Once you know your perfect white you can start to colour coordinate your bridesmaids, your mother, the flower girls, your flower bouquet, the table decorations for your reception and so on.
Choosing outfits to suit you all can be tricky if there are alot of bridesmaids or there is a large age range. Adults won’t want to be dressed the same as children, and the bride should bear in mind that the outfit(s) she picks need to flatter people of different ages (and sizes!).
Alternatively, you can ask all your bridesmaids to wear the same style and fabric, but let them choose the colour from the colour palette, which works best with your personal white, wedding theme, wedding season (summer or winter wedding) and with your wedding place (UK or overseas wedding).
In fact, you think she may have coped the dress exactly from My Big Fat Greek Wedding. It even poofs out at the bottom like a mermaid tail. You end up paying over $300 for this dress and with alterations, you still feel like a clown and look like a lampshade. You vow, you'll pick attractivebridesmaid dresses someday. But when that day rolls around, can you be trusted? Personally, I have been in five weddings and have attended well over thirty in my life. Now as my peers are reaching their mid-twenties, more and morewedding announcements are appearing in my mailbox.
As a dutifully bridesmaid, I will of course, wear any dress the bride chooses. However, after attending so many weddings and watching numerous bridesmaid atrocities walk down the aisle, there are a few things that I have learned about bridesmaid dresses. There are also a few things that your bridesmaids would love for you to consider before you choose a dress. Hopefully, as my days as a bridesmaid increase, my own friends will take the following things into consideration.
Styles - A-line dresses which look great on all different body shapes and sizes are very popular. The hottest styles right now are two-tone, two-piece floor length styles, mostly sleeveless. Also very popular are column style dresses, floor length, halter top or straps criss-crossing over the back and sleeveless. Another big trend is having a shawl accompany the dress, particularly the barer styles.
Colors - Platinum is very in style at the moment, as well as the paler colors, pale yellows, sand, and taupe. There is also a trend toward burgundy and hunter for Fall weddings too. Black is always in style and always a popular choice among both brides and their bridesmaids. In addition, many of the designers today are also using better quality fabrics like dupioni silk, silk chiffon and satin, velvet and crepe.
Combinations - Another trend is to choose a manufacturer that offers different styles in the same fabric and color and letting each bridesmaid chose the style they look best in. You could apply some simple rules - no dress above the knee, or no strapless dress (or whatever look you want for your wedding). Another popular and pretty trend, especially for spring and summer weddings, is a "color run". That means that each bridesmaid wears a different color of the same dress.
Although today there is less tradition around colors, styles and seasons, it is always wise to use common sense. For example, it would not be wise to choose a short cut and strapless bridesmaid dress during the winter, while a heavy material during the summer in an outdoor ceremony.
Your bridesmaids have very different heights and figures.
You have a mix of child and adult attendants.
Your bridesmaids are from different cultural backgrounds.
You can’t imagine your choice of attendants being happy dressed identically.
Consider body type and size before choosing a dress style. Sure, you love that sleek and simple satin sheath gown and it would definitely look classy at your wedding. But your best friend with a D-cup and runner's thighs is going to spend all night trying to hide behind her bouquet. Classic gowns can look great on all varities of bodies.
Unless you have a group of women that are all 34B and wear a size 6 jean, there are certain styles you should avoid. A strapless, empire-waist dress might look good on you, but will it on a bigger friend? Are some of your bridesmaids moms? Strapless bras are great, but for some pregnancy and breast-feeding can wreak havoc with what used to be young, perky breasts. Don't force her into a strapless gown just because it's what you would wear. Your bridesmaid dress choices should be more about what will make your bridesmaids look beautiful and less about what kind of dress you would want to wear. You're not wearing it and if they don't look good, it'll show in your pictures forever.
Keep it simple. Some of the most awful bridesmaid dresses are just that because there is far too much going on with them. Avoid bunchy material, extra bows, lace, ribbon, sleeves, beading or sequence. A simple a-line, floor-length lined gown with an empire waist and simple straps looks beautiful on nearly everyone. Instead of trying to do something original or unique, try going for a classic look.
When it comes to picking your bridesmaid dresses, the decision is ultimately yours and yours alone. However, don't try to find something to please anyone else. Of course, what you like should be your first priority because it is your wedding. But if you can manage to find something you like that will compliment your bridesmaid's natural beauty, your wedding will be all the more beautiful. Remember also that there's a good chance these women will also be choosing bridesmaid dresses for you at some point. Don't turn your weddings into a competition as to who could pick the worst dresses. Instead, choose a dress that will have everyone at your wedding commenting on how incredibly classy you really are.
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