Bridesmaids: Same dress...except one person

alyssabobbyalways

HI all, 

I'm not sure what to do in the situation I found myself in: I let my bridesmaids pick their own dresses with the following guided criteria (David's Bridal, plum, knee length, chiffon). I made sure that there were a number of attractive choices available, but of my 6 bridesmaids, 5 of them bought the same dress!! They all have different body types and they all somehow liked the same dress. Which is fine, except that 1 of my bridesmaids chose a different style dress. And all David's Bridal attire is final sale! I had got them in contact with each other in hopes of preventing something like this and took a mostly hands off approach, but it happened and I don't know what to do. I just don't want my one bridesmaid (not maid of honor) to be wearing a different dress and have it look like a mistake or to have her feel uncomfortable. Is there anything I can do to remedy the situation? Make sure they all have radically different hairstyles?? Anything? Sigh...

suburbanstepmom

I did the same thing you did - I told my bridal party that their dresses from David's Bridal have to all be floor length, chiffon, and black. Beyond that I didn't care what dress they got I just wanted to make sure they were all comfortable in the style they chose. Well, all of my bridesmaids picked the same one!

My MOH will be 9 months pregnant on my wedding date though so she couldnt find any dresses that would be stretchy or flattering so she's wearing a dress from somewhere else. I know it's different since she's the MOH but it doesn't really bother me at all. When they are all next to each other since it's all the same color you hardly notice.

I guess what I am saying is - maybe approach your bridesmaid and ask her. If she likes the dress enough to pick it in the first place maybe it's what will make her feel most comfortable and she wont care that it's different then the other girls.

littlemushroom

Ask her how she feels knowing everyone else is in the same dress.  I would feel awkward and out of place if it was me and would want to know.

David's Bridal allows exchanges of unworn dresses that are still available for purchase (not discontinued) for either a different size or a different dress altogether.  My MOH was supposed to be a bridesmaid in another friends wedding, bought the dress, and then found out she was pregnant.  She was due the day after the wedding, and no way could she wear that dress or be in the wedding.  David's Bridal allowed her to exchange that dress (bought 4 or 5 months ago) for her dress in my wedding and pay the difference.

However, if she doesn't care she will be the only one different, then she should get to keep her dress and wear what makes her comfortable.

BTW...I let my 3 bridesmaids pick their own dresses at DB and all three picked the same one despite having different body types.  Apparently that kind of thing happens more often than we think!

ETA Changed how long ago the first dress was bought...I was thinking of from now, and not when we actually purchased the dresses.

princessleia22

Like others said, check to see if she has a problem with being the only one different. If she's fine with it, I'd just let it be.  Within the parameters you set, I don't think it will look as noticeable or odd as you are worried it will anyway.

If it can't be exchanged, and it's really bothersome, maybe play with accessories.  You could add different sashes and accessories to vary them all a bit.  Or all wearing same sash and accessories could help tie them all together.

I have 3 BM's and did pretty much same thing. Any short, navy blue dress. But, I told them I didn't care where they bought, if color is exactly same, or what material they choose. Two of them coordinated and went with exact same, V-neck cotton dress from David's Bridal. The other one got a lace dress from Target.  I figure at least they are all V-neck and similar shape, so I don't really care that color and material are different. And the one different dress is a younger BM, so I don't think it will be side eyed at all.  At first I wished they had all gone same or all different.  But, then I realized that I really don't care that much about those little details. What my BM's wear really won't make or break how awesome my wedding day is. And I have enough other, more important details, to worry about.

KPBM89

3 of my 6 girls all chose the same dress.  Two have two different styles.  One girl hasn't bought hers yet.  I don't honestly care what style they chose, as long as they're comfortable.

I would just let her know ahead of time so she isn't shocked to be the only one different.  If she wants to switch, call DB and see what they can do.  If she doesn't want to switch, you have no worries!  She picked the dress, so I would hope she likes it.  

And don't worry about it looking like a mistake because it won't.  No-one remembers what the girls wore except you and them.  Despite having several photos around our house from being a bridesmaid in my brother's wedding, FI wouldn't be able to describe the dress I wore, other than "blue".

ElcaB

First, ask her if she even cares. If she does, call DB and inquire about exchanging her dress for the one everyone else chose (if it costs more, she can pay the difference). 

As much as I despise DB, they recently easily let me exchange a too-big BM dress for one that's the right size without any fuss. It can't hurt to ask.