All the events leading up to your wedding add to the magic of the day, right? It’s a time to bond with your friends and introduce the people who mean the most to you to others that have helped shaped you into the person you are today. And, when you can make something like trying on bridesmaid gowns + suits for the groomsmen into a fun festivity, why not?!
The designers at Black Twine + Birdy Grey bridesmaid boutique teamed up with June of Stir and Style and her husband-to-be, Dan, to show you just how it’s done — party planning tips and all! In preparation for J+D’s wedding this fall, the pre-wedding try-on party was held at The Ruby Street in Los Angeles.
Let’s take a peek at the photos snapped by Wisteria Photography and get the inside scoop into hosting a try-on party for your friends!
Tip #1: Get the party started with a signature cocktail!
POMP 75
-2 oz. Pomp & Whimsy
-2 oz. Brut Champagne, chilled
Pour P&W over ice in a cocktail shaker and swirl until well chilled. Strain into a coupe and top with champagne. Garnish with a fanciful twist of citrus.
June shares: I knew what the bridesmaid gowns looked like, and I also knew what the guys would be wearing, but it was SO helpful to see it all together in a cohesive way, so there’s no last-minute surprises. Plus, it’s a fun excuse to get the crew together for some light bits + bonding before the wedding.
Cocktails + Confectionaries
The team at Black Twine took care of everything! The online party planning platform is ideal for the modern hostess — they partner with event stylists to curate party ideas, making it easy for you! Definitely worth checking out.
Cocktails were courtesy of Pomp and Whimsy & ONEHOPE Wine. And of course, the tables were decked in pretty posies put together by Bloominous.
Take a look at those sweet treats!
Everything’s better with a smattering of sugar, right? For June’s soirée Sugar Crush Sweets crafted these darling bites, as well as the “Team Bride” and “Team Groom” cookies below!
Tip #2: Serve bite-sized desserts that are finger friendly and won’t disrupt the try-on process!
The Tablescape
For the tablescape, you can play around with your wedding theme + palette… or, if you had a close runner-up, go with a completely different design scheme to shake things up!
Getting in the Gowns
Making things accessible + affordable, Birdy Grey is the NEW direct-to-consumer bridesmaid dress brand hailing from LA… and every dress is just $99! Woo! All of the gowns come in complementary color combos, which means it’s simple to mix-and-match for the bridal party. Major win!
Tip #3: Treat your tribe to some pampering that they can enjoy as a gift, such as sweet slippers or a spa kit.
Diggin’ all those swatches!
How darling are those slippers from Birdies?!
For the Guys
Tip #4: Have your bridesmaids & groomsmen order their attire in advance and bring them to the party, and let the dry run begin…
Don’t these fellas look so dapper in their suits from The Black Tux?
Black Twine made party planning easy for these two… and they’re doing the same for you with their party blueprints! These blueprints not only contain the party inspo, but also share practical details (shopping links for décor, timeline, budget, step-by-step instructions for food and drinks). If you want to take a look at the party blueprint for this try-on event, take a peek here.
Tip #5: Host the party in a space with both outside and inside elements — so you can see how the dresses will look in different lighting.
How fun was that?! Whatever the occasion, you can make it an event — just need good company, a few delicious bites, and maybe a bottle of champagne (or two). ;)
We’d love to hear if you’re hosting a try-on event for those in your wedding party… and what kind of things you’d include in the comments below!
photography: Wisteria Photography // concept, styling, coordination + party blueprint: Black Twine // bridesmaid dresses: Birdy Grey // tuxes: The Black Tux // tabletop rentals: Borrowed Blu // desserts: Sugar Crush Sweets // florals: Bloominous // slippers: Birdies // gin: Pomp & Whimsy // champagne: ONEHOPE Wine // linens: Wolf & Irving // venue: The Ruby Street