Accessorize my Bridesmaids!

olivehim

BM's and I are going shopping in a couple of weeks to look for jewelry and shoe ideas.  I'd love your opinions regarding what might go with these dresses:

http://www.dessy.com/dresses/bridesmaid/6589/?colorid=517

Some additional info:  My 3 BM's are in their mid-30's and we are going for classy elegance.  Our venue is an outdoor ceremony/indoor reception. I'm torn on shoe color.  Our colors are gray (silver) and yellow but no yellow shoes or jewelry - we want the flowers to be the main yellow accent.  Looking for close-toe or peep-toe shoes - no strappy sandals.

Earrings/necklace/bracelet/shoes...what do you recommend?  Thanks for your help!

aerinpegadrak

Why not just let them choose their own accessories?  They don't have to match, and if you're requiring them to wear specific accessories, it's on you to pay for them, and not as any sort of gift.

Robyn5298

First off, I love your color!  I dressed my girls in charcoal too.  (I know yours is called pewter but its almost the same as what my girls wore.)

One of the major upsides to this color is that black goes very well with it.  I recommend you tell your girls to wear nice black shoes and let them choose.  They probably all have something in their closet right now that would look nice.  If you don't want strappy sandals you can tell them so.  The only guidelines I gave my girls were no flip flops and no Docs.  I trusted them to wear something appropriate and they all came through.

I agree with Aerin on the jewelry bit.  If you are going to dictate what they accessorize with, its on you to pay for it so keep that in mind.  But as someone who was recently married I'm telling you truthfully, nobody is going to notice if your bridesmaids all have the same jewelry on.  Its just a detail that's not worth coordinating.  Let your girls wear what makes them feel pretty as individuals.  They'll be much happier that way and its one less thing for you to worry about!

Kate504

i agree. let them wear what they want. micromangement makes everything SO much more stressful for you and them.

jennylove810

I must ditto PPs.  Let your girls accessorize themselves.  As 30-something women, they are more than capable (and probably hoping you'll let them do their own thing).

shortee426

My BMs are wearing the same color.  I told them black shoes.  I have not, nor will I, told them how else to accessorize.  They are adults and more than capable of picking out appropriate jewelry.

jyoung888

My colors are watermelon and white. My girls are wearing matching floorlength watermelon dresses with white dressy shoes of their choice (maid of honor has a different watermelon dress). I made up gift bags to give to my girls while we get ready, they include many things, one being a necklace/earring set they are all the same except for my MOH's). My girls knew me before they said yes to being in my wedding, and I plan everything to the T. My point is do what you want, it's your day! Treat your girls with respect, and if there is some specific accessory that you expect them to have, it needs to come out of your pocket.

smore154

My BM dress color is exactly this too!- pewter. It's B2 by Jasmine. I still haven't found jewelry yet, but as for shoes, I found really nice black peep toe "sandals" at payelss for them.

With this dress, I'd check Ann Taylor for necklaces. They have some awesome statement jewelry. If that's not what you were looking for, I'd just let them wear what they want, but maybe specify that you'd like silver or gold only.

I probably am the only on on the knot that prefers to pick the BM's jewelry myself. Just knowing myself, if a bride told me to accessorize- I wouldn't know what is appropriate for her thoughts or vision or not!  One of the cool things you can do too is maybe (depending on how many you have)- have two of them wear a statement necklace, and two of them wear earrings. Or if you know one of them loves earrings, or bracelets, or whatever- make that their statement piece, and they can all have different statement pieces. Then they'd feel comfortable in what they are wearing, and it'll still look individualized.

aerinpegadrak

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_attire-accessories_accessorize-bridesmaids?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:15Discussion:407f5bed-0494-416d-97eb-e399cfed0b65Post:9d1aff24-ca7e-4c93-a64c-a469c36388e0">Re: Accessorize my Bridesmaids!</a>:
[QUOTE]My BM dress color is exactly this too!- pewter. It's B2 by Jasmine. I still haven't found jewelry yet, but as for shoes, I found really nice black peep toe "sandals" at payelss for them. With this dress, I'd check Ann Taylor for necklaces. They have some awesome statement jewelry. If that's not what you were looking for, I'd just let them wear what they want, but maybe specify that you'd like silver or gold only. I probably am the only on on the knot that prefers to pick the BM's jewelry myself.<strong> Just knowing myself, if a bride told me to accessorize- I wouldn't know what is appropriate for her thoughts or vision or not!  </strong>One of the cool things you can do too is maybe (depending on how many you have)- have two of them wear a statement necklace, and two of them wear earrings. Or if you know one of them loves earrings, or bracelets, or whatever- make that their statement piece, and they can all have different statement pieces. Then they'd feel comfortable in what they are wearing, and it'll still look individualized.
Posted by smore154[/QUOTE]
What a pity there's no possible way to communicate with the bride to determine the answer to such pressing question.  Better to just assume that no one in the bridal party is capable of making decisions.

I personally think that a bride whose "vision" includes the jewelry of others, a detail so small it's not even visible in most photos, is a bride who is taking her party waaaaaaay too seriously.  I gave my girls no direction on accessories whatsoever, and they all managed to figure it out.