Bridesmaid Dresses

DancingDuck · May 2013

I am looking for bridesmaid dresses for my wedding. I have realy enjoyed the look of having the bridesmaids dressed similar, but not all the same. I am into knee-length (ish, but flexible) and have enjoyed many dresses in chiffon. I am also looking at having them in a blue. I am wondering if anyone knows a designer who sells one style dress with a choice of multiple strap options (strapless, thin straps, thinck straps, halter, one soldier, ect.), Does anyone have an idea of where I should look?

Any and all advice is welcome. Thank you in advance!

manateehugger · May 2013

In Response to Bridesmaid Dresses:
[QUOTE]I am looking for bridesmaid dresses for my wedding. I have realy enjoyed the look of having the bridesmaids dressed similar, but not all the same. I am into knee-length (ish, but flexible) and have enjoyed many dresses in chiffon. I am also looking at having them in a blue. I am wondering if anyone knows a designer who sells one style dress with a choice of multiple strap options (strapless, thin straps, thinck straps, halter, one soldier, ect.), Does anyone have an idea of where I should look? Any and all advice is welcome. Thank you in advance!
Posted by DancingDuck[/QUOTE]

David's Bridal might be a good place to start looking around.

But honestly, tons of bridesmaid dress designers will sell chiffon knee-length a-line dresses with various necklines. Besides David's, you could also look at the websites of the bridal salons near you to see what designers those salons carry. Poke around on the carried designer websites, and if you see something you like, take your girls into the salon to try the dresses on. Also, don't be afraid to look at Macy's, JCPenney's, etc for more variety (and usually lower prices!).

But! Be sure that before you start deciding on bridesmaid dresses, you have asked each bridesmaid, in private, what their individual budget is. Pick the lowest number of the bunch as your price point; that may even help you narrow your search.

ETA: Not that you said you will necessarily do this, but make sure you don't force your each one of your ladies to wear a specific neckline for the sake of appearances. For example, I look terrible in one-shoulders and would be annoyed if that was my "designated neckline" while another girl got to do basic tank straps.

itzMS · May 2013

David's bridal will be the most inexpensive and the most overall options. I've worn Watters and Wtoo bridesmaid dresses in chiffon, but they are upwards of 200. JCrew is an online option...consistent sizing and styles but pricey if you dont buy on sale.

jemmini6 · May 2013

Davids Bridal, Alfred Angelo, Mori Lee, etc all have a lot of options and are relatively affordable. However, if you like the look of different dresses, you should also look into just picking a length/general color (since different designers/fabrics will vary in color) and letting your BMs choose their own.

DancingDuck · May 2013

My problem is I don't think I want different dresses. I am struggling to look for a dress that can be made with different straps. I just talked to David's Bridal, and they can alter the dresses to have different straps, but it would cost a bit more and might not be worth it in the end. I have seen people have the same dress and different straps before, I am just not sure where they found them.

Kate61487 · May 2013

I think you've probably either seen DB's dresses and you just didn't notice they were different in more ways than the straps or you've seen strapless dresses that girls have gotten straps sewn into. A dress can't really be different in JUST the straps; a halter and a strapless have totally different necklines and support needs. Not to say someone could take a strapless dress and sew a halter-like strap onto it, but it's not really the same thing.

I'd take a look at David's online - if you narrow it to knee length and chiffon you can probably find a handful of dresses with different necklines that have more or less the same shape for the rest of the dress. They also have a separates collection where you can literally put all the girls in the same skirt and have them pick the top. Like PP said, though - if you're willing to have different styles you shouldn't then force them to do one thing or another: give the choices and let them pick freely; even if it means all or all but one are in the same.

PhoneCardLady · May 2013

You might want to try http://www.bestbridalprices.com - they sell many different gowns and you can do it by price, style, etc.

Nice thing is that they are an authorized dealer for all the dresses they sell - they are not some knockoff site where the dresses are made in China.

amalama · May 2013

Try Bill Levkoff. They aren't exactly the same with different straps but they have a lot that look really similar. I do think though that trying to find different straps might not really be worth the trouble if you are trying to find something flattering for each girl. Straps aren't really what make the most difference for me.

[Deleted User] · May 2013

Two Birds, the chiffon dress is under $99 (I think it was $64?) and the top can be changed to whichever style you want. For anyone who wants to wear a bra, you get an extra accessories (a bandeau?) which you can order from the same place. They are really cute! But... they do not come in a lot of colors.

Still, they are super cute!

[Deleted User] · May 2013

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[Deleted User] · May 2013

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QueerFemme · May 2013

Just a head's up, those convertible dresses are typically horribly unflattering on anyone that isn't a size 2.

[Deleted User] · May 2013

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QueerFemme · May 2013

Daizy914 said:

when I saw it on the show, the girls that wore the dresses were not a size 2, maybe a size 16-maybe even bigger? and it was very flattering on them! They looked very very pretty!!

