- As a general rule, bridesmaid's dresses should be selected by the bride at least five months before the wedding. Coordinate this choice with the bridal shop or department store, and give your shop contact a list of your bridesmaids and their phone numbers. The shop may have preferences as to how the bridesmaids are fitted for their dresses, but you should notify your bridesmaids and ask them to come in for a fitting, giving them a deadline that is a month away.
- During this month, bridesmaids should call the shop and schedule a time to have their measurements taken. This is extremely important, because some bridesmaids may order sizes that are too large or too small for them, which could result in extreme fit problems. The shop should be experienced in ordering for your bridesmaids and let them know that the size is not important--fitting in the dress for your big day is.
- Some of your bridesmaids may be from out of town. While they may go to another shop to try on a dress or be measured, do not allow them to order from that shop. Doing so could result in the color being different from the others due to a difference in the fabric dye run. To ensure the best in uniformity, have the out-of-town bridesmaid measured, and call your bridal shop to order.
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One week before your appointed deadline, you or an appointed consultant should contact the bridal shop to see if any bridesmaids have not been measured. Get in touch with these bridesmaids and stress the importance of ordering in a timely fashion.
Once all measurements have been taken and payment arranged, the shop should order the dresses simultaneously for best results in color matching. - Many dresses take six to eight weeks to come in to the bridal shop (this will put you about two months away from the wedding when the dresses arrive). Many bridal shops have an appointed alterations professional; however, some bridesmaids may have their own contact for alterations. Stress to them the proper length and fit of the dress, but generally allowing them to save money on alterations is preferred, as they are paying for the dress. The alterations process may take as long as six to eight weeks, so this will leave a month to ensure the dress fits properly.
- Whether due to pregnancy or other circumstances, some bridesmaids may have gained weight, resulting in the fit of their dress being off. It's important to emphasize honesty in these situations, and to check in with your attendants to create a solution--whether it be reordering or altering a dress again.
