Your Bridesmaids

 Pearl Wedding Bag

                  Angie Bridal Shoes

Now it's the turn of the big girls - your special posse of girlfriends who you will honour with the task of being your bridesmaids. Choose carefully - they'll have to support you through dress fittings, seating plans, hopes and fears, and of course on the big day itself, when your emotions will be raging.

Once you've chosen your troupe of bridesmaids, remembering budgetary constraints (how many lilac silk shifts do you want to fund?) and ensuring that they'll all be free to be there when you need them, you need to sort out your chief bridesmaid, or maid of honour - a responsible type who'll co-ordinate the whole group and be your right-hand woman.

A traditional task is helping the bride choose her dress, with honesty and tact. Also, there's the job of organising the hen night. Your maid of honour needs to be tuned in to your tastes. Fancy a Full Monty night out? Or is a pampering stay at a spa more your line? She will have to make a wise decision, and stay within budget too.

Don't expect your busy bridesmaids to be at your beck and call 24/7. It's best to give each of them an allotted task, such as doing a reading at the ceremony, making name cards for the table, or dreaming up decorations.

On the day, your support group should be close at hand, ready to sort out glitches while you stay composed and calm. Give someone your essentials to carry for the day, such as lipstick, tissues, headache tablets, a pocket mirror and comb (why not get a pretty wedding dolly bag for them to put them in - we have a gorgeous range that that will accessorise that perfect bridesmaid dress beautifully) and let the group look after the smaller bridesmaids and flowergirls if you have them.

The last official task for your bridesmaids is to gather guests together for wedding photos after the ceremony. Then they can relax, eat, drink and be merry - their work is done!

For more style hints and tips on how to make your big day go smoothly, click on our wedding information pages. We are adding to them all the time so make sure you visit us again. And if this has whet your appetite for all things gorgeous, click here to browse Henry Kaye's complete range of stunning wedding shoes (for brides and bridesmaids alike), elegant bridesmaid dresses, stylish boy's formalwear and pageboy outfits and exquisite wedding bags and wedding accessories.