Bridesmaids Dresses Buying Guide
Decisions, Decisions
When it comes to the bridesmaid's dresses, 
the final choice is up to the bride even though she's not wearing it. However, it is in both the bride's and bridesmaid's best interests if both parties needs are taken into account. To please the bride, the dresses will match her gown, the formality of the wedding, and the colors and styles in play. However, the bride must also remember that her attendants are most likely of different shapes, sizes, and skin tones. Furthermore, since it is the attendants who will be paying for the dresses, accessories, jewelry, and other odds and ends, the bride should take into account their budgets and financial situations. Ideally, if the bride can pick a dress that may be used after the wedding, all the better.
Some tips to keep everyone happy:
- The bride should take along her maid of honor to shop for dresses (or they can do it online first). While many people say it's fine to take along the rest of the attendants too, it's a better idea to choose one person to help out initially and cross check with everyone else later on. The reason for this is that when you get a bunch of girls shopping for one dress, it's very possible that the outing will result in arguments, hurt feelings, and stress. It's also not uncommon to have bridesmaids who live out of state; browsing online makes things accessible to everyone.
- Try to keep the cost of each attendant's ensemble down as much as possible. On average, it should cost no more than $300. Don't forget, they'll also be buying gifts, throwing the bridal shower(s) and bachelorette parties, and possibly traveling to and staying over in a hotel at the wedding location.
- Comfort should be of the utmost importance when choosing dresses. As the bride, try to imagine wearing the dress all day and think if it will still be comfortable. Remember, you want your bridesmaids smiling in all of the pictures, from the "getting dressed" to the afterparty.
- If choosing the super-tight, ruffled, pink strapless dress is causing your body-conscious gal pal to freak out, be considerate. It's better to make a compromise on a dress than on your friendship.
- For expecting bridesmaids, the recently trendy empire cut dress could be the perfect option. Many larger retailers also offer maternity bridesmaid dresses.
- Suddenly, you hear one of your future bridesmaids has decided that she can't be in the wedding party (due to financial constraints, pregnancy, or other issue). Be understanding of other people's needs and if you still feel strongly that you want her to be involved in your special day, offer her the opportunity to perform another task at the wedding, such as helping handing out flowers or getting the bridal party prepped.
Dress Choices
How to Please Everyone
It's not easy to flatter everyone in the bridal party. However, you can try your best to get something classic and elegant. A-line cuts are good for just about everyone, as are black dresses (which can always be used as a cocktail dress in the future). The bottom line is, simpler is better. Also take into consideration the time of year that you'll be having the wedding. Summer calls for lighter fabrics and shorter dresses, unless the wedding is very formal; often, bridesmaids will wear short dresses even when the bride is in a floor-length gown full-length gown. In winter, consider the need for matching shawls, shrugs, or jackets, heavier fabrics, and longer skirts and sleeves.
Here are a few ways of picking dresses that will satisfy the entire bridal party:
- Don't allow the bridesmaids to choose their own dresses. You simply select a company from which to buy them from and tell them what color(s) they can choose. Then they can select any dress that flatters their body and personality, but they will still match.
- To avoid potential disaster when allowing bridesmaids to choose their own dress styles in a particular color is to give them SPECIFIC guidelines. Just saying, "Oh, anything that's not too flashy or shows too much skin is okay," is simply not enough. Different people have different ideas of what "too much cleavage" means! Depending on the look you want to achieve, your guidelines will vary. Some possible suggestions you might give for the style are no dresses above the knee, no showing cleavage, and only short sleeves or strapless. You should also specify the fabric choice for the dresses.
- If you have several attendants, pick only one dress style and then give the attendants a choice of colors to choose from. You can create a rainbow effect if you have six bridesmaids or more, or with less you can have them don colors from the wedding color scheme.
- Choose two-piece dresses. That way each person can choose the right size top and bottom. It helps get a better fit and cuts down on alteration costs. It also makes it easier to wear the dress after the wedding because you can wear the top to a fancy New Year's party or pair the skirt with a more casual piece for holiday affairs or parties.
Styles and Trends
Fashionable colors for fall are rich, burnt orange, deep chocolate, soft honeydew, slate blue, lavender, aqua, and ash black. As winter nears, jewel tones such as burgundy, plum, and dark green will be seen quite a bit. Other popular colors that have graced the runway this year are:
- Brights -- Tangerine, coral, fuschia, bright blue, and lime green.
