Alternative Bridesmaid attire. Any suggestions?

kimandjim74

I am very recently engaged, and am planning a spring wedding (next year).  This is not my first wedding (it is his), and we are not doing a big wedding.  I am planning on wearing something simple, yet white, perhaps with a light/pastel blue accent.  It will be a wedding dress, just not over-the-top.  My FI is having his 3 brothers and best friend.  I am planning on my 3 friends and his sister.  All are over 35, all (except 1) are married with kids.  Since I don't necessarily want the look of a 'traditional' bridal party, and certainly don't want anyone to go through a huge expense on my behalf, I am looking for alternatives for bridesmaids dresses.  I know some people will tell their BMs to find a dress on their own, as long as it is a specific color.  But I am worried that the colors (envisioning a light blue) may clash, or not match entirely.  My daughter, who will be the 11 yr old junior bridesmaid, wants to wear light blue.  And my engagement ring has blue topaz trillions on either side of the diamond , so I'm kind of set on teh blue theme.  Any ideas?

MyNameIsNot

You could tell them to choose any blue dress, and do sort of a spectrum thing.  There was a post a few weeks ago with some pictures, and they were gorgeous.  Since the dresses are on different people, you don't have to worry about them clashing.

It's also very common to tell everyone to get a black cocktail dress, and give them all sashes or pashminas in your color to tie them together.  If you went this route, it would still be fine to have the Jr. BM in a blue dress while the rest of the BMs were in black.  

baystateapple

I like MNIN's suggestion of black dresses with blue pashminas, and the Jr. BM in blue.  That way you can be more certain of the colors not clashing.

xoxob

I adore MNIN's sugegstion sounds so pretty!

saxy414

If you really wanted them in blue dresses, you could get some of those paper paint color samples--you could get a few and ask your BMs to match with one of those colors.  I think it would still be very pretty even with several shades of blue.  Or the black dress with blue accents would be gorgeous. 

JenPhil6212

Different color blues will make it not look traditional and could be very beautiful. Or you could tell them go with an Aquamarine stone blue. A very light blue. Or you could make it a girls day and you could all go together.

lalap69

The spectrum look really works beautifully.  Here it is in blue:


And with a turquoise kind of light blue thing:


The point is not to match exactly.  It totally works.

kimandjim74

Ooh, I think I like that idea!  I am immediately drawn to the second (lighter blue) picture.  The black with accents could work too, since the men are going to be wearing black suits.  Okay I feel a bit better, thanks guys!