Long Distance Maid of Honor
You just became engaged and now it's time to select your bridal party. You truly want your best friend in the entire world to be your maid of honor, but there's one catch: she lives on the West coast and you live on the East coast. Is it possible for her to perform her "duties" as maid of honor when she's on the other side of the continent? The answer is "Yes, indeed." Here are a few ways in which you can help your long-distance maid of honor be an amazing assistant in all of your planning.
1.) TAKE ADVANTAGE OF TECHNOLOGY
Suggest to your MOH that she uses email and/or the phone to organize bridal shower, bachelorette party, and wedding details. Give her the contact information for other members of the bridal party and tell her that they all expect to hear from her to retrieve their individual assignments.
When it comes to deciding on the bridesmaid gowns and the floral arrangements, you, your MOH, and all of your bridesmaids can correspond over the internet. Send links to photos of gowns and flowers you are considering and get their opinions.
2.) CHOOSING YOUR DRESS
Helping you to select your dress is often a duty of the maid of honor. Because your MOH isn't close by, assign another close friend or family member to go with you to try on dresses. Have this person take digital photos to send to the MOH. And ask for your MOH to be "brutally honest" in telling you which dresses flatter you and which dresses don't do the trick.
3.) EXCUSE HER ATTENDANCE AT THE BRIDAL SHOWER
It would be unreasonable to expect your MOH to travel across the country for your bridal shower, your bachelorette party, and your wedding. Generally, the bridal shower is held a few months prior to the wedding. Instead of having her attend the bridal shower, ask another bridal party member or family member to organize the shower. Tell your MOH that she can still help plan for the event by sending game ideas to the organizer. She can also help you determine what items you should have on your bridal shower registry.
4.) HAVE THE BACHELORETTE PARTY A COUPLE OF NIGHTS BEFORE THE WEDDING
If you are like many young women getting married these days, you could very well have friends spread all over the country or even the world. If this is the case, suggest to your MOH that you have your bachelorette party a couple of nights before your wedding in the vicinity of where your wedding is taking place. This will allow you to bond with all of your closest girlfriends and make an incredible retreat before your BIG DAY. Definitely send your MOH a list of all of those who you would like to attend the bachelorette party. Perhaps even reserve a suite at a local hotel where all of the attendees can stay the night of the bachelorette party.
5) YOUR BIG DAY
Be honest with your MOH about how you want the BIG DAY to look like in terms of preparations, the actual event, and thereafter. Tell her what will help you to feel simultaneously calm and excited (i.e., keeping dark chocolate on hand and having time in the morning before the madness begins to have an enjoyable light breakfast and a nice chat over a cup of joe). If you are nervous about everything running smoothly, ask your MOH if she can do last minute check ins with the bridal party members and others involved with the wedding to make sure they are ready to go for the ceremony.
When you are choosing your maid of honor, distance should not be a factor at all. Envision the person who would be able to give the most appropriate toast at the wedding. Who truly knows you the best? Who has a way of easing your worries? Who has been by your side in your toughest and best of times whether it be virtual presence or in-person presence? This woman should be your MOH!
