Talk to me about BM dresses. (long, sorry)

J&K10910 · November 2009

I know, it's super early for me to be thinking about this, but I'm going shopping with them this weekend and it could very well be the only time we can all get together, so we'd like them to at try a couple on to get ideas for styles that look good on them.One is a student, and one is finishing up college for teaching. There's no telling what either of their income will be, so I'm trying to keep things as inexpensive for them as possible. Think definitely no more than $150, but closer to $100 or less would be ideal.One of them has a really large chest, especially for the rest of her size. She has requested something with normal straps, bonus if they're big enough and in a good place where she could wear a regular bra.So my questions are: Are there going to be some Alfred Angelo dresses that fall into this price range (I hate that on the website is has the little price coding things instead of actual prices)? Where else can we look? DB doesn't really have many things with good straps, unfortunately. They've also requested things they can try on, they'd rather not order online sight unseen.Ok, so if you made it through all that, any insight you have would be incredibly appreciated!

Night_Sprite · November 2009

What about a jacket so she can wear a bra? Is she a jacket person?

jamm2019 · November 2009

When my bridemaids and I were looking at dresses it was hard to find any that they really liked in the $100 range. I let them pick the dress so it was up to them how much they wanted to spend. We ended up getting them at our local bridal salon, but we went to DB and they tried on everything that they offered we were there for 2 1/2 hours and they didn't really like anything. Good luck!

[Deleted User] · November 2009

My girls all picked their own dresses from AA and a few were very large chested. They had plenty of options with straps and one even had straps sewn in. Sidenote- one girl did not choose the strap route and definitely should have. It was messy.

J&K10910 · November 2009

Night, that's something I can definitely talk to her about. It seems like a good solution if we can't find anything with straps. I'd be concerned about her getting warm dancing and wanting to take it off, but it's definitely an option I can give her that I didn't think about. Thanks!

[Deleted User] · November 2009

Oh and to actually answer your question, yes they have some very affordable dresses. I think my girls spent between $110-190).

ScarletGem · November 2009

But if you let them pick their own dresses and they don't go the strap route when they should have, then at least it's not you forcing them to wear a dress that doesn't work for them!

anna.oskar · November 2009

I didn't find many Alfred Angelo dresses outside of the $140 - $160 range but we did ask about straps for my sister's comfort and they said most dresses could add them for a relatively low cost.

J&K10910 · November 2009

Andress, is it pretty easy to get straps added? That's also something I told her she could do, but I wasn't sure how pricey it would be to alter it. Sidenote: I don't expect them to get the same dress or anything, so they can definitely can go shopping by themselves. But they've requested a little input from me too.

ring_pop · November 2009

bestbridalprices.com has prices posted for the AA dresses that they carry.

AngelaOct11 · November 2009

My bridesmaids wore dresses by Mori Lee. It looks like on their website they have some options with real straps. The dresses were a little over $100 but they did get a discount from the bridal store for paying for the dresses in full when they ordered them. They have some cute dresses if there are any shops in your area that carry them.

eastunder1 · November 2009

Have you thought about going to a regular store just like Nordstroms or Dillards? I'm a huge fan of buying regular dresses as opposed to actual BM dresses. The quality is always better and they don't 'look" like a BM dress (puke) quite so much. I totally get where your friend is coming from with the straps. I CAN wear a strapless, but I always feel like its falling down and its just not an ideal set up. I need straps for hold up support. Keep in mind too, she could probably wear a convertible bra, so you could do a halter or slightly odd straps. As long as there is some sort of strap there it would probably work. Maybe some of those wider straps that kind of flare out as you go up the shoulder? I don't really know how to describe them, but they're stylish and would hide a bra. I would hate to be stuck in a jacket over some straps if no one else was wearing one. HATE.

J&K10910 · November 2009

Thanks Ring Pop! That's incredibly helpful.

[Deleted User] · November 2009

Definitely affordable J. The girl I'm thinking of didn't need any alterations except to add straps and her total alt bill was like $12 (in store).

tidetravel · November 2009

Obviously, ask each one in private what their budget looks like before shopping for a dress.I would still suggest a trip to DB if you haven't been, just as a starting point. You guys may be surprised at what you find there, or it will at least give them an idea of what styles look good on them.And obviously letting them choose their own styles will be easier to find a dress that everyone is happy with.

andyandhillary · November 2009

I had the same situation. I got mine from jcrew (pib) and my girls LOVE them. I think they are about $150 but one of my BMs said that she has never felt better in a dress. I know that is the highest point on your price range but I think if you give them a lot of notice they can buy it when they are able to afford it/save up a little while. I did the same thing and it's worked out.

J&K10910 · November 2009

East, yes, going to a department store is definitely an option. This weekend's trip is mostly just to get an idea what kinds of styles look good and pricing info. We're hitting bridal shops because I'll be trying on dresses too. But if we can't find anything, department stores are next on the list. Thanks!Oh, I know what kind of straps you're talking about. I don't know what they're called either. And she said she'd try on halter dresses but that they typically make her look like a stripper (her words, not mine!). Thanks for the advice!

