When Your Bridesmaids Haven’t Met Yet
How to Bring Your Wedding Crew Together Before the Big Day
Every bride dreams of that perfect wedding morning. The music’s playing softly, laughter is echoing down the hall, and your favourite people are floating around each other as if they’ve known one another forever. That’s the dream, right?
Except sometimes, that isn’t the reality.
Sometimes your friend groups haven’t overlapped before. Your childhood best friend might have only heard about your university roommate in passing. Your sister might live abroad. Your partner’s family could be meeting yours for the first time that weekend. Suddenly you’ve got a group of wonderful people who all love you, but have never shared a room together.
It’s a beautiful thing to watch different parts of your life come together. Still, it can also feel like you’re orchestrating a social experiment. You want everyone to vibe, to laugh, to find common ground, and to feel comfortable enough to celebrate like they’ve known each other for years.
Here’s the thing though: the icebreaker doesn’t have to be the wedding itself.
Enter Jess from With Strangers.
Meet Jess Janz, founder of With Strangers, a modern-day hostess with a knack for turning strangers into fast friends. She’s warm, thoughtful, and quietly brilliant at bringing people together in ways that feel natural, not staged. Her gatherings aren’t about name tags or forced games. They’re about connection — about creating a setting that encourages real conversations and shared moments that linger long after dessert.
Jess’ With Strangers events are exactly what so many couples need before a big day. A cozy, low-pressure way to introduce the people who will stand beside you when you say “I do.” Think candlelight, good food, a few bottles of wine, and stories flowing around the table. By the time the wedding rolls around, everyone’s already familiar, already laughing, already part of the same team.
Jess takes that invisible mental load off your shoulders. She plans, hosts, and facilitates in a way that lets you simply show up and enjoy. What could have felt like an obligation becomes something you’ll actually look forward to — an experience that feels personal, meaningful, and genuinely memorable.
If you’re bringing together people from different chapters of your life, or blending families from different cities (or even continents), this might just be your secret weapon. It’s a gentle reminder that the best bonds are often built before the big moments happen.
So, whether it’s your bridesmaids, groomsmen, or in-laws meeting for the first time, don’t underestimate the power of a well-planned evening. Because when people connect early, everything about your wedding weekend feels lighter, warmer, and infinitely more fun.
__________
Contact Jess to book your next With Strangers dinner here.
WHILE YOU’RE HERE, CHECK OUT SOME OF OUR OTHER FEATURES:
