Attire & Accessories Forum

Black Bridesmaid Dresses???

Ok, I need some help.  I am getting married in November with a snowflake theme.  As such, the colors are navy and light blue.  My dress is not white but rather more of a champagne color as it best suits my skin tone.  I have been dress shopping with my bridesmaids and now they are asking if they can wear black dresses rather than navy as I had planned.  The groom and groomsmen are wearing black suits with a light blue shirt and navy tie.  If the girls have black dresses I'm worried that will be tooo much black.  And then I'm also worried that they aren't bringing in the navy and light blue wedding colors like the guys (our flowers are white).  Should I let the girls wear black or insist they stick with navy like I chose?  I worry that by forcing them to wear navy I'm being a bridezilla...
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Re: Black Bridesmaid Dresses???

  • edited May 2010
    Let them wear what they want. Why not have some in black and some in navy? You could always check into getting a shawl, wrap or sash of somesort to incorporate all the colors or they could wear navy shoes. You definitely have options here.
  • Black is probably the single most popular color for bridesmaid dresses right now.  Your pictures will look better with comfortable and happy girls in black than with uncomfortable and miserable girls in navy.
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    Sometimes I feel like people think that brides are delicate little flower princesses who get all dressed up and pretty for one special moment of their dreams, when really they're just normal people who just happen to be getting married. Things shouldn't have to be sugar-coated for grown-ass women. -mstar284
  • I cannot imagine being uncomfortable as a BM in navy  Hot pink, orange, pukey green? Sure.  But navy? It is a very basic color.  As long as you are letting people pick the style they like, I say go with navy if that is what you really want.
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  • What about letting them wear black, and having a light blue sash to wear with the dresses... Similiar to the color you are using for the groomsmen.  But I agree, you should let them wear what they want.
  • adl734adl734 member
    First Comment
    edited May 2010
    A sash or other accent won't really work because a) the dresses can only be ordered in one color, and b) they are chiffon with an empire waist so you can't have a sash, it would ruin how they hang.

    And given there is a winter theme with blues, how would black dresses fit in with that?

    I really agree with the comment that since navy isn't far from black they should be able to meet me on this.  The color was the only requirement I gave them!
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  • Navy is usually so dark it almost looks black, so not sure to whose advantage that would be. If thats the color you really want thats the color you should have. Are you letting them pick any dress style in that color, if so they shouldn't really have anything to argue with
  • I feel differently than most of these replies .... If you want them to wear navy, then they wear navy. Its your wedding. You and your FI choose the colors you want for the wedding. If you let them choose their dress then they shouldn't have any problem with navy, like someone said above, its NAVY ... not hot pink, lime green or some awful irredescent.

    While thats said, black BM dresses do look really good but if its not what you want/invision, don't do it.



  • whoa, what is wrong with hot pink???!!!!!!! thats what my girls are wearing, and they love it. ive heard of people being of uncomfortable with a certain STYLE....but not color......omg wow.

    i agree about how close navy looks to black...i was going to say the same thing.

    i also believe in "its your wedding" and you should decide what they wear...one day when its their turn for a wedding they will probably chose what you wear. if you agree for black, i agree with the sash idea.

    i dont believe you are being a bridezilla AT ALL for deciding that they wear navy!!! you are now being a bridezilla for having your day the way you want to??!! i say go for what you want...if you are afraid its going to be too much black then stick to your gut.
  • i, personally, dont like black BM dresses....especially black BM cocktail dresses. SOOO MANY PEOPLE wear a LBD to a wedding....I want my girls to stand out.
  • tldhtldh member
    First Comment
    It's your wedding - you get to pick the colors. Personally, I hate black bridesmaid dresses (and black dresses at a wedding in general) and really can't see them fitting into your winter theme.

