I have my dress, I’m working on my bod, and now I just need to figure out what my bridesmaid dresses will be. At first I thought it would be best to go to a ‘box store’ to see all of our options. My bridal party has both talls and smalls, so I wanted to see what looked great on everyone. Needless to say, I was overwhelmed and disappointed. I should have known when all the advertisements show the world’s thinnest and ‘same sized’ bridesmaids!
Tip #1: Determine How Much is Too Much
Before you start looking, figure out how much you are comfortable asking your girls to pay for a dress. My goal was to make it affordable and maybe, just maybe, a style they would wear again. I have a closet full of wedding party dresses, none of which are my particular style, so this point was important to me. Remember, your girls are paying for quite a bit already, including the bridal shower, shoes, hair, makeup, etc.
On our shopping trip we found a few styles that were okay, but nothing I loved. One of my Maids of Honor had turned me on to a designer that created a ‘convertible’ dress that could be tied and twisted in several different styles. The only problem was the price. After our experience with an 18-year-old attendant, who recommended we try their competitor, I was bound and determined to find the dress I loved for my girls, without the price tag.
My girls were awesome. They said that I was only getting married once (love their positive thinking!) and that they would get the dress that I wanted, even if it was expensive. I appreciated it, but I was on a mission.
Tip #2: Do Your Research
Do your research. There are many other vendors that sell the same or similar dresses. Another great option is searching on craft websites for dresses. I like etsy.com. I found a very similar option to what I was looking for. My only concern was some of the designers were overseas. Then we had to worry about customs and the term ‘all sales final.’ So make sure to read all the fine print.
I ended up finding the dress I wanted on dessy.com. It is their twist dress. We are going with the graphite color. A lot of online vendors will send you swatches too in case you’re unsure about the color. It is a good idea to do this for planning as you work on other details. In this case I just ordered a dress for us all to try on, because of course none of the stores that carried that vendor carried this dress. We all got together and tried it on. We all LOVED it, it was half the price of the designer version, and all the girls said they would wear it again. Hope they didn’t fib!
Tip #3: Get Your Bridesmaids Involved
Based on body shape, height and role, consider letting your girls choose the style of the top or bottom (or both) of their dress. The great thing about the dress we chose is that the girls could even switch the style in the middle of the event. So fun!
All of my girls are gorgeous, but they each have their own body issues, as we all do. Allowing them to choose their own style allows them to feel the most comfortable. The only snafu, so far, is that all the photos of this dress show it on skinny, <cough> under-endowed girls. We will have to find some awesome undergarments if you get my drift! Minor detail!
The next decision is shoes. My goal is comfort. I am fine with the girls choosing black wedges or flats that they would want to wear again. I got some resistance to this idea, as they don’t want to choose something I will not like. I think the best option is to have them send me a picture or have me send them some options and then they can decide.
Tip #4: Get the Details Figured Out Early
Try to make a plan that you and your girls are happy as soon as possible for dresses, hair, shoes, etc. This way you’re less stressed on your important day. We are planning and practicing what styles they prefer and how to achieve that look now. Thank god for double sided tape!
Honestly, I think the more laid back I am now, the easier it will be to avoid getting uptight on my big day. Think about what is important to you and loosen up on the rest. I am known to enjoy being in control and I’m a bit of a perfectionist. I am fully aware that it will only stress me out if I micromanage everything. My vow is to pick my battles and to be honest; I know it will help me remain sane on 9/6/14!
Remember, at the end of the day it is your wedding. My goal is to have my girls looking and feeling their best so that they glow, just as much as I do. I know that will make me the happiest. It is your day, so set yourself up to make it amazing and not stressful.
What color are you having your girls wear? Have you ever worn an bridesmaids dress to another event or do they just sit in your closet?
