Bridal Party Dresses

angela72023

Happy Friday fellow brides!

I am trying to figure out how to make my BM's happy and need some advice!

My colors are white, black and silver. July 23rd 7pm church wedding, formal. My wedding party is: 4 groomsmen, MatronOH (sister-in-law), MaidOH (our 14 yr old daughter), BM (future sister-in-law) and JrBM (8 yr old daughter), 4 flower girls (6 yr old daughter and 3 neices) and Ring Bearer (2 yr old nephew).

Guys are wearing black tuxes with silver vests, ring bearer is wearing suit with vest only (black with white pin stripes), FG's are wearing matching white dresses with silver ribbon at the waist and hem line and straps. My 8 yr old is wearing a knee length black dress with silver accent at the waist, 14 yr old is wearing silver floor length dress with black accents around the chest and halter. My gown is a full, princess gown with silver beading at the chest and all the gathers on the pick-up bottom, with a 2-ft train.

My question is about my MatronOH and BM. Both are fairskinned and don't tan well and would prefer to wear black. My BM is limited in dresses because she is pregnant. All the dresses are empire waists, so they at least have that in common. My problem is, do I really want 3 black dresses and only one silver? Or should it be 2 black and 2 silver? My BM has her heart set on black, my MatronOH will wear what I want her to, but would prefer black. Since they are buying their own dresses, I want them to have as much choice as possible.

So...3 black and 1 silver (with the FG's having the silver ribbon)...or 2 black/2 silver. My MatronOH will be up on the stage with me to help me with my dress, etc...and the other 3 as well as the FG's will be lined up below. How do I line them up? My BM is taller than my 14 yr old, so wanted her to be first, but...I'm just worried it will look "off". I know etiquette says my MaidOH would be standing first, but if I do 3 black and 1 silver, I would want her in the middle for color anyway right?

Thanks for all help and happy wedding!

P.S. How do I get my wedding ticker to show up on my comments/posts?

Googs79

It's quite common to see an uneven number of people in certain colors or styles of dresses...I think etiquette is overrated, and that a bride should do what makes her feel like a star on her special day.  This is your day!  I think that the placement of the black versus the silver is not going to look weird no matter what.  You are talking about basic colors.  Who cares if only one is wearing silver?  You will have a much better time planning if all of your girls feel comfortable...I let my adult gals choose their own styles of dress, long or short, sash or no sash...I don't care! 

My wedding is next month and I've been planning for over a year, so let me give you some advice...there are far too many important things that are going to freak you out...if you are worrying about the little things now, you won't have energy enough left in the end for the big stuff and you will be like a lot of brides on here...you will end up hating the planning.  I made a decision early on to take a whole-picture approach, and I am still so HAPPY and EXCITED that I get to plan such a wonderful event.  Good luck, and I hope all goes well with your dresses.  In my opinion, the color combination is so classy, you can't go wrong with anything you do!

samurai21

Nothing will look off to your guests. Your 14 year in a different color wouldn't throw me off in the slightest, and neither would the lineup. I truly, truly feel that you are over thinking this WAY too much. And a 2 foot train in July in Arkansas? Hopefully the AC is pumping high that day!

angela72023

Thanks so much ladies! I have been stressing over the little things so much and just needed to hear that  I have so many people giving me their "opinion" that sometimes what I want gets lost. Sometimes I wish I could be just a little bridezilla-like and tell people that while I appreciate their opinions, I already know how I want my day to be  

And the train...yes, I had to have a real heart to heart with the lighting guy and make sure he uses the lowest lights possible while still being light enough to be seen so I don't melt during the ceremony!

Googs79

I'm sure you will be an absolute princess on your special day and with your fabulous colors...what a class act!  What I do is pretend to listen to the various opinions and nod my head and don't waste my time getting into conflicts with anyone...and then I go ahead and do whatever the heck I want to do!