Night_Sprite · November 2009

We did floor length DB dresses and with tax they were $143 (I have no idea why I remember that.) I also got my dress there so there was a discount of some kind.

vicmo5 · November 2009

Do you have any idea what you want them to look like...color, length, material?My sister was my attendant and I told her she could wear whatever made her comfortable. She just graduated from college and didn't have a ton of money so she bought an adorable knee length black dress from H&M for $40 and she can wear it again. My girlfriend (who wasn't officially an attendent) also chose a knee length black dress from White House Black Market. I'm guessing that was probably more in the $150 range.

opalsky007 · November 2009

I have some ladies who need to wear regular bras too. I picked out J. Crew's Sophia dress--it's a flattering v-neck cocktail dress and sells for $150, but goes on sale regularly. Ditto pp about looking at department stores and specialty shops for simple dresses that don't scream bridesmaid. They're usually less expensive, more flattering, easy to rewear and more unique, IMO.

[Deleted User] · November 2009

FWIW, the BM halter dresses are much higher up than a typical halter shirt would go. If she isnt' comfortable in a halter that's fine, but it might be worth it to try one on. Another of my larger chested BM's wore a halter and it looked gorgeous on her.

J&K10910 · November 2009

Obviously, ask each one in private what their budget looks like before shopping for a dress.I did. My MOH, bless her heart, said "I'll pay whatever you want for the dress you pick out." She's been in too many weddings where she was treated as a prop, obviously. She was shocked when I said she could wear shoes she already had, and no, I didn't care if she didn't match the BM.I would still suggest a trip to DB if you haven't been, just as a starting point. You guys may be surprised at what you find there, or it will at least give them an idea of what styles look good on them.Definitely in the plan!And obviously letting them choose their own styles will be easier to find a dress that everyone is happy with.Also part of the plan. I don't even care if they wear different colors to be honest. I don't care at all, as long as they both feel good and can afford their dresses. But like I said, they wanted some input from me too.

J&K10910 · November 2009

Do you have any idea what you want them to look like...color, length, material?Green and/or brown (I know, I know, but I like it!), probably knee or tea length, and material doesn't matter to me. Ahhh, I'm having a hard time keeping up with you ladies, you're too fast today.I think one of the problems is there weren't too many green or brown (more brown than green, that's for sure) dresses when I was looking at sites for Dillards and JCrew. But maybe we can find another color that works too. Either way, I'll definitely keep looking, we have a lot of time.

faith194 · November 2009

PIB of all the AA dresses my girls wore. The only two days all of the girls were together happened to be the rehearsal and wedding day. .. For my one bridesmaid, I couldn't go shopping with her. I just gave them the fabric, AA, and color. . .I don't think any of the dresses cost more than 140. I wasn't sure if I'd like all of the different styles, but they turned out really nice!I'd call a local boutique and ask the price ranges they have, as well, for AA. I didn't go to DB for reasons that are specific to the store that I bought my dress in(and I had a DB color on my gown, which made my search of the perfect accent color for the girls even more stressful than it needed to be). All in all, it turned out great!Good luck:)

shanwalk2 · November 2009

look in my bio for my sister. she's the only one with straps. she had just had a breast reduction 3 weeks before the wedding and she wore a regular bra with her dress.they were alfred angelo seperates, so they all got the same skirt - except for MOH, and picked their own tops based on what they wanted.I think they varied from $120-160 depending on the top.

J&K10910 · November 2009

THanks faith and Shan! Shan, your sister looks so much like you!

Kati0105 · November 2009

I have two busty BMs as well and they found that corset-back dresses were able to provide enough support even without straps so that's something to consider. They chose an Alfred Angelo dress but ordered it online because it was $131 online versus $199 in-store. We used houseofbrides.com and have had a great experience with them.

TurtlesAllTheWayDown · November 2009

I know AA will sew in straps. So even if you pick a strapless dress, the girls who want straps can get them. I'm probably getting 2 inch straps put on my wedding dress. The BM dress I'm thinking of is currently strapless, and I know my BMs might want some.As for price, I know some are definitely less than $150, not sure about $100.

shanwalk2 · November 2009

we've never been told we look alike until wedding day. Her hair is naturally curly and she wears it that way. I think have similiar hair do and the same person do our makeup really brought out how much we do look alike. correction: that was 2 weeks after her breast reduction... I'm not sure how she did it that night. good luck finding dresses. busty girls can look fly too.

andyandhillary · November 2009

opalsky our BMs are wearing the same thing. yay for bm twins! lol (lame i know...)

J&K10910 · November 2009

Oh, that's good to know Kati! (About the corset back and houseofbrides.com.) Thanks :)Thanks MsMery, I think sewing in straps is going to be a really good option. There are just so many strapless dresses around now.

Talk to me about BM dresses. (long, sorry)

Re: Talk to me about BM dresses. (long, sorry)

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