The Bridesmaids' Dress
Brides are famous for telling their bridesmaids, “Of course, you can wear it again.” Although that may not be quite the truth, the days of ugly dresses are over. As any glance through a bridal magazine will show you, bridesmaids' dresses can be tasteful, elegant, and fashion-forward.
This is your wedding and should reflect your taste; therefore, you do not have to consult with the ladies about the bridesmaid's dress you select (they knew this when they accepted your invitation). You, can, of course, take their opinions into consideration, but they don't have the final approval.
Generally, the bridesmaids are dressed alike, but the dresses can differ in style. This makes it a lot easier to satisfy everyone; a dress that looks great on one woman can look like a potato sack on another. You can have the maid/matron of honor wear a different gown to help her stand out from the attendants. Try to keep the color, fabric, and hem length the same (or nearly the same depending on the case) to show some uniformity.
Keep the following suggestions in mind when shopping with your attendants:
Check the formal dress section of a quality department store in your area before you go to a bridal salon. You may find appropriate dresses that your attendants can wear again — and at a better price than salon dresses.
The attendants' dresses should complement your gown.
Make sure the gown flatters all the ladies in the wedding party. It may be your wedding, but they are paying for this dress and if they feel good in their dresses, your photos will reflect it.
Try to keep the cost within reason.
If all of your attendants' shoes have to be dyed the same color, have them dyed together to ensure an exact color match.
Bridesmaid's Attire Checklist
The ladies of the wedding party have a lot to remember, so help them out and give them this list. Also, if, as a group, you will be getting your hair and makeup professionally styled, remind the brides-maids to bring a button-front shirt. They can wear this shirt while their hair and makeup are being done and easily remove it to get into their dresses without messing up their hair or smudging their lipstick.
BRIDESM AID'S CHECKLIST
Dress
Shoes
Pantyhose (two pairs)
Proper undergarments
Hair accessories
Jewelry
Handbag
Makeup and hairstyling products
Toiletries (including deodorant)
Perfume
The Flower Girl
Flower girls are a sweet addition to a wedding. The flower girl's dress can match the attendants' dresses — or be completely different — but it should always be age appropriate. The flower girl may also wear white, accented or not with a color to match the wedding colors. The dress may be short or floor-length according to the style you want. If you have trouble finding something, a fancy party dress is a good and inexpensive choice.
