Bridesmaids Timeline

jonchrissy

Hi Ladies,

So I am trying to wait until the last possible moment to pick bridesmaids because I won't want to deal with all of it. When do you think I would need to pick them by so they can order their dresses on time. I'm going back and forth between having 1-4 bridesmaids and am looking at champagne colored dresses if that makes any difference.
Thanks!

BostonGirl82

Our bridesmaid dresses are from PoB and they told us it would take 4-6 months to come in.

From your ticker, it looks like you have plenty of time. I would hold off a bit since relationships can change.

snoangel79

We are going next weekend to try and also most likely buy, hopefully it's not as long as 6 months!!

MandahGirly

I would definitely wait until the 6-8 month mark - Typically BM dresses don't take nearly as long as wedding dresses do

jaceyjc

The dresses for my bridesmaids are from Nordstrom's, and I can't say enough good things about their dress shop.  It took just a few days for the dresses to arrive.  The size charts were accurate as they are listed for each designer.  I have followed the dress and when it went on sale each of the girls was able to call in for a $56 credit.  Also, my friend who recently had a baby ordered two dresses and can return the size she doesn't need in October.  You can search by color and in ascending price order.  Free shipping on orders over $100 at the time and can make returns in store. 

The dresses are beautiful.  They dropped from $136 to $80.  The price was amazing to begin with, so needless to say the additional discount was very much appreciated!  The quality was worthy of Nordstrom, and the price beat out David's which just doesn't feel as nice in the hand.  I was very disappointed with dresses I liked in the catalog and then saw instore.  The craftsmanship just wasn't there.

In any case, you have time.  A suggestion...  About a year out from your wedding, as the colors should be seasonally appropriate, look at the Nordstrom site.  Save the dresses you like as favorites on your "wish list" and follow the pricing.    Or if you liked them and had decided on your girls they could order them and hope for a sale. 

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Choosing bridesmaids can be difficult, and a lot of us have been there.  Do what's right for you...  Who are the people most important to you? Who do you see being friends with into your 80s?  Those are the people I'd want by my side.

Good luck!

jonchrissy

I'm not worried about it now. I was thinking of asking in November/December and just wanted to make sure that was enough time. Thanks ladies!

jacquikev

I picked mine early and regret it. We are both pretty far out. I would wait until at LEAST a year out. The longer you can wait the better. With me I am a college student with broke college friends so I wanted to ask them in advance to try and make it less of a financial burden for them Instead of hey wanna be a bridesmaid ok kool now wheres the 100 - 300 (avg prices) for the dress! 

Galaxy8227

We ordered ours early since the dress was being discontinued and all the girls wanted it.  Otherwise we would have waited until December or January to order them.  They took 6 months to come in.  We'll start our alterations in August

JBs_Bride

Even though I knew who I would pick, I didn't officially ask them until September '09 for my June '10 wedding.

megandjay

We just ordered the BM dresses, they said 3-4 months (so we are cutting it close), but it took about a month to get everyone to put in their orders.

I asked by BMs right after I got engaged, about 1 1/2 years out, but I had no doubt who it would be (4 friends of 12 years and my cousin). Based on what I have read on other boards, it seems 9 months out is a good time to ask.

LoveAdopted

I would definitely wait like the other girls have mentioned.

And, just a bit of advice, don't let them push you into something you are unhappy. Try (really hard!) to only have one or two shopping trips, and if you want your bridesmaids there with you, try to figure out a good day for all of them, make an appointment in advance, and tell them when and where, and that it's up to them to make the appointment, don't be disappointed if they don't like what you picked!

Bridesmaid dresses were an absolute nightmare for me, by far the most stressful part of the whole wedding.