Before choosing bridesmaid dresses for the big day, review these 10 tips to alleviate stress and make things fun for everyone involved. This is one of those items on the guest list where you may need to “let go” of your control a little, but that very action may just allow you to enjoy this process all the more.
- Don’t go crazy with color choice. Yes, a bold color might pop in pictures, but that’s not to say that a more subdued hue won’t look equally as good…and it may actually look classier with a more understated choice of color. And don’t forget, with a color choice like black or another neutral color, your bridesmaids will be glad that this purchase will be able to be worn more than once.
- Keep fabrics and styles simple too. Your bridesmaid dresses should not compete with your own gown, so it makes sense to err on the side of classic styles and fabrics. One exception to this would be in the case of a theme wedding where you are trying to tie everything together around a specific look (vintage weddings, beach weddings, etc.)
- Let your bridesmaids select their own dresses for the big day. Simply send each bridesmaid a color swatch and some general ideas about types of dresses to look for, and leave the rest up to them! Not only will they be able to shop within their own budget by having more options to choose from rather than having to purchase a specific bridesmaid dress, they’ll also likely be able to wear the new dress they pick out to other occasions in the future.
- Use flowers to tie things together. If you’ve opted to let your bridesmaids select their own styles of dress (and even if the exact colors of the dresses vary slightly), elegant bridesmaid bouquets are a great way to create an elegant unified look even with the different dress styles.
- Consider time of day and season. If you are planning an outdoor wedding especially, it’s a good idea to plan for weather extremes or inclement weather just in case. Make sure your bridesmaids will be comfortable not just with styles, but with the temperature. You may want to consider shawls or wraps for the dresses just in case the weather is on the cooler side.
- Keep it practical (think dancing). Your bridesmaids will want to be able to dance the night away just as much as you; don’t make them wear dresses that will make them uncomfortable doing that.
- Respect budgets. Not everyone will be able to afford a $200 bridesmaid dress, so if you know that this will be the case for your bridal party, choose some less expensive options right up front…your bridesmaids will appreciate it!
- Don’t overthink it! Your family and friends attending the wedding will more than likely remember the special moments from the big day–your vows, your first dance, the kiss. Try not to worry so much about the details that only you would notice like the style and cut of the bridesmaid dresses.
- Delegate. If your own wedding to-do list is out of control, don’t be afraid to ask your maid of honor to oversee the bridesmaid dress process and perhaps have her even pick out some initial choices for you to look at.
- Remember that the wedding is only one day–your friendships are forever. Rather than getting worked up over a dress disagreement, try to find a way to put differences aside and be thankful for these amazing friendships that will carry you through a lifetime. 🙂