7 Bridesmaids Dresses Tips
Next month my sister is coming to Atlanta, and we will take advantage of her visit to search for her bridesmaids dresses. Going through this process again, inspired me to put together these seven tips for brides when looking for bridesmaids dresses.
Find Stores. Either Google stores in your area or ask your friends for references. Stores that sell bridesmaids dresses tend to carry the same designers, but it is nice to visit a couple. Most bridal shops do not require an appointment to see bridesmaids dresses, but it is always good to double-check. Another alternative is to look for dresses at department stores or at your favorite clothing store. However, this option requires you or your bridesmaids to order the dress as soon as you find it.
Fabric and Color. Do not rely on online pictures to like a bridesmaid dress, it will likely not look the same in person. Besides this being part of the whole bridal experience, actually feeling the fabric and seeing the color is important.
Shapes and Sizes. Yet another reason to drive to the store, bring a bridesmaid, and try some dresses. Even if you know you like a particular fabric and color, the dress itself might not fit all your bridesmaids well. Be a good bride and take into consideration the fit of the dress and the body shape of your bridesmaids, at the end of the day you want all of these special ladies to look and feel beautiful!
Prices. It is important to be mindful of your bridesmaids budget when choosing a dress. In my experience most bridesmaids dresses tend to be in the $200s. If you are like me, and your bridesmaids are spread across the country or in different countries, take into consideration shipping costs. Once you find the dress (or your top 2 dresses) go online and compare prices. My bridesmaids dresses were $220 and I found them online for $150 here.
Opinions. When planning a wedding making everyone happy is impossible. It is important to be considerate (bridesmaids shapes, sizes, and budget), but choosing one dress they all love will be really hard. Yes, they will be buying a dress that they might not love or might never wear again, but they are your bridesmaids because they love you, not because they wanted to get a new dress. My recommendation is for you and your maid of honor to choose the dress together, that is what I did and it worked really well.
Orders. You know how you are supposed to look for your wedding gown 8 months before the wedding? Well… bridesmaids dresses are supposed to be ordered 6 months before the wedding. Dresses take approximately 3 months to arrive and you need to allow time for alterations. Give your bridesmaids a deadline to place their orders to avoid adding more stress to the planning process.
Be Specific. Finally you need to think about accessories. If you have a vision for shoe color, jewelry, hair, etc. make sure to let them know… they can’t read your mind. I specified that I wanted them to wear silver shoes, simple silver-colored jewelry, and an updo. After you make your request I recommend backing off. You don’t need to “inspect” the accessories or do any other bridezilla activities.
