There is nothing that ruins a wedding, especially the photos of the event, like dated and ill-fitting bridesmaid dresses.
Just like your wedding gown, you want something for the bridesmaids that are modern, fashion-forward, and totally timeless.
This prevents your kids from laughing out loud as you flip through your wedding album 20 years from now, but you will also look picture perfect for your special day.
By heeding the ideas below, you will find dresses for your bridesmaids.
1. Go With the Season
It is crucial to consider the time of year that a wedding will be held when selecting bridesmaids’ dresses.
For example, if a wedding is to be held in the middle of the summer, long black dresses are probably not the best choice.
Shorter dresses in paler tones and lighter fabrics are probably better and will more closely match the aesthetic of the day.
Thinking of the bridesmaid’s dresses as the palettes to select a color from is the best way to make sure the color is appropriate.
2. Careful of Length
The length of bridesmaid dresses is another factor that should be chosen in light of the time of year they are to be worn.
If a wedding is to be held in the fall or winter, longer dresses are the most appropriate, especially if the event is to be held out of doors.
Don’t feel confined to one length, however, since it can be entirely appropriate for bridesmaids to wear different lengths of dresses.
There are really no guidelines for how long or short a bridesmaid’s dress should be, but it’s always a good idea to decide on things like this before going shopping.
3. The Right Fabric
The fabric for bridesmaid dresses is important, especially when the location of the wedding is considered.
Certain climates call for warmer fabrics than others. For warm-weather weddings, chiffon gowns are a good idea since they are lighter and have an airy feel.
It’s probably more appropriate for cooler weather to have heavier fabric, such as heavier silk, since higher temperatures are usually not an issue.
4. Style
Of all the considerations for bridesmaids dresses, there are few that inspire such conversation than style.
Fortunately, when you give your prime attention to the overall aesthetic of the wedding instead of personal opinions, it is usually much easier to come to an agreement on what the dresses will look like.
Will the wedding be an elegant affair held in the evening, or will it be more of a walk along the beach?
An outdoor farm wedding would call for a more rustic look than one held at a country club.
There are many variables to consider when selecting the style of bridesmaid dresses, but the prime consideration should be aesthetics.
The style of dresses chosen naturally lead to another topic and appropriate undergarments.
This is one of those cases were fashion will always trump function since, depending on the dress (translation: backless, strapless, one shoulder, etc.), different bridesmaids will need different types of support.
It should also be kept in mind that even the most fantastic dress can look unflattering with the wrong bra.
Further, some bridesmaids should know whether they can wear panties or need a body shaper.
5. Choosing a Color
An important consideration for any wedding is the colors. This has much to do with many aspects of the environment.
For example, if the hues of the church are subdued and dark, the bridesmaid dresses should be a similar color.
There is nothing wrong with having various shades of the same color, but they should not clash. For example, if the wedding will be held outdoors, green might be an appropriate color or the dresses, but each girl could be allowed to select the shade of green that they will wear.
This way, you will create a color palette for the bridal party, and each bridesmaid will feel more comfortable with the color they chose for themselves.
6. The Bridesmaids
Bridesmaids come in a wide variety of colors and sizes. So do bridesmaids dresses. This should be another prime consideration when selecting attire for bridesmaids.
Unfortunately, what might look good on one bridesmaid might not look quite as good on another. And it is impossible to make one dress look the same on all bridesmaids.
Keep this in mind when a selection is made. The good news in all this is that many bridesmaid dress collections are made to look similar, but not always alike, making a choice easier when different body types come into play.
For example, a bridesmaid who is very buxom might prefer to wear a dress that allows a little less cleavage to show.
This is where a bride may opt to select the fabric, color, and length she prefers, then let the bridesmaids pick the rest for themselves.
7. Price
As much as most people don’t like to admit it, price is always a factor when selecting the clothing to be worn at a wedding. For better or for worse, it is customary for bridesmaids to pay for their own dresses.
This creates a problem for those who might not be able to pay a lot for their dresses.
Naturally, this opens the possibility for several options when a bride has made a firm choice on the dresses, such as helping a bridesmaid with the cost.
Regardless of how this is handled, it’s always a good idea to keep the price tag in mind when deciding on bridesmaid dresses. As much as most bridesmaids consider it an honor to be selected to be part of a wedding, nobody likes to be micromanaged.
At the same time, nobody likes being left high and dry or sticking out like a sore thumb at a wedding due to a fashion faux pas.
By keeping a close reign on the choices above and allowing for individual decisions, even the most finicky bridesmaid will be happy.