So you’ve done the impossible and found the perfect dress for your wedding day. Think the hard slog and stress is over? Wrong! There are still the bridesmaid’s dresses to purchase! With not only yourself to please anymore, you have the opinion of numerous lovely ladies to take into consideration. We have some handy tips to ensure your dress search is as stress-free as possible.
Take inspiration from your own dress
Take a look at your own wedding gown before even considering your bridesmaid dresses. You want to ensure their frocks complement your own without overshadowing you. Break down the elements of the style: is it modern, classic or vintage? Make sure the bridesmaids fit the vibe of the day and do not look out of place standing next to you in the photographs. When looking for inspiration for your own dress, take a look at bridesmaid dresses that go with them in real weddings and shoots and bear them in mind when it comes to your own bridesmaid dresses.
Choose the colour with care
One shade really does not suit all skin tones or hair types. As easy as it would be to choose one gown in different sizes and dole them out to your chosen girls for your big day, this will only make for some uncomfortable looking wedding photographs and you may not have any friends left by the end of your wedding day! Choose one colour which fits in with the theme of your day and then select a range of different shades for your bridesmaids, thus pleasing everyone. If you’re stuck on what colours to choose, the wedding catwalks are showing beige/pale pink and pastels are the way forward for the brides of 2015.
Go seasonal for your bridesmaid dresses
Using the date for your big day could help in deciding on the style and colour of your dress. For example, a subtle yellow shade of dress might look out of place at winter nuptials yet would suit the theme of a summer wedding perfectly. Make sure that if you’ve chosen an outside venue for your vows, the bridesmaids dresses suit this also and don't leave your bridesmaids shivering in short dresses in November.
Think about who has to wear it
Speaking of leaving your bridesmaids shivering, do consider the comfort and practicality of the dress. You might choose your own gown, while thinking about the fact that you'll want to dance and move around with ease. You should choose a dress that you would be willing to wear if you were a bridesmaid. Don't stick them in a heavy, full-length gown in the summer, or a short, revealing dress in winter unless you plan on keeping them warm.
Be a good (flexible) friend
It goes without saying that the bride gets the final yay or nay when it comes to the bridesmaid’s dresses, but taking the opinion of others into consideration during the process will mean a lot fewer noses will be put out of joint!Note down any worthwhile suggestions given to you as these could actually help the finality of your decision making….but forget about the rest. Brides have enough decisions to make in the run-up to the big day so don’t even begin to complicate your decision in order to please someone else! Why not let your bridesmaids feel as though they have some part to play by allowing them to choose their own jewellery they will be wearing for the wedding. Always keep in the back of your mind, these are your chosen girls for the biggest day of your life…don’t make them fashion victims!
- Michelle Storey
Image credits: Mint dresses: Rustic White Photography via Style Me Pretty | Purple dresses: CREATE Portraiture | Blue dresses: Emily Steffen via Style Me Pretty