Dressing the Bridesmaids
Bridesmaids are the bride's attendants, the prelude to her walk down the aisle, a part of her inner circle on her special day. They deserve to look and feel their best.
Unfortunately, they often hate what they have to wear. We've all seen some of these dresses and wondered what the bride was thinking.
Even if every bridesmaid wears the same dress size, they will each have different physical shapes and skin tones. So choosing the right dresses for the bridesmaids can be a daunting task.
Finding identical dresses that look right on different persons takes attention on top of everything else you have to decide. Often the bride chooses a color scheme for her wedding that becomes the color range for the bridesmaids' gowns.
Essential
The groomsmen usually rent their wedding-day attire, and there's no reason the bridesmaids shouldn't do the same. Renting bridesmaid dresses saves your attendants valuable cash. Find a local shop that specializes in renting special occasion wear.
First, Pick the Color
Seasons dictate certain colors. For spring, colors like pastel pinks, blues, greens, and yellows are popular, while summer colors are stronger and more vibrant. Fall colors deepen into more earthy tones like golds, russets, and browns. Winter colors include reds and greens, silver and gold, purple, and darker blues.
And black? Black is a year-round favorite. It can be used even in summer for a dramatic, sophisticated bridal-attendant dress. White is another possibility, but many brides shun it for their attendants since they will wear it as the traditional center of attention.
No matter what the season, using your favorite color is always a rewarding choice.
Look at the Style
One of the reasons bridesmaids' gowns have been so hated is that they look like bridesmaids' gowns. The idea these days is to make the dress something that can be worn again. Try not to choose something that's fussy, with big puffy sleeves or skirt or something that obviously labels it as a dress that was worn for a wedding.
The style of the bride's gown often determines that of her attendants. If you're wearing a sleek, floor-length sheath, try to pick bridesmaids' gowns that mirror your look. Wearing an A-line gown with an empire waist? That can be the gown style you seek for your maid of honor and bridesmaids.
Consider your bridesmaids' body types, and choose a style that suits all of them. Remember, you aren't shopping for yourself. If you're small-chested and can pull off a strapless dress with minimal bra support, keep in mind that your future sister-in-law and her 36Ds may not thank you for picking that style.
