Tips for Choosing Bridesmaid Dresses

When you’re planning a wedding, there are dozens of decisions to make, and lots of research to do, including looking into venues, vehicles, vows, musicians, food, invitations, decorations, and more. Of course, choosing your dress for the big day is also going to be one of the things you spend a lot of time on.

However, while you of course want to ensure you find the perfect bridal gown for yourself, don’t forget to properly consider what your bridesmaids will wear too. You want them to feel good on the day, to be comfortable, not have to outlay too much for their dresses, and hopefully be able to wear their gowns again. To help you come up with a good solution, read on for some tips you can follow today.

Set a Budget

Before you start searching for bridesmaid dresses, make sure you set a budget first. Talk to your bridal party to find out, honestly, what kind of price point they’re comfortable spending at or, if you plan to buy the dresses for them, put a budget in place for yourself too. Keep in mind that the number discussed should be enough to include not just the dress but also shoes and jewelry and, as needed, handbags, hair pieces, makeup, and the like.

One of the common complaints from bridesmaids is that they felt like they had to pay out a small fortune for a dress they wouldn’t wear again, didn’t like, and/or felt uncomfortable in. This is a recipe for resentment. That is why setting a budget and choosing the perfect material and brand for bridesmaid dresses is crucially important. As such, even though you want everything to be perfect on your big day, don’t go so overboard that you end up upsetting your bridesmaids and damage the friendship(s).

Leave Plenty of Time

Next, don’t leave bridesmaid outfit decision-making and shopping until the last minute. You will be busy working out a whole range of wedding-day factors as the occasion gets closer, so put a plan in place to allow yourself enough time to complete each task. Deciding on bridesmaid dress styles and sourcing something you and your bridal party like will definitely take time, and needs to be allowed for.

Even if you plan to have your bridesmaids wear off-the-rack gowns bought from a local department store, you still need to remember that dresses may need to be altered, more than once, and that if certain sizes aren’t in stock they may need to be specially ordered in too. You don’t want to have to pay extra fees for items to be rushed through to make the date.

By allowing at least four to six months before the big day, you’ll leave yourself with more choice, and make it easier for you and your bridal party to find budget-friendly dresses, particularly if you can wait for sales to come up. As well, you can sometimes save money if you have outfits handmade by a local seamstress. This does, of course, take time, particularly if your preferred worker is booked up well in advance, or if you have bridesmaids who live elsewhere and need to come to town for measurements to be taken and fittings to be done.

Tailor According to Your Gown and the Theme, Style, and Location of the Day

Of course, something important you need to consider when choosing bridesmaid dresses is what style and color your gown will be. You want your bridal party’s outfits to compliment rather than clash with yours, in all respects. As well, keep in mind the theme of the wedding day, if you have one; the style you’re going for when it comes to décor and venue (e.g. formal, casual etc.); and the location.

For example, if you’re getting married at the beach, your bridesmaids won’t want to be wearing dresses which can potentially lift up from a wind gust and expose them, or which are so long they trail in the sand. The location will also affect the temperature. An indoor wedding with heating or cooling allows for you to opt for a wider range of materials and styles; while an outdoor wedding may mean you need to source cooler dresses in light, breathable fabrics or, for winter, something long-sleeved, and made out of thick material for warmth.

Consider the Different Women You Have in Your Bridal Party

Lastly, because your bridesmaids will no doubt have very different body shapes, skin tones, hair colors, and ages, these factors also need to be kept in mind. It works well if you allow bridesmaids to wear dresses which are in different styles, as long as they’re in the same shades or at least color palettes as each other. Going down this route will make your bridesmaids feel more comfortable, and also means they’re more likely to be able to wear the dress again sometime.