Bridesmaid Dresses

nannabug42 · May 2010

Just curious what everyone did/is doing as far as bridesmaid dresses are concerned.

akulaji · May 2010

I chose the designer, the color and that it had to be tea length. The designer I chose was Dessy. They have several dress lines (Dessy, After Six, Alfred Sung, Lela Rose) and they can color match between the lines. This gave my girls literally hundreds of dresses to choose from (because they could have most floor length styles hemmed to tea) and had varying price ranges too. The girls all had different body types, so I knew they wouldn't all be comfortable or happy with the same dress. I also wanted them to choose something they loved and would be happy wearing again. They paid for their dresses, so I thought this was only fair. Being a BM is an expensive endeavor. I didn't want them to end up spending hundreds of dollars after alternations, shoes, etc on another dress that just goes to Goodwill. I've had enough of those myself. I also chose a color that would be wearable again in a cocktail/dinner setting.

girl2bewed · May 2010

I chose their dresses but none of my girls cared and its common etiquette to let them choose their own after giving them a color/style. Talk it over with them and see what they'd prefer

benmel31 · May 2010

I chose the color, black, and we all went dress shopping together. I thought I knew what I wanted, but when different girls tried dresses in that style on, I hated it and so did they. My girls all ended up in the same dress. I did not care if they had the exact dress, I just wanted the fabric the same. They said it was easier just choosing one dress.

[Deleted User] · May 2010

My girls were easy and told me whatever I wanted they would wear. I chose knee length dresses from DB in our 2 colors (3 girls in each color) and the style, which was the cotton collection. They all love them and can't wait to wear them on the big day. There were like 4 different styles, so there was no problem in them finding the one that looked best with their body type.

Amy_Justin · May 2010

Originally, I was going to let them pick their own floor length dress in the color, but when 2 of the 3 bridesmaids picked the same one, I figured it would be awkward looking if one was the odd one out, so I just said that everyone should get that one.

They were all happy with it, so I was happy. It also worked out that the 2 maids who are adults (the other is a junior) have similar measurements so the dress looks great on both of them

nannabug42 · May 2010

I'm picking the designer and color, probably Alfred Angelo in eggplant. They can do whatever dress they want from there.

Will it look weird if they have different fabrics? I'm fine with them each doing what they're more comfortable in as far as length and fabric, but people are telling me the pictures will look wonky.

akulaji · May 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_attire-accessories_bridesmaid-dress-fabric?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:15Discussion:830d9b3c-c243-4b53-9bd4-e0dd6a9b1834Post:2832fbd4-fa06-492c-9d13-146aa36194fa">Re: Bridesmaid Dresses</a>:
[QUOTE]I'm picking the designer and color, probably Alfred Angelo in eggplant. They can do whatever dress they want from there. Will it look weird if they have different fabrics? I'm fine with them each doing what they're more comfortable in as far as length and fabric, but people are telling me the pictures will look wonky.
Posted by nannabug42[/QUOTE]
My girls chose different fabrics. They look fine. If you want to see some pics, PM me and I'll send you a link.

aerinpegadrak · May 2010

I just told them black. Everyone looked great, was comfortable, and was able to choose something within her own budget.

Midgetth · May 2010

I did none of the above. I took the girls into the shop & told them they could each pick out their own dresses & later decide on the color. All of them ( I only had 3 which made it easy) actually liked one dress. So they each got the dress & decided on the colors. The 2 BM's decided they wanted to stay the same color & my MOH decided on a different color. I was fine with their decision because they were the ones paying for it & wearing it.

