What is a bridesmaids getaway

A couple of questions have been asked about bridesmaids getaways. Just after my daughter was born a friend of mine had a girls weekend as part of her pre-wedding experience. They raved about the trip for a long time. It's not a new idea. In fact, it's a tradition that many of us grew up with.

I asked a few friends about their experiences about a bridesmaids getaway or pre-wedding girlfriend trip. There was a fair amount of variation but a lot of common ground. The idea behind the trip is to relax and have fun.

Successful weddings often rely on teamwork. A bridesmaids getaway is perfect to help everyone get to know each other so the teamwork can begin. Ideally, the trip should fit into everyone's budget and schedule. Overnight shopping trips, spa getaways and a weekend in a cabin are all possible choices for a bridesmaids getaway. It's an optional fun time for bridesmaids to get together for a weekend.

There is one thing that my friends and I all seem to agree on about a bridesmaids weekend. The trips are usually dutch and need to be within the reach of each bridesmaid. The focus on the trip should be on getting to know each other better (or for the first time) and having fun. It's not the time to exclude or outspend anyone.

Instead, the girlfriend getaway is a time of BFF bridesmaid bonding spent with the bride-to-be. No matter what you decide to do (or not do) the only hard and fast rule is to relax and have a good time.