    Insisting that your color theme is not altered does not make you a bridezilla.  The BMs trying to get you to change the color though make them bridesmaidzillas.
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  • I say navy as you want because it's your wedding. Duh. While black would look good too, I think navy would go better because it sounds like you're using a lot of blues.
  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_attire-accessories_black-bridesmaid-dresses-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:15Discussion:bafc7dba-12bc-424e-948f-654600d7f7e0Post:c5548df9-d531-4bd4-a753-dc5d64c1a599">Re: Black Bridesmaid Dresses???</a>:
    [QUOTE]whoa, what is wrong with hot pink???!!!!!!! thats what my girls are wearing, and they love it. ive heard of people being of uncomfortable with a certain STYLE....but not color......omg wow. i agree about how close navy looks to black...i was going to say the same thing. i also believe in "its your wedding" and you should decide what they wear...one day when its their turn for a wedding they will probably chose what you wear. if you agree for black, i agree with the sash idea. i dont believe you are being a bridezilla AT ALL for deciding that they wear navy!!! you are now being a bridezilla for having your day the way you want to??!! i say go for what you want...if you are afraid its going to be too much black then stick to your gut.
    Posted by futurepivko[/QUOTE]

    What she said.. Along with nothing being wrong with hot pink my girls are wearing it and they look amazing in it!<img src="http://cdn.cl9.vanillaforums.com/downloaded/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-laughing.gif" border="0" alt="Laughing" title="Laughing" />
    83image 6image 0 image
  • Have they said why they want to wear black?  If it is a dress that they could wear again, then black is easier to find something for than navy.  But if its just because they like black better, tnen go with navy.  Like PPs said, there isn't that much of a difference between navy and black that it would be a skin tone thing or looks better. 

    Since you explained the dress I'm assuming they are all getting the same one and you've picked it out.  From your description I don't think its impossible to put a sash on it though.  I was in a wedding that was empire waisted with a sash and it looked great.  The sash was just basically right under the chest then the dress flowed out.  And if you can't order one with the dress, you could always make them, or buy them at David's Bridal or somewhere. 

    My girls are wearing black cocktail dresses and they LOVE what they got.  I let them pick their own style and they are all very happy.  I'm not really worried about them standing out, I'm sure their done up hair and makeup, and that they are at the head table, will give it away that they are BMs.

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  • I can't even believe they had the nerve to suggest that they wear a different color than what you chose, its rude and inconsiderate.  Say to them very nicely but firmly that no I really want navy not black for my wedding.

  • you know I've been a maid in three weddings, every single time I wore a horrible color I hated to make the bride happy, I am shocked the girls even asked to wear another color. it would never have occured to me, I see wearing what the bride chose as part of my being a bridesmaid
  • I question too, why they are making an issue of the color you chose for them?  It is your day and the only requirement you gave them was the color.  Navy is a lovely color and IT IS in your color scheme..of course you want it.  I've worn both navy and black as a BM dress - honestly, prefered the navy.  I've been in 6 weddings and many of the dresses/colors would be nothing that I'd have ever chosen on my own, but you wear it graciously and happily to make the bride happy..after all, she is a good friend or family.  You are definitley NOT being a bridezilla! 

    Good luck!
  • mbcdefgmbcdefg member
    5 Love Its First Comment Combo Breaker
    I didn't vote, because it's really your call.

    Black would not look bad if you would be O.K. with them in black dresses, but you have the right to put your foot down over the color.

    I would personally try and compromise with them on the style, but tell them that you are dead-set on navy. I can understand them maybe complaining if it were a very unflattering color (although I'm of the mindset that the bride has the right to choose her own color and the BMs ought to just suck it up when it comes to colors), but navy is close to black anyway so I don't see what they'd have a problem with, personally.
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  • I second (third, fourth, etc) the sash idea. If you're really set on them wearing navy though you don't want to regret not asking them to in the future when you look at your pictures. It IS your day and they can't be but so picky, plus navy and black aren't THAT different!
  • If your colors are blue and navy, then the bridesmaid dresses should be blue or navy.

    Honestly, people really don't wear their dresses again no matter the color and I think it's inconsiderate of them to ask you to change your color scheme. There really isn't that big of a difference in a navy dress and a black dress.