MC22 · May 2010

We all went shopping together. I just told them I wanted the dresses to be black, strapless, and floor length. They chose several, tried them all on, and narrowed it down to two (which they all liked). I asked for each of their opinions in private (figured they would be more open that way), then chose based on that.

jlmarks83 · May 2010

I didn't really do any of the choices. I took my cousin, one of my BMs, with me and we both picked out a bunch of dresses. She tried them all on and gave me her opinion on each as we went through them. We narrowed it down to 3. Then I pulled my sample dress off the rack and compared it to the 3. And that's how we found the one that looked best with my dress. I picked the color. The main criteria for me was that it was lightweight and comfortable since my wedding is in August. I didn't want the girls weighed down in a heavyweight fabric.

beamer84 · May 2010

I went shopping with a few of my BMs and we found a dress we liked that we thought would look good on all the girls. I emailed out pictures, prices, etc. (some of my BMs live very far away, so they wouldn't have been able to see the dress in person). I asked them to let me know if they had any issues with this choice, and I'd be happy to take their concerns into consideration and go shopping for a different dress (style, price, etc). No one had a problem, so we went with that dress.

My girls have been awesome. They want to wear whatever I choose and do their hair however I choose. I've told them the color of shoes, and that I don't care about hair style. I needed to convince some of them that I was ok if they weren't all in the same shoes or hairdo!

CandyCane5 · May 2010

I actually took my MOH dress shopping first. We narrowed it down to 3 dresses that we both liked. Then, when the other 3 went shopping with me they only had to try the 3. They actually all picked the same one so it was easy.

mcclurekelley · May 2010

My mom actually made my dress and my bridesmaid's dress (I only had one bridesmaid/maid of honor). We picked the color of the men's vest for the tuxes first, and then my MOH and I looked at dress styles for me before deciding on a dress style for her.

My mom made both dresses and they were LOVELY!

lharri12 · May 2010

My three BMs are my sister, her 14 year old daughter, and my best friend. My sister and niece live in CO, my best friend lives near St. Louis, and I'm in Chicago. My BMs have very different body types, and I knew they would have different preferences for which style would look best on them, so I decided early on that they would probably be most comfortable in different styles. We all discussed prices, designers, length, color, and fabric. My sister and my niece went to a bridal salon to try on dresses, and they sent me cell phone pics of the dresses they tried on and liked, all Jim Hjelm dresses. I told all of my BMs that they could choose which dress they wanted, as long as it was a knee-length, chiffon, eggplant, Jim Hjelm dress. I didn't want to obsess over their dresses, I wanted to make sure that they liked the dress they wore, and I love that designer, so I am confident that they can't go wrong!

mrsredmoose · May 2010

I have 5 in my wedding party and we ended up with a short, black, strapless, $99 dress from David's Bridal.

I planned on choosing a lavender dress and having the girls pick their own style. When my sister tried on the lavender, we universally vetoed the color against her skin. I was going to switch it to purple, but the sample they tried on was black. They all loved it and since they would be more likely to wear it again, we went with black. Their bouquets will be purple and lavender so we're all happy!

Surprisingly, they all picked the same style dress; although, some may attach the spaghetti straps that came with it.

I'm a big fan of the black bridesmaid dress- especially since one of my BMs found out she will be 6 months pregnant at the wedding. She conceived right after purchasing the dress. She's going to purchase another dress in black that she feels comfortable in closer to the wedding. (David's has been very helpful. If she stays with David's they will let her exchange it.) If she opts to buy at Macy's or a maternity store she at least likes the original dress enough to wear it to another wedding after the baby comes

mms84 · May 2010

I found my bm's dresses online. From Sears, nonetheless (I am not a fan of Sears clothing in general). They are floor length, charcoal grey with an almost purplish tint, and cris cross straps that are a darker shade of charcoal gray and lacy... very intricate straps. I am not getting the girls' necklaces because of the straps. $90. This dress can easily be worn outside of a wedding and is very slimming and flattering on all of my bridesmaids' bodies.

