How to Choose a Bridesmaid Dress
A wedding is a joyous and thrilling event, but the planning and decision-making can be nerve-wracking, especially for a bride. Among her decisions are the gowns she and her attendants will wear. A bridal party should blend and flow with the other wedding elements. While there are a number of gowns and formalwear companies to choose from, not all styles will work with all attendants. There are a few easy steps the bride can take in ensuring that her bridesmaids will look lovely on her wedding day.
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Instructions
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How to Choose a Bridesmaid Dress
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Determine who your bridal attendants or bridesmaids will be. Not all attendants will be the same height, weight, complexion, etc. These differences will matter when attempting to determine a dress style. The style of the dress will also be determined by the extravagance of the wedding. A morning or mid-afternoon wedding has a different level of formality than an evening wedding. So the first step in deciding the look of a bridesmaid dress is to determine what type of wedding you wish to have.
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After working out the formality level, choose the style appropriate, and then the color. A dress' underlying purpose is to flatter the bridal attendant, so remember the issues of style, color and the physical attributes of your maids. Not all things will wear well on all people.
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Once the style and color have been determined, decide on the design. The bridesmaids will take their cue from the bride, and while many brides prefer to choose an attendant’s dress herself, many brides now leave the decision-making to the bridesmaids. As the bride, assist them in this process by allowing them to pick from a select few dreses. Be prepared that some will like one style, and some another. Remember, you are the bride and ultimately it's up to you.
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After your maids decide on a dress, make sure the dress is ordered far in advance of the wedding. If ordering from a department store, it's the dresses generally will be uniform in color and arrive on-time. But if ordering from a formalwear store, be certain to order the dresses at the same time and preferably two months before the wedding. The store may be filling hundreds of orders, depending on the season, and you want to allow time for the correcting of mistakes. In relation to color, the dye jobs for an order are typically done at the same time, and this is an important factor in ensuring uniformity. If the bridesmaids order their dresses on different days, the orders may not run through the same line, and what looks jet black on one, may look only black on another. The differences may major, so it's best not to risk it.
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For a bride's attendants, the day is almost as hectic as that of the bride. Having the attendants look impeccable is something that begins from the time one decides the participants. As a bride, you are bombarded with a number of important decisions, but while the focus is primarily on you, always remember to give your attendants enough time to prepare. Remember that the day is not only an expense for yourself, but also for your maids. Many will have other financial responsibilities, so try to keep this in mind when deciding on an appropriate gown. But if you have an attendant who can't afford to do the same level of expense as everyone else, either choose another dress or try to assist her. The day is to be enjoyed and relished by all, and if you take a few extra steps early on, your attendants will be able to focus on you and your day.
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Tips & Warnings
Choose bridal attendants early
Time will fly by-order dresses/accessories early
Resources
- Photo Credit Donna L. Taylor