Maybe they had them altered for the show, but, generally, they are a wardrobe malfunction waiting to happen for anyone that is isn't model thin. And if you are busty, forget it. They are a nightmare.

[Deleted User] · May 2013

cmgilpin said:

Daizy914 said:

when I saw it on the show, the girls that wore the dresses were not a size 2, maybe a size 16-maybe even bigger? and it was very flattering on them! They looked very very pretty!!

Maybe they had them altered for the show, but, generally, they are a wardrobe malfunction waiting to happen for anyone that is isn't model thin. And if you are busty, forget it. They are a nightmare.

But they do have the extra piece, the bandeau, which the girls on the show were wearing, to allow them to wear their own bras and give them extra coverage. Most of the complaints I could find were typically about the breasts in the dress. So... if you have a little extra this would seem to solve that.

QueerFemme · May 2013

awebb04 said:

cmgilpin said:

Daizy914 said:

when I saw it on the show, the girls that wore the dresses were not a size 2, maybe a size 16-maybe even bigger? and it was very flattering on them! They looked very very pretty!!

Maybe they had them altered for the show, but, generally, they are a wardrobe malfunction waiting to happen for anyone that is isn't model thin. And if you are busty, forget it. They are a nightmare.

But they do have the extra piece, the bandeau, which the girls on the show were wearing, to allow them to wear their own bras and give them extra coverage. Most of the complaints I could find were typically about the breasts in the dress. So... if you have a little extra this would seem to solve that.

I hear what you are saying, and I'm telling you, in the past year, there have been dozens of brides on the attire & accessories page and on the plus size page that have complained about how horrible these dresses were, even with the bandeau. The fabric is usually very thin and isn't very forgiving for bumps and lumps, and even with the bandeau, they aren't very flattering for anyone busty. they look like a uniboob. If you like them, well good for you. But, given the number of posters that have complained, I generally think these are a bad idea

daria24 · May 2013

I've worn chiffon dresses from the Jasmine B2 line.

http://www.jasminebridal.com/ugC_Product_Detail.asp?hidP_kind=Bridesmaids&hidP_style=B2

They run about $175. There are quite a few styles that have a similar bodice/skirt but different straps. We were allowed to choose any dress style and we all ended up with the exact same cut, except some girls had one strap, some were strapless, some had an extra flower, etc.

And please say no to the Two Burds dresses. If you have the smallest bump or lump or aren't wearing two layers of spans they are extremely unforgiving. And I'm a size 8, I am too embarrassed to wear them.

artbyallie · May 2013

I'm going to ditto nixing the convertible dresses. I've owned a few, and they will. Not. Stay. PUT! And the fabric is flimsy and unflattering. But mainly I quit wearing them because it didn't matter how I tied the damn thing; it would slip and twist and fall and generally get on my last nerve. And FWIW I'm a size 4.

KatWAG · May 2013

Another vote for the Two Birds dresses are awful in everyway. They are flattering on NO ONE. And the bandeau does nothing for support. They show every lump and bump.

Look into Amsale if you want Chiffon dresses, they are a variety of styles.

QueerFemme · May 2013

@knotjackie and @knotporscha

Catherine&88 is a vendor. She is constantly advertising for aniia.com occasionally, she will post a generic reply to post to try to hide the fact that she is a vendor, but the majority of her posts sneak in that website somewhere.

DancingDuck · May 2013

Thanks for all the input. Where my fiance seems to really be against different dresses that look almost the same, it may be difficult. I may just stick to finding a dress everyone can be happy with even if it may not be something they isn't their dream dress. I can't please everyone.

I was getting annoyed the convertible dress doesn't come in a color that would fit my party, so I am more than happy to pass on it after hearing such difficult reviews on the convertible style.

daveANDkristen · May 2013

Why would your FI care about the BM dresses? I have never heard of a groom who has an opinion on this, unless maybe he is concerned about modesty for a church wedding.

DancingDuck · June 2013

daveANDkristen said:

Why would your FI care about the BM dresses? I have never heard of a groom who has an opinion on this, unless maybe he is concerned about modesty for a church wedding.

I have been avoiding this post because I find your comment very hurtful. Why shouldn't my fiance care about the dresses? I understand some grooms don't care about details, but my fiance wants to plan with me. It is his wedding too. Please do not make snap judgments like this as they can be very rude and hurtful.

AJuliaNJ · June 2013

@DancingDuck, my FI cared, too. He wasn't going to pick the dresses or come with us or anything, but he wanted to see them before they were purchased. He's paying for the whole wedding and I have gotten every vendor and detail I've wanted. I don't see why he couldn't just see the dresses. I texted him a photo and he was just like, "Looks great!" No big deal.

manateehugger