Weddings mark another rite of passage and together with it, friendships. The bride and her friends who are always top contenders for bridesmaids and maid-of-honor will have their bonds tested through yards of silk and taffeta for coral bridesmaid dresses.

Best Friends and Bridesmaids

As the bride, you have the right to choose your bridesmaids. In all the seeming busyness for the wedding preparations, the important role of the bridesmaids is just being around to share your moments. But it must be made clear at the start that the expenses for the bridesmaid dresses will be shouldered by them.

There has been a lot of argument as to who pays for the bridesmaid dresses. Traditionally, the tab is taken up by the bridesmaids. As the bride, you'll have to compensate their labors and efforts with memorable bridesmaids gifts, or if you can afford to shell out more money, you can pay for the bridesmaids accessories as a sort of concession.

Clarifying the issue at the start prevents conflict and unwarranted misunderstanding in the later part of the preparation for the weddings.

So listen carefully to what your friends have to say if they are the paying for the dresses. If budget is not the issue, you can dress your bridesmaids as beautifully as you can afford, or you can brainstorm creative ideas for bridesmaids' gowns that won't rip you off.

Value of Friends

Friends make life bearable. They also make life meaningful, giving an exciting dimension to your life. Your wedding is just as exciting to them and they'll move mountains to stand in line during the most unforgettable moment in your life.

As bridesmaids, your friends have to plan and execute your bridal shower, help address the invitations, make sure that everyone knows about the honeymoon registry and everybody in the bridal entourage knows where they are sitting, and what flowers the women are going to wear.

In fact, they are your alter egos. They have to keep everything running smoothly. You'll be confident about bossing them around - they expect these and expect the same from the gang when it's their turn to be the bride.

Choosing the Gowns

Choosing the gowns come after the motif or wedding theme has been decided. The other concerns can be delegated to close family members, but the bridal gown and the bridesmaid dresses should be your personal priority.

These tips can make the task easier:

* Who picks the tab for the bridesmaids gowns? Make this clear from the start, but be ready to help if a friend or two is in-between jobs or still struggling with funds.

* With your friends, browse online bridal shops for their collection of gowns and dresses and accessories.

* If you're paying for the gowns, ask your bridesmaids their opinions of your selection for their gowns.

* Choose the gowns that flatter the figures and coloring of your friends.