- Pastels -- Pale blue, buttery yellow, rose, soft mint green, and peach.
- Pale Neutrals -- Sand, platinum, and taupe.
Of course, black is always in fashion, looks great on everyone, and can easily be worn again!
There are almost as many styles for bridesmaids dresses as for wedding gowns! The same basic rules apply, so check out the buying guide for wedding gowns for shape-related advice. Below are a few of the most popular shapes.
There are also many fabrics to choose from. The best choices take into account the style and formality of the wedding, the season, and the shapes of your bridesmaids. Below you'll see the top choices in fabrics.
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Satin is available in many colors, but it may make heavier bridesmaids self-conscious; it has a tendancy to highlight every curve. (Also wrinkles easily.)
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Iridescent organza is one of the most popular materials for bridesmaid dresses and comes in many colors. It often has a subtle sheen.
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Silk charmeuse has a soft, drapey feel and is often richly colored. Good for autumn weddings.
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Chiffon is a lightweight, breezy fabric perfect for spring and summer. Usually layered over a heavier, opaque fabric.
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Taffeta has a sumptuous look but can be heavy and expensive, especially if it's pure silk. |
Fitting Tips
Everyone comes in a different shape and size. Here are some tips for getting the right dress to fit each bridesmaid's bod just right.
- Pear Shaped
- Halter style necklines draw the eyes up and broaden the shoulders to minimize the appearance of full hips.
- Skirts should be A-line or slightly flared to skim over large hips.
- Flowing dresses drift over curves without emphasizing their size.
- If skirts have pleats or if they are gathered, the detailing should be on the front or back, but never on the sides.
- Pretty details on the neckline help distract from a heavy bottom.
- Sport a cinched sash at the waist to give it more definition.
- Shawls and jackets fill out the top to balance the weight of the lower body, especially in a long dress.
- Tall
- Sashes, satin belts, and other details at the hips or waist help break up a long line.
- For ultra-long legs, a tea length dresse balances out the body well.
- Strapless style necklines help minimize the appearance of a long torso.
- Pretty ruffles and gathered fabric helps to add curves to narrow figures.
- Long, floor-length dresses help hide a tall girl wearing flats.
- Column shapes and sheath dresses look great on long, lean ladies.
- Petite
- Pairing a light sweater with a knee-length or tea-length dress helps elongate the body.
- Short skirts show off legs, lengthening them to their fullest.
- Dropped waist bodices make a stumpy torso look longer and leaner.
- Sheaths and fitted dresses with an uninterrupted flow to them are best because they keep a long line.
- Avoid dresses that end right before your feet. They make a petite person look shrimpy.
- Higher necklines elongate the torso.
- Large on Top
- Supportive seams and straps are crucial to keeping a dress comfortable.
- Wide straps and sleeves allow busty women to wear a full-coverage bra.
- A strapless style neckline can create a uni-breast, which doesn't do anyone any favors! More flattering necklines include halters, V-necks, and sweethearts.
- Higher necklines are sometimes more appropriate and less risque.
- Pretty accents on the waist or hips help balance a bigger bust.
- Full Figured
- The dress and the detailing should all be as close to one color as possible to create a longer silhouette.
- Slim a wide waist with a darker colored sash.
- Avoid fluff and ruffles and stick to sheaths. The less fabric, the more slimming the dress.
- Pair a puffy skirt with a cute shrug or shawl to balance out the volume.
- Crossover necklines enhance cleavage, but provide support and keep you covered.
- Empire waists and halter style necklines draw the focus up to the face. They also help slim the torso.
- A-lines, skirts cut on the bias, and flowing fabrics work nicely to flow over problem areas.
Timeline
Start browsing for dresses early on and once you have selected who you attendants will be, make sure that they come to get their measurements taken as soon as possible. This takes place within the first few months of wedding planning. Usually, you should order the dresses no later than six months in advance of the wedding. The same goes for the shoes and accessories.
- When ordering the shoes, make sure to get them all dyed at the same time so that there are no color anomalies.
- Fittings should start no later than three months prior to the big day. When going for fittings, the bridesmaids should bring their shoes, hosiery, proper lingerie, and other accessories that they might need.
- Final fittings take place no later than one month before the wedding, after which they'll need to be picked up.
- Have the ladies do a dry run without makeup about two to three weeks before the wedding to make sure that everything is in place.
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