How to Choose Bridesmaids Dresses

this is a harder task than it seems. Your bridesmaids will most likely come in a variety of shapes and sizes and you want to find something that you like and that all the girls will feel comfortable and pretty in.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• putting yourself in someone elses shoes
• internet
• catalogs
• input from the maid of honor

1. First you need to look at your wedding budget and see if you can afford to pay for the dresses, or whether the bridesmaids will pay for their own dresses. Many bridesmaids pay for their own dresses, but if this is the case, you should be very price conscious when picking out dresses and let them have some input. Ask your bridesmaids what would be a reasonable price range. If you want them in dresses over $180 then you should be willing to cover the difference. You want them to feel excited and honored to be in the wedding, not burdened that they have to shell out $300 to wear a dress that they don't even like.
2. Begin the search. It is important to be open minded rather than have a specific idea of what the dresses HAVE to look like. If you are open minded, you are more likely to find a great dress that will be flattering on everyone AND affordable.
3. Take a couple of the girls with you to the dress stores. You can get an idea which styles are more flattering than others by seeing them ON one of your bridesmaids....However, halter tops seem to be the most flattering on most body types from tiny, medium and large chest and body types.
4. Where to shop? Main stores that have great evening/bridesmaids gowns include David's Bridal, Jessica McClintock, Bloomingdale's, Nordstrom's, Macys, Cache...But you don’t have to stick to those places. Check out the department stores in your area along with other boutiques and shops that may have nice formal wear. But the nice thing about a place like David’s Bridal is when you find the right dress, you will be able to order it in pretty much any size, plus if you get your wedding gown there, the bridesmaids will get discounts on their dresses if they are all ordered at the same time.
5. Strapless gowns are pretty and elegant looking, but most females with an average body type will have that armpit flab that hangs over the edge, along with back flab. It might be gorgeous, but the average bridesmaid will probably feel self-conscious.
6. A great cut that flatters most bodies is an A-line, empire waist halter-top with the option of a shawl. Another great option that formal wear stores have available is an A-line skirt, with a variety of tops that the bridesmaids can choose from, called “Mix and Match”. They will all have the same color and basic style, with a different top.
7. Another option is taking the bridesmaids to the store or website and the color the dress has to be, and then they can pick out their dress and all have a different dress, but in the exact same color. A different dress for each bridesmaid is a neat way to let each girl still be individual but still match or coordinate in the wedding.
8. Even though it's your wedding and you want everything a certain way to be perfect, try to be accommodating so that your bridesmaids will be in dresses that will actually look good and be flattering. Don't be too picky!
9. Another option would be to hire a seamstress, maybe one of your mom's church friends who can sew really well. After trying on a few dresses to get ideas, head to the fabric store and pick out patterns. You could pick different patterns for each girl, but have them made of the same fabric, or fabric that is different shades of your selected wedding color.