    Stick to what you want!
  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_attire-accessories_black-bridesmaid-dresses-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:15Discussion:bafc7dba-12bc-424e-948f-654600d7f7e0Post:5a5ac8b6-7a44-4993-b6b0-e94ed5ffcfa6">Re: Black Bridesmaid Dresses???</a>:
    [QUOTE]It's your wedding - you get to pick the colors. Personally, I hate black bridesmaid dresses (and black dresses at a wedding in general) and really can't see them fitting into your winter theme. Insisting that your color theme is not altered does not make you a bridezilla.  The BMs trying to get you to change the color though make them bridesmaidzillas.
    Posted by tldh[/QUOTE]

    OMG! THANK YOU! someone agrees with me on black bridesmaid dresses! OMG! I thought I was the only one!
  • if you want navy, make them wear navy....the decision is yours not theirs
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  • Here you can find all kinds of wedding dresses which you may like

    ww.vivebridal.com/prom-dress-c-10.html

  • If you want navy, then your girls wear navy - end of story.  That doesn't make you a bridezilla, it makes you a bride planning her wedding and picking her colors!

    And FWIW, I don't mind hot pink bridesmaid dresses but I snicker at the poor groomsmen wearing the matching hot pink vests and ties.
  • adl734adl734 member
    First Comment
    So I have now had the 2 of them call/e-mail me 4 times on this today alone.  They seem to think that because my dress is more of a champagne than an ivory, black will look better.  (This is the newest angle/reason for the black.)  Am I crazy that champagne will look good with Navy?  My fiance and I held up a navy dress I own to my wedding dress and thought it looked fine, but maybe they are right?? 
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  • blue and gold(champagne) look AWESOME together. Very regal and formal. go with navy ... do not let them change your mind. its your wedding and You will be the one looking at the pictures 10, 20 yrs from now. NOT them.
  • Navy and champagne will look very nice together, maybe even better than black.  It is not their "job" if you may to worry about the colors you picked and how they look together.  Tell them that you really want to stick with this color scheme for your wedding, and black just doesn't fit it with your theme.  This is one thing that you can absolutely insist on, and it doesn't make you a bridezilla.

    imageBabyFruit Ticker
  • If you originally wanted navy, they wear navy.  BM should know that when accepting the offer to be a BM, their job is to wear the dress the bride chooses.  Luckily for BM, a lot of brides now let the girls choose the style of their dress-however, thats not always the case.  If the brides wants a certain dress in a certain color--thats the dress, no questions asked.  Your girls are being rude and inconsiderate.  How would they feel if the table was turned and it was their wedding?!  Guaranteed there wouldnt even be a debate about it.  Stick to your guns, it's your day.

  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_attire-accessories_black-bridesmaid-dresses-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:15Discussion:bafc7dba-12bc-424e-948f-654600d7f7e0Post:d7b4273a-f4d5-4ae7-b5c8-38a52a2b8ca0">Re: Black Bridesmaid Dresses???</a>:
    [QUOTE]In Response to Re: Black Bridesmaid Dresses??? : OMG! THANK YOU! someone agrees with me on black bridesmaid dresses! OMG! I thought I was the only one!
    Posted by futurepivko[/QUOTE]

    Oh no I definitely agree with you too! I'm not a fan of black at weddings, I think it's a bright happy occasion and should be represented that way. I have a ton of LBD's and never wear them to weddings, and if I did I'd just blend in with everyone else because so many girls wear them to weddings.
  • I still think that if they're pushing this hard for black, it's not a battle worth fighting.  Your bridesmaids are not the only, or even really the primary, means of integrating your color scheme, you don't have to change everything just because they're not wearing blue.
    This is a neglected planning bio.
    This is a belated married bio, with no reviews yet because I'm lazy.

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    Sometimes I feel like people think that brides are delicate little flower princesses who get all dressed up and pretty for one special moment of their dreams, when really they're just normal people who just happen to be getting married. Things shouldn't have to be sugar-coated for grown-ass women. -mstar284
  • I wanna know what the real motivation is with wanting black dresses.  It's just not normal behavior for BMs to harass the bejesus out of the bride and try to get her to change the dress color to another similiar color.  I feel like there's a story here and we're not getting the whole thing.
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