International Bridesmaids

doctorengaged

Hi, I'm wondering if anyone has insight into this issue. I live in the US, 3 of my bridesmaids live here too (different parts of the country) but the other 2 live in the UK. The wedding is a destination wedding in the US, and there isn't going to be a time when we're all together prior to the wedding (bachelorette party will happen a couple of days before the wedding when they all fly in for that). How do I go about helping them to get dresses? I would like them to pick their own style, but would prefer to keep the fabric & color the same for everyone. Are there any international stores that both the US and UK BMs could visit, or an international online retailer that would ship to both locations and allow returns? I looked at the American favorites and those didn't seem to have that option. Thanks in advance for your help!

[Deleted User]

I am in the same boat as you!  My bridesmaids are here in the US except one is in Australia!  I was thinking of having her getting her measurements done and (me) buy her dress, ship it to her and have her get the alterations done over there so when she brings it here to the US, it will be all ready to go. This seems to be my only option at this point.

doctorengaged

I should have also mentioned that I promised them they wouldn't have to buy expensive dresses, it just seems unreasonable to me given that they will already be traveling so far. So I'm hoping they can just buy a dress off the rack, it doesn't have to be super fancy or anything. All I want is to match color & fabric in different styles. Didn't realize this would be so hard!!

calliopeia2013

I had two UK bridesmaids, so hopefully I can offer a little bit of help!  I just asked all of my BMs to get dresses in the same color (no fabric or length requirements), but that was because they all have pretty dramatically different body types and I wanted them to have as much room to find something they loved as possible.

That said, Alfred Angelo dresses are available in the UK.  I'm not sure if there are actual AA stores in the UK, but my BMs found lots of AA dresses in bridal boutiques in the UK, tried them on, found the ones that fit, and then I ordered them here and they paid me back.  (They just went with AA dresses because I bought my gown there and had a discount; not all of my BMs wore AA.)  But something like that might be an option, and AA is pretty reasonably priced.

itzMS

No one will notice if the fabric matches. Stick to basic, easy-to-find, colors and you'll be fine. Black or navy blue will probably be the easiest.

Cocktail length dresses are easier to find in many price ranges than long gowns.

doctorengaged

Thanks for the tips! I wanted to do what itzMS says - just stick with a color and let them pick any dress. I am with calliopeia2013 on the different body types, I really want them to pick what they are comfortabel with. It is good to hear that the fabric won't really matter. Perhaps I can order a few swatches in the color I want, and send them to the BMs so that they can roughly match when they go shopping. Thanks for the support!

QueerFemme

You can try certain designers that are available in multiple countries. I know Alfred Angelo and Mori Lee are both available in many countries.  If you go to the designer's websites, you can do a search by location for bridal salons that carry their BM dresses.

The other option as PP mentioned is just to let them buy off the rack from a department store.  I'm not sure what color you are thinking of, but I would try to make it a very common color.  (like, black, or navy).  If you get too specific (coral, watermelon, teal), you are likely going to end up with various shades.  You might want to ask them to get a black dress that can accomodate a sash, and then you can order them all matching sashes in the color you want.

doctorengaged

Thank you cmgilpin for the great ideas! The color I'm thinking is blue, but I'm not sure about the shade (ocean/midnight/cornflower??). I might be ok with them just doing various shades of blue. I'll take a look at those designers! Thanks.

QueerFemme

doctorpreggo said:

Thank you cmgilpin for the great ideas! The color I'm thinking is blue, but I'm not sure about the shade (ocean/midnight/cornflower??). I might be ok with them just doing various shades of blue. I'll take a look at those designers! Thanks.

perfect!  I think if you are ok with any shade of blue, you are in great shape.  Just make sure you are ok with it, before you give them the green light. If someone shows up with pale blue, and someone shows up in royal blue, you need to make sure you aren't going to be pissy. 

doctorengaged

That is definitely a good point! Pale/light blue is out because that's the groom's color. I will have to be more specific than just any shade of blue! Thanks for your advice!

itzMS

doctorpreggo said:

That is definitely a good point! Pale/light blue is out because that's the groom's color. I will have to be more specific than just any shade of blue! Thanks for your advice!

The groom's color for what?

I've never heard of a groom having a color before.

chaiteachick

If you're worried about the shade and type of fabric, you can probably get a few swatches of the fabric the other girls have, and send those to your international girls, for comparison's sake. 

doctorengaged

itzMS said:

The groom's color for what?

I've never heard of a groom having a color before.

The groom is wearing a pale blue tux. It's unusual, but I've always wanted it since I saw Jamie Olver wear one: 

chaiteachick

Re "groom's color": When my parents got married, my dad and all his groomsmen wore white.  

itzMS

So because in a lot of weddings the groom wears a black suit or tuxedo, every bride who has bridesmaids in black is stealing the "grooms color"?! lqtm. That's a silly reason.

doctorengaged

Oh, I guess I just wanted the groom in a different color than the bridesmaids. I don't think that's particularly unusual...