Congrats!! You’re engaged! If you’re just as excited about your bridesmaids’ dresses as you are with your own wedding dress, you’ve come to the right place. Time to get down to bridesmaids business. Because I’m a crazy person, I personally picked each dress for my 8 bridesmaids based on their own styles. However, it took me a good two months to decide which dresses would make the final cut. Here’s what I wish I knew before I went down the bridesmaids dress rabbit hole.
Don’t be overwhelmed. Keep it simple. There’s only three things to consider: Style, Color, & Fabric.
STYLE:
We’re going for mismatched dresses here but you do have options in hemline & necklines. You can also have half your bridesmaids in one style & half in another style, all girls in different styles, or even just dress your Maid of Honor to stand out.
Our wedding was a black tie event so all my girls wore long gowns, and I chose as many different necklines as possible, all silhouettes with no sleeves: strapless, sweetheart, tank, halter, v-neck, faux wrap, & a one shoulder.
COLOR:
Do you want your girls in the same color, a similar color story, or all different colors? Your color decision will impact the types of Fabrics you should look for in the dresses.
My vision was a blush color family with gold accents. I wanted my sister (Maid of Honor) to stand out in an all gold piece and also wanted Jon’s sister (future, now current, sister-in-law) to have a shimmer as well.
FABRIC:
Do you want bridesmaids dresses in the same, similar or all different materials? Remember, different fabrics take color differently.
If you’re looking for the same exact color on everyone, stick to one material. If you’re looking for color variation, it’s okay to diversify. Ideally, try to see all the dresses in person at the same time, so you can see how they will look together on the big day. Knowing I wanted different shades of blush, and given that our wedding was in the middle of the summer, I opted for light & airy fabrics. To add dimension, I was purposeful about choosing tonal prints, hints of shine and a lace dress.
5 SHOPPING TIPS:
When shopping online, filter the dresses by multiple color options in one search to see what styles are out there (ex. Pinks, Nudes, & Metallics). Your initial vision might have been to stick to one color but you may find that there are nice variations & color combinations out there that you never considered.
Create a visual collage of the dress contenders as you go. Make sure it looks cohesive on the screen before you order them. Also, make sure your girls can try on the dresses within the return policy window.
Best time to shop is during new season launches or holidays - Black Friday, Memorial Day, Labor Day, etc. There are always coupon codes or crazy sales, need I say more?
Traditional retailers are great but don’t hold back from a Google search if you can’t find the exact color/size you need. One of our dresses was sold out in the size we needed & I actually found it on Amazon!
Research, Research, or Delegate Research. Keep your eye on a few favorite dresses. Take time to make showroom appointments with your friends, watch for sales or new styles. You might change your mind over time and you don’t want to be locked in too early.
Recommended Retailers: BHLDN, Bloomingdale’s, David’s Bridal, Jenny Yoo, Lord & Taylor, Lulus, Nordstrom, Revolve, Shopbop, TJMaxx
Left to Right: Jenny Yoo, Adrianna Papell, Monique Lhuillier, Oleg Cassini, Monique Lhuillier, Vera Wang, Jenny Yoo, White by Vera Wang
Although the process was tedious, it brought me so much joy to see how beautiful my bridesmaids looked altogether. Seeing my friends from different walks of life come together as a new mismatched family made our wedding day that much more special.
Are you contemplating a color palette? Are you hunting for the best dress deal? Email me and I would love to help! Always looking to vicariously wedding plan. ;)
Love, MH