As a bride, you want to look stunning when you stand at the altar, but you also want your bridesmaids to look good and feel comfortable. Ordering the right bridesmaid dress to suit five or six different women can be a complicated task. Not only are there thousands of dresses to choose from, but each woman in the bridal party has a different shape, meaning the dress must fit accordingly. To achieve the best possible outcome, take into account factors like cost, design, and reuse. Be mindful of your bridesmaids’ needs, remain open to suggestions, but remember that the final decision is yours. Be decisive when your bridesmaids look to you for the final say.
Choosing a Dress That Everyone Will Love
One fear that many brides have is being labeled the “friend who chose the most hideous bridesmaid dresses.” Many dresses from the late eighties and early nineties have brides from those eras cringing at their choices. What will always remain stylish are simple yet elegant, streamlined dresses that are neither too frilly nor too lacy. Currently, A-line gowns offer a perfect choice for bridal attendants.
If you’re worried about picking an ugly dress, consider asking a few bridesmaids to accompany you to help make the decision. Alternatively, you can look at dresses online, send links to your friends via email, and poll them on their favorite styles. For a more hands-off approach, you could simply pick a color and length for the dresses and let your bridesmaids choose their own dresses within those general guidelines. This works best with colors like black or champagne, but may be more challenging with shades like pink, which can vary widely.
Picking the Right Color and Ensuring Comfort
Black is a classic choice for bridesmaid dresses, and neutrals like taupe and sand are also popular. Neutral colors have a timeless look, so if you’re worried about choosing a “dated” dress, opt for a neutral shade. Deeper colors like burgundy, purple, or hunter green are ideal for fall weddings, while paler shades like light yellow, lilac, or soft pink are more fitting for spring weddings. When choosing a color, consider your bridesmaids’ skin tones and hair colors, aiming for a shade that is universally flattering. While it can be tough to find a color that looks great on everyone, you definitely don’t want your pale-skinned, blonde friend to wear a pale yellow dress that will wash her out!
Selecting a dress that is flattering at the very least will help your bridesmaids deal with the costs they’ll likely incur. With weddings costing more than ever, many couples are unable to afford to pay for their attendants’ attire, leaving bridesmaids and groomsmen to foot the bill for dresses and tuxedos. It has become common practice for attendants to pay for their own attire, but financial assistance is still appreciated. The cost of a dress, shoes, shower gifts, wedding gifts, airfare, and hotel rooms can add up quickly for a bridesmaid. If possible, try to help with some of these expenses. Some brides, instead of paying for the dresses, may cover the hotel bill for the bridal party, or split the cost of the dresses with them. Make sure to order the dresses about six months in advance to allow time for delivery and alterations.
Some brides go the extra mile to select a bridesmaid dress that can be reused in the future. For a less formal wedding, a long skirt and sweater can make a great bridesmaid outfit. The mix-and-match pieces can later be integrated into the maid’s everyday wardrobe. Simple dresses are generally more versatile than sequined or heavily embellished options. For bridesmaids with dresses gathering dust in their closets, consider taking them to a resale shop where you can sell them for a little cash. There are also places that accept bridesmaid dresses as donations to provide them to low-income high school students who can’t afford new prom dresses.
Try to remember, amid all the chaos of choosing a bridesmaid dress, that these women are your friends. When you look back on your wedding day, you’ll care less about how they looked and more about how they felt. You have the ultimate decision-making power, but it’s important to listen to their feelings and opinions about the dresses, and to find a compromise. Make sure to communicate with all of your bridesmaids—whether by phone or email—so everyone feels included in the decision. Once the dresses are chosen, you can move on to the more fun parts of planning, like the bridal shower, and of course, the bachelorette party!
