The Wedding Lens Blog – Wedding Planning Tips & Advice

Bridesmaids dresses can be pretty awful. So awful, in fact, that “27 Dresses” is an entire movie that mocks the whole bridesmaid dress industry.  Is there a way to select a GOOD bridesmaid dress?

First of all, despite everyone’s best intentions, bridesmaids dresses cannot (usually) be worn again.  Yes,  you might be able to alter them in a way that works for future wear, but when it comes down to it, a bridesmaids dress LOOKS like a bridesmaids dress and no one wants to look like a bridesmaid when they’re a guest.  That said, it’s very sweet that brides and grooms want to pick re-wearable dresses. (Also, I don’t think any bridesmaid truly believes they will wear the dress again.)

With that in mind, one of the primary considerations (I think) should be price.  Keep in mind that your bridesmaids have budgets too and while they’re honored to be in your wedding, they may not be able to afford every dress.

Generally, the color is going to be determined by the color scheme of the wedding.  You can pick one color to reflect the color scheme or have bridesmaids wear several colors.  For example, if the wedding is in the spring, each bridesmaid could wear a different springy color.  Or the Maid of Honor could wear one color so she stands out while the other bridesmaids wear a different color.  When you are picking the color, however, keep in mind that the color is going to be worn. On human beings. Who may not forgive you for picking a ridiculous color that looks awful on all of them.  Really.

Don’t forget that each woman has a different body shape and that some bridesmaids may be self conscious about some part of that body.  There are certain cuts that work for busty women but not smaller-chested women and vice versa.  Be aware of what your bridesmaids look like!

The material and length is also important – both because they change how the dress fits on the woman and because weather might play a role.  If you’re getting married outdoors in the middle of winter in Maine, please do not ask your bridesmaids to wear a short dress.  (Note: There may be other issues if you are getting married outdoors in the middle of winter in Maine.)

Finally, shoes! You may want your bridesmaids to wear the same shoes, or just the same color shoes, or you may not care at all about shoes.  Whatever you choose, make sure you let your bridesmaids know.  Often stores won’t do dress fittings without the shoes that will be worn at the wedding!

You may want to let your bridesmaids pick out their own dresses.  One of the coolest brides I know made all of the above a lot easier by saying to her bridesmaids: ”Pick a dress and shoes that you like in X color. I have veto power.”  That way she got her color scheme to work, her bridesmaids were comfortable (with the style and the price), and everyone looked great in their wedding day garb!

If you’re looking for ideas for bridesmaids dresses, check out some real photos of bridesmaids. There’s some great ideas and colors!

~Natasha