bridesmaids dresses

eeponine

Hi, all! I and my ladies went to try out some dresses a few weeks ago, and I am finally getting around to making decisions that stick... when I realized I have no idea what I am doing. I heard that if they order their dresses from multiple shops, their dresses may come out in different shades. This doesn't make a lot of sense to me, but then again, maybe it's kind of like the knitter's dilemma of dye lots. Anybody else hear this?

The shop where I got my dress (Helen Bohn) offers a $15 discount to the girls who purchase their dresses there, and an extra $10 off if they all get them through the store. I'm not sure about the alterations, I didn't get a straight answer on that one. 

Should I call around more? Are there any stores that offer awesome packages? Any suggestions are Greatly appreciated!

TIA

Laurms15

The whole dye lot issue isn't really the case any more.

Brides Best Friend in Englewood gives a 10% discount for 5 or more girls.

VanessaB24

I wanted to make it easier on my girls to get their dresses @ a store near them so i called around but one of the ladies say that they should all get them @ the same store because the fabric will be different colors. So they all ordered their dresses from the same store.

maddie7

Russells in Linden gave my girls a big discount and alterations for $20  or if my FI gets his tux there, they are free alterations.

mbcdefg

From my understanding, dye lots are controlled by computers nowadays. I've never heard anyone on another board whose BMs purchased at different shops complain that her BMs' dresses looked different. I'm sure most places tell you that so that they will get all your BMs to order from them. I would feel very bad making an out-of-town BM continually drive to a shop out of the way for fittings.

Your BMs could order from a wholesaler - pearlsplace.com, netbride.com, rkbridal.com - and get a discount on the dresses, then they could have them altered by local tailors.

Laurms15

I agree w/ MB because these things are controlled by computers the dye isn't an issue any more. So many people get their dresses from different places. Thats what makes Davids Bridal so popular and convenient. I wouldn't worry about it I'm pretty sure its just the store's way of getting you to purchase them all from them like MB said.

kasabby

I live in Boston and have been in numerous weddings in NJ. I have usually just sent my measurements and had the dress ordered from the store and then had it shipped to me or picked it up when I was in NJ and then brought it back to Boston for alterations. It was never a big issue for me. 

jaimelody

I would get a straight answer about alterations before you order. 3 of my BMs and my flowergirl all needed alterations on the dress. Hollywood bridal includes alterations with the dress and a 15% discount if you get your tuxes there too. It was easier for us to have all the things in one place since we're OOT.

melissa82

As pps said, the dye lot thing isn't really true anymore. (Even if it was, ordering the dresses together wouldn't 100% ensure a perfect match anyway.) Stores still say it because naturally they want the business for the entire bridal party.

That siad, some shops do offer a good discount, so it may be more economical for the girls to order the dresses from the same place. Nonchalance offers 25% off (I believe) and so they ended up having the best prices for my BM dresses.

eeponine

Thanks for the recs, they're great! I called a few places and *still* got the run-around at Helen Bohn about the alterations, but at least I have some options for my friends! I'm not so worried about the dye lot, it was just a silly question. Like mbcdefg said, I've never heard any complaints like that, either. But then, I'm oblivious to many wedding planning details, heh. 

Thanks again!

Ha. As I'm writing this, my MOH responds to my email with a text insisting that I have everyone order from the same store at the same time "so they are cut from the same cloth and there aren't any weird discolorations." Argh. 

Fink

I have always heard it was better to order the BM dresses together to ensure they are from the same dye lot.  While it might be an urban myth at this point, I personally wouldn't take the chance of the dresses being diffierent colors (even if only slightly different).  4 of the 5 girls in my bridal party are from out of state (CA, AZ , NC and NY - ok, NY doesn't really count :-) and it wasn't a big deal at all for any of the girls to call in their measurements.