| How To Choose Your Bridesmaid Dresses |
| Wedding Loco Help for your wedding! Advice, products and hand holding! |
Help!! How can I choose bridesmaid dresses to keep everyone in my wedding party happy?
The number one cause for discord in a wedding is unhappy bridesmaids, also known as Maidzillas.
And the reason they are unhappy is because they hate the bridesmaid dress, they are uncomfortable
in the bridesmaid dress, the dislike the color of the dress or they think the price of the dress is too
expensive. So how does a bride choose a style that looks good on everyone, is moderately priced
and most important, is a dress the bride actually likes?
When shopping for a bridesmaid dress keep the following in mind:
The sizes and body shapes of your bridesmaids.
Their budget.
Whether the dress will need a lot of alterations to fit the bridesmaid.
Whether the bridesmaid will be required to buy a special bra.
Whether they will be required to buy matching shoes.
What to think about before shopping for your maids dress:
A short (knee length) or above bridesmaids dress will not look uniform in your pictures. Some maids
may want to shorten them mini length. But height differences in your maids will make the hemlines
look "off" in your pictures" when the maids are in a group picture.
If some of your maids are busty or top heavy, you need to pay attention to the depth of the neckline. A
too plunging neckline will make it hard for them to find a good supporting bra and may make them
feel very uncomfortable in the dress.
A well endowed bridesmaid can wear a higher cut straight across strapless neckline because all
cleavage is covered and will hide a bra.
All strapless maid dresses come with optional spaghetti straps. Give your maids the option to wear
the straps if it makes them more comfortable. It won't look strange in your pictures.
A less endowed bridesmaid can have bra cups sewn into her dress to balance the dress and she'll
save the cost of a strapless bra.
If your maid has tattoos that show, look for a dress or a short bolero jacket to wear over a dress that
might cover some of them if the tattoos are a problem for you or the maid.
Pay attention to your maids budgets. If the dress is too expensive and they can't afford it and you "just
gotta have it", consider paying for half the dress in lieu of a bridesmaid gift.
If the dress you want for your maids is out of their budget, look at less expensive bridesmaid lines
because you probably can find a decent copy from another major manufacturer. Look at Forever
Yours or Alexia designs for nice quality dresses in similar styles at a drastically reduced price that
will fit into their dress budget.
Discuss, discuss, discuss your ideas with your bridesmaids before you shop. Give each one of them
the option to add their opinions and listen to them. If a bridesmaid is balking at your ideas, give her
the option to step down BEFORE the dresses are ordered. Ask her to be your guest book attendant
or do a reading during the ceremony so she won't cause you trouble later.
Pre shop for your dresses and then ask your bridesmaids to shop with you and see your final
choices and give their input. Ultimately, the final choice is yours, the brides.
Finally, know that you can't keep everyone happy with your choice. If you've kept their body shape and
budget in mind when choosing the dress, don't worry, you did your best!
The number one cause for discord in a wedding is unhappy bridesmaids, also known as Maidzillas.
And the reason they are unhappy is because they hate the bridesmaid dress, they are uncomfortable
in the bridesmaid dress, the dislike the color of the dress or they think the price of the dress is too
expensive. So how does a bride choose a style that looks good on everyone, is moderately priced
and most important, is a dress the bride actually likes?
When shopping for a bridesmaid dress keep the following in mind:
The sizes and body shapes of your bridesmaids.
Their budget.
Whether the dress will need a lot of alterations to fit the bridesmaid.
Whether the bridesmaid will be required to buy a special bra.
Whether they will be required to buy matching shoes.
What to think about before shopping for your maids dress:
A short (knee length) or above bridesmaids dress will not look uniform in your pictures. Some maids
may want to shorten them mini length. But height differences in your maids will make the hemlines
look "off" in your pictures" when the maids are in a group picture.
If some of your maids are busty or top heavy, you need to pay attention to the depth of the neckline. A
too plunging neckline will make it hard for them to find a good supporting bra and may make them
feel very uncomfortable in the dress.
