Bridesmaids Dresses / Gatsby - 1920s

LuvlyLJ · September 2016

How soon or late should bridesmaids get their dresses?

I'm getting married in April and everyone has some pretty big life changes happening to them or budget issues so I don't want to be a pest at the same time I don't want to wait until the last minute.

One bridesmaid had a baby. Another is moving to Texas in December. (the wedding is in West Virginia). Another is a college student. And two others are in Philadelphia.

And they're all pretty busy. It's a 1920s theme, I was thinking Adrianna Papell kind of dresses in blush.

I did not realize how expensive beaded dresses were (which makes me feel kinda silly now because duh of course beaded is more expensive).

So my second question is are there other dresses other than Adrianna Papell that echo 1920s designs but not a huge price tag? I was hoping for them to find dresses that are around $100-$150 dollars.

PamBeesly524 · September 2016

It sounds like you're keeping their budgets in mind, but have you actually ASKED them whether or not $100-$150 is ok for them? That might seem like a good price to you, but for one or more of them, it could be way too much. I would ask them each individually what their budget is, and then hopefully someone on here can help you find a dress that works for all of them at the lowest budget.

What I would suggest is trying to find a dress at a department store or another store that doesn't specifically sell "bridesmaids" dresses - they can be a lot cheaper that way. I picked my bridesmaid's dresses out from Modcloth, a reputable online retailer. They were cheap and very unique.

CMGragain · September 2016

I think your theme and your vision are getting in the way of your bridesmaids and their budgets. I, personally, dislike themed weddings. Your wedding does not need a theme.

ILoveBeachMusic · September 2016

Ditto PP. The first thing to do is ask each bridesmaid individually and in private what their maximum price would be. Then go with the lowest price. I too think you would be better off looking at stores not bridesmaid specific. Try not to get to stuck on the theme idea. The most important thing is that you are getting married - the ceremony of a wedding is theme enough.

OurWildKingdom · September 2016

Besides ModCloth, Pinup Girl Clothing has some great retro dresses.

Apart from that, PPs covered it.

SaintPaulGal · September 2016

As for when they should buy their dresses, that's really up to them. Consult with each lady about her budget, pick something out that works for everyone, let them know, and then your part in this is done. If the shop gives you an estimate of how long it will take for them to come in once ordered it would make sense to pass that info along, but don't nag your friends/family to shop on your schedule.

Also keep in mind that this sort of flapper dress really only looks good on one body type. If your attendants aren't slender with "boyish figures," it's not going to work on them. You want to make sure you select something that your nearest and dearest will feel comfortable wearing.

charlotte989875 · September 2016

Agree with PPs, but also I bought an Adriana Pappel gown with the tags on through eBay for $50. So if that really is what you want, check out other retailers and be flexible with where they order from. There are also a ton of women reselling those dresses so maybe suggest a pre-owned one.

Additionally I agree with everyone, ask for their budget and any style requests before deciding on this particular style and dress. Also, especially if you're going with a non-bridal store bridesmaids dress you have TONS of time before they need to be ordered.

speakeasy14 · September 2016

PPs have everything else covered, so when to order and where to look:

For when to order dresses, it depends where you are getting them from. Non bridal salons do not take long at all. If you're going the bridal salon route it depends where you look. Davids Bridal and Alfred Angelo do not take as long as the designer bridal shops. Every dress I have ever ordered from DB has taken 5 weeks or less to arrive. I'm in a wedding in October and had to get my dress from a designer shop where it took about 15 weeks for my dress to arrive (the dress is a Mori Lee dress).

For non bridal salons: Modcloth and Pinup Girl clothing are great for a retro look. If you're just looking for dresses that sparkle, Lulu's is a good option. They have a ton of gorgeous gowns for under $100.

monkeysip · September 2016

BHLDN might have something too, although they tend to be pricier (ditto PPs on getting budgets from everyone first).

Sometimes they have good sales/clearance though. I also ditto the Modcloth suggestion. Good luck!

MesmrEwe · September 2016

Weddings in the 1920's were significantly different than they are today if you look at the pictures. They weren't "Matchy Matchy" like weddings of today. Some were, but if you google "1920's wedding party photo" some more extravagant ones were, but you'll notice it's not the "norm" of the time. I'd highly recommend sending them forth with the recommendation of "1920's themed dress" and let them choose based on their own budget and if you have a color preference (remember - 1920's wedding photos were in black and white so colors differed.

Given the logistics situation, I did a quick search on Amazon for "1920's dresses" and found TONS of options super reasonably (some vendors offer free returns for sizing which helps as well and you've got the protection of Amazon). A lot obviously depends on your BM's sizes, but Nordstroms also is an option for ideas as a bride not that long ago posted some on here.

Bridesmaids Dresses / Gatsby - 1920s

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