JennaV26 · May 2010

My sister is my MOH and we picked out the dresses, we actually looked about twice as long for the BM dresses than we did for my wedding gown! I have 7 BMs who are all different shapes and sizes so we picked something that would (hopefully) be flattering on everyone. My colors are chocoalte brown and gold so all of the girls are in the gold color (or acorn as it's called... it's the one below) and my sister is in the chocolate brown!

sgregor6 · May 2010

I have 7 BMs, and I considered taking all of them shopping, but knew all 7 of them would have a hard time agreeing, so I took the two BMs that I'm related to shopping and left the final decision up to the MOH.

laura_fett · May 2010

We all went shopping together, they picked out dresses they liked to try on. I didn't have any designer in mind, just color and length. They ended up with the same dress. Worked well for us, but I'd do something different if they aren't all able to go together.

alewpanda · May 2010

My bridesmaids are my 3 sisters, ranging in age from 13 to 19! We had certain criteria because of what my 13 year old sister could wear. I knew I wanted purple, and all my sisters have about the same coloring, so we picked a purple that would look good on all of them. We also picked a halter top somewhat similiar to my halter top dress. All three went with me both in groups and one or two at a time, and all were involved with picking the dresses. We all agreed to knee length too- so they won't be as hot, because we all wanted it to be a pretty relaxed wedding, and because them they are easier to wear again.

louloudi87 · May 2010

My original plan was to let all of my bridesmaids pick their own dress in black, knee length. But one day out of the blue my FSIL texts me and asks if she can wear the dress she wore in her sister's wedding, (black, knee length) since they'd be picking their own dress anyway, and she's a poor college student. She also said that her sister could borrow a BM dress from one of her friends in her wedding. PERFECT!

So I went to david's bridal with my two sisters and maid of honor and we tried on the dress that she has, and another dress that I knew they wouldnt like. (tipping the scale in my favor) My sisters like the dress, but they dont really care. "Its your wedding, we'll wear whatever you want us to wear." My maid of honor didnt particularly care for the way that dress fit her, so she picked out another strapless dress and will get it hemmed.

SuMmErKuTiE · May 2010

I sent them all pics of the dresses I was considering and had them veto out dresses they hated and let me know which ones they loved. It came down to a Bari Jay dress and an Alfred Angelo dress that all 6 girls loved. So I went dress shopping with my MOH and had her try them both on and the Alfred Angelo looked fantastic on her so she ended up picking that dress and all the girls were happy with the final choice. One of my BM's even told me she's excited to wear it because she had just been a BM in another wedding and hated the dress the bride picked out.

mrstfuture · May 2010

I picked out the color, designer, fabric, and length. I'm letting the MOH and BM's take their pick of 7 that I chose. I also picked out a few FG dresses for my MOH, FG's mom, to look at to get an idea, but she is under the impression that she's going to pick what FG will wear. Well, she's going to find out this weekend that I'm picking the FG dress. Her input and opinion are welcome, but I am ultimately going to pick that dress.

annajo007s · May 2010

Thank you! I did this too, and now two weeks from my wedding (!!!), my mother has decided that it would be "so nice for the pictures" if the bridesmaids wore matching dresses! Knowing that someone else did it and is happy with the results eases my mind, and now I can ignore my mother.

Xan921 · May 2010

I picked 3 dresses I liked online then went to the store with my bridesmaids for them to try on. I told them I wanted them to try these three first and if they didn't like any of them, then they could pick their own as long as it was the same color. They all ended up loving the same dress; it was super easy and the whole thing only took about 30 minutes

RochelleAnn2302 · May 2010

I originally wanted them all to pick out whatever they wanted as long as it was long but they all said they didn't really care what they wore.... So we ended up picking out one dress and they are all getting it in a different shade of dark blues, purples, green and teal. We using peacock feathers as inspiration so we thought these jeweled tones would be beautiful and they all get to be a little unique! Also, they can pick whatever they want for hair/shoes/accessories to make them even more individual

millercr621 · May 2010

My bridesmaids all wore the same style (a simple knee-length strapless satin dress) but each wore a different color. My maid of honor wore champagne, and the bridesmaids were in pastel shades of yellow, green, blue, pink and lilac.

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