A well endowed bridesmaid can wear a higher cut straight across strapless neckline because all
cleavage is covered and will hide a bra.
All strapless maid dresses come with optional spaghetti straps. Give your maids the option to wear
the straps if it makes them more comfortable. It won't look strange in your pictures.
A less endowed bridesmaid can have bra cups sewn into her dress to balance the dress and she'll
save the cost of a strapless bra.
If your maid has tattoos that show, look for a dress or a short bolero jacket to wear over a dress that
might cover some of them if the tattoos are a problem for you or the maid.
Pay attention to your maids budgets. If the dress is too expensive and they can't afford it and you "just
gotta have it", consider paying for half the dress in lieu of a bridesmaid gift.
If the dress you want for your maids is out of their budget, look at less expensive bridesmaid lines
because you probably can find a decent copy from another major manufacturer. Look at Forever
Yours or Alexia designs for nice quality dresses in similar styles at a drastically reduced price that
will fit into their dress budget.
Discuss, discuss, discuss your ideas with your bridesmaids before you shop. Give each one of them
the option to add their opinions and listen to them. If a bridesmaid is balking at your ideas, give her
the option to step down BEFORE the dresses are ordered. Ask her to be your guest book attendant
or do a reading during the ceremony so she won't cause you trouble later.
Pre shop for your dresses and then ask your bridesmaids to shop with you and see your final
choices and give their input. Ultimately, the final choice is yours, the brides.
Finally, know that you can't keep everyone happy with your choice. If you've kept their body shape and
budget in mind when choosing the dress, don't worry, you did your best!
This dress by Forever Yours is a good choice
if your maids are large busted as the bodice
is cut straight across and is simple. This
dress will also hide larger hips as it is an
A-line skirt . Good for pear body shapes also.
By Forever Yours, this dress camouflages
the waistline and hips. The buttons up the
back draws the eyes upwards giving an
illusion of slimness. Great for a body shape
that holds weight in the middle and hips.
By Alexia Designs, this dress accents the
bust line and minimizes the waist and hips.
Great for a maid with an apple shaped body
as it gives the look of a waistline.
By Jordan Fashions, this dress minimizes
the waist, the draping hides the tummy area
and the flare of the skirt hides the hips. The
top is also good for large busted maids. The
optional shawl can be draped across the
shoulders and tied in the back to look like
a jacket during the ceremony.
Mori Lee's chiffon tea length dress hides the
hips and is good for both large and small
busted bridesmaids. Great for any body
shape. Good also if your maid has a pear
body shape.
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Another dress by Forever Yours, this dress
will give the illusion of a smaller waist line.
The waist is draped in soft chiffon to an
ornament at the waist, the draping in the
skirt makes the eye go up and down, also
giving the illusion of height.
This dress is by Raylia Designs and it is
perfect for small busted maids. The accent
color and its placement on the bodice gives
the illusion of curves. Great maids dress for
maids that have a straight body shape.
Note this dress by Mori Lee and how it
changes its look by changing the color of the
dress. The lighter color dresses look less
formal, the darker colors look more formal.
The skirt is darker than the bodice and it
makes the hips and waist look smaller. This
style of maids dress is good for all body
shapes as the A-line skirt hides the lower
area, the lighter top enhances the bust area.
| Here are maids dresses to flatter every figure. Read on! |
THE PERFECT MAIDS GIFT!
A feminine monogram
highlights this sterling silver
bangle. Give freely to your
bridesmaids - they'll wear it with
dress and casual clothes alike.
Engraveable square measures
5/8" and can also be engraved
on the back side with a personal
message.
This is a keepsake they will
cherish forever!
A feminine monogram
highlights this sterling silver
bangle. Give freely to your
bridesmaids - they'll wear it with
dress and casual clothes alike.
Engraveable square measures
5/8" and can also be engraved
on the back side with a personal
message.
This is a keepsake they will
cherish forever!
