Choosing a Bridesmaid Dress

The bridesmaid dress has long endured a bad reputation. After all, it has traditionally been big and frilly and in colors no woman would ever want to wear again. But, with a few simple steps, you can make sure the bridesmaid dress you select for your wedding will make everyone in your bridal party happy – including you.

Gather the Bridal Party Together

When you are talking about gathering several women together, it is almost inevitable that you will have different ideas about what makes the perfect bridesmaid dress. Therefore, the first step in the dress selection process is to gather everyone together to discuss colors, styles, and price ranges. Different styles compliment different body types and certain colors go better with certain types of skin tones. Be sensitive to these needs when choosing the dress for your wedding.

The women in your bridal party may also be on a tight budget. Keep this in mind when you determine the bridesmaid dress you want for your wedding. If any of the members of your bridal party are unable to pay for the dress, you might want to consider helping them pay for it. Or, don’t be offended if she has to back out of participating in your wedding.

Do Your Homework

Before settling on a bridesmaid dress style for your big day, you should take the time the many different styles out there. By browsing through formal wear catalogues and wedding magazines, you should be able to get a good idea of the many different styles you will have to choose from. Select the ones you like the best, then run them past the members of your bridal party.

Ask them for their feedback and see if you can reach a general consensus on which one they like the best. Of course, the final decision is yours to make. But, the more you involve the bridal party, the more likely you are to make them happy throughout the process.

Ordering the Dresses

Now that you have settled on the bridesmaid dress you will use for your wedding, it is time to place your order. If you are ordering directly from a catalogue or from a website, you will need to have the members of you bridal party take their measurements and include that with your order. If you are purchasing your dresses through a bridal shop or a formal wear shop, one of the employees will take these measurements for you.

Make sure to order each bridesmaid dress at the same time. Dresses that are ordered at different times may be created from different dye lots. This can result in dresses of slightly different colors.

Making Alterations

It generally takes six to eight weeks for bridesmaid dresses to arrive. When they do, you may find that they need alterations. Making them slightly bigger than necessary is normal because it is easier to make a bridesmaid dress smaller than it is to make it bigger. You can get alterations completed at just about any bridal shop or formal wear shop. To save a little money, you can also go through a tailor or an alterations expert.

Accessorizing the Dress

Of course, the final touch to the bridesmaid dress is adding accessories. Most brides want the entire bridal party to match – right down to the hairpiece, jewelry, and shoes. Make sure to keep accessories in mind when choosing the dress and to also discuss which accessories will go best with the dress you choose.

See Also:

Plus Size Bridesmaid Dresses