How to Buy Bridesmaid Dresses

Your best girlfriends have been with you through thick and thin and back again. Now they will be accompanying you down the aisle as your bridesmaids. You owe it to them to select bridesmaid dresses that they can feel good about. Keep your friends' happiness in mind when you buy their bridesmaid dresses.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Measurements for members of the bridal party

Shop for the Perfect Bridesmaid Dress

1. Keep your bridesmaids' body types in mind and remember that one style rarely suits everyone equally well. If you aren't set on having your bridesmaids match, offer them a selection of silhouettes to choose from so that each can wear what suits her figure best.

2. Select multiple color combinations for your maid of honor and your bridesmaids. Today, the people in the bridal party don't have to be carbon copies of each other. Instead, you can allow your friends to show their individuality by selecting the colors that suit them best. For a more traditional look that still allows them some choice, opt for varying shades of one color.

3. Look for bridal stores and designers which are available in multiple cities. It is always better for your bridesmaids to try on sample dresses before you buy the real thing.

4. Buy dresses which are in the spirit of your overall wedding theme. If you are planning a more formal event, your bridesmaids dresses should reflect that formality.

5. Keep the setting of your ceremony in mind when deciding on hem lengths for your bridesmaids' dresses. A formal church ceremony usually calls for floor-length hems, while cocktail-length dresses are acceptable for a more casual garden wedding.

Plan Ahead for Beautiful Bridesmaid Dresses

6. Make sure that your bridesmaids can get their groove on in any dress you choose. Shoulder seams and sleeves should fit comfortably and allow for ease of movement for all.

7. Buy your bridesmaid dresses well in advance of the wedding. Depending on where you order them from, it may take from 6 to 8 months for delivery.

8. Ask the bridal store to deliver the dresses directly to your bridesmaids so that alterations can be completed before your big day.

Tips & Warnings

• Pay for your bridesmaids to have their measurements taken by a professional seamstress or tailor. This will ensure that they are accurate and may help to reduce the amount of alterations required when the dresses are delivered.
• Don't forget to add the cost of bridesmaid dresses to your overall wedding budget, unless you intend on asking your bridesmaids to pay for them. It is traditional for the bride's family to cover the wardrobe expenses for the bridal party.