Shopping For Your Bridesmaid Dresses by Body Shape
Every bride has a vision of her wedding party as they walk down the aisle. You have a color in
mind, a style and your maids have been carefully chosen. Shopping for your bridesmaid
dresses should be easy, but its not. Maids or mom do not like the style, the color or the
fabric. Take the sting out of shopping for your bridesmaid dresses by keeping in mind your
maids body shape and their budget.
Preshop for your maids with just ONE trusted friend, the maid of honor, your sister or your
mother. Look at the different styles, colors and fabrics and narrow down your choices to no
more than three dresses. Then make an appointment with the salon to bring your maids to
pick THE dress, giving all the maids a choice and a vote.
When preshopping, its really important to keep your maids body shape in mind. Happy
maids equal a happy wedding. If they are uncomfortable in the style you have chosen, you will
have problems. You need to concentrate on dresses that will flatter their figures, are within
their budget and whether they want to wear the dress again. If you choose a knee length
dress, they will have to buy matching shoes which needs to be added to their budget costs.
No one has a bridal party where everyone is built the same or has perfect figures. Every body
shape is different and won't size exactly within the size charts. What will flatter your size 8
sister may look awful on a size 20 best friend. If you have a large busted maid, you can not
expect her to go bra-less in a plunging neckline. She will be uncomfortable, you will be
uncomfortable.
Do not hesitate to ask your bridal consultant for help in choosing dresses that will flatter your
maids. Tell the consultant the range of sizes, keeping in mind that their regular size will not
be the same in a maids dress. Maids dresses run smaller because they are cut directly to
the body, there is no ease or wiggle room in the dress. If your friend is a size 12 in regular
clothes and you order a size 12, chances it will not fit her. Bridesmaid dresses are sized by
measurements and they run small.
If one of your maids is a plus size, she will have to pay extra for a larger size. It is a
manufacturers charge, it costs more money to produce because they use more fabric. You
need to keep her in mind when choosing a dress. You do not want to put a plus size gal in a
mermaid silhouette unless she is built perfectly in proportion. You also do not want to put
any pear shaped or larger hipped maid in a sleek mermaid silhouette. It will not flatter them.
Instead, choose a softly flowing A line skirt that flows over the hips. Your maid will look
slimmer, she will be comfortable and you will be happier.
If you have a maid who is very large busted, avoid plunging necklines or any dress neckline
where she can not wear a strapless bra. Many of today's strapless dresses have built in
bras and detachable spaghetti straps. Be aware that some maids will still have to wear a
strapless bra. Look for a dress with a straight across strapless neckline that comes up high
enough on the bodice to hid the cleavage.
If you have maids that are thick in the waistline, look for empire waist or baby doll dresses.
Wrapped waist dresses that wrap to the side of the dress are very slimming and give the
illusion of having a smaller waistline.
If you have a maid that is very small busted, bra cups sewn into her dress can even up her
figure. It is a very common alteration and very inexpensive.
If your maids want to wear the dress again, the truth is that they probably will not because a
bridesmaid dress is a formal dress. However, if you choose a color that they can wear again
and a simple elegant style, they can. Long dresses can be shortened to knee or tea length.
Brooches can be unpinned, straps or a little jacket or shawl can be worn with it. If you INSIST
on putting them in baby pink poofy rouched pick up skirts, make sure they are all up for it and
can afford the expenditure before you commit to the purchase.
Another thing to keep in mind is that not all dresses and styles come in all colors. If you just
have to have a color, you will waste a lot of time shopping and limit yourself to very few
choices. Instead, shop for the style and pick a shade variation based on your color choice.
And please consider whether the color will be flattering on your bridesmaids.
The quality of the dress does matter. If you fall in love with a bridesmaid dress your maids
can not afford, and you see a knock off of the dress for a ridiculously low price, it is not going
to be the same dress you saw in a salon. The fit will be different, the cut will be different, the
fabric will be different. It probably will not have that cool built in bra or enough support to keep
the girls in place. It probably will wrinkle more than the original because they are using lower
grade fabric. If you do not see it and can not touch it, please do not buy it sight unseen. You
will save yourself and your bridesmaids a lot of disappointment.