. Or you could just give her a pretty journal to jot down her experiences during the lead-up to the wedding.

Photo by Abby Jiu Photography via Style Me Pretty

Just like a wedding, every bachelorette party is different. Some brides-to-be want to relax, while others want to get wild and crazy. I asked you readers what kind of sending off party you'd like to have. Based on your answers, I found some useful tips for the rest of us to steal!

• Get everyone on the same page. xxstardust says: I have told the girls who will be in my party well in advance — NO STRIPPERS. I will walk out and go home if there's a stripper, not even kidding.
• Try something different. T. Jamey wrote: I really want to have a nice, classy and quiet bridesmaid tea. I've done the crazy running around, stripper and bar hopping routine with my friends so I want something much more mundane for myself.
• Themes are good, even if they must involve genitalia. Gawjuslayd: "I want to have an insane weekend! I want penis pasta, penis straws, the bachelorette sash, the bride-to-be buttons, the T-shirts, games, EVERYTHING!!! I need to get it all out of my system and get drunk off my ass for the last time. We're talking MEN, MEN, and more MEN!!!"
• For destination bachelorette parties, pick up a routine. AlexisSF says: I can't wait for my bachelorette party!! Perfect LA girls weekend — pool, nice dinners out, fun bar scene and repeat."
• Stock up on wine. boredgourdles explains: "I had a grown-up pool/slumber party. I think the empty wine bottles outnumbered the partiers."

Do you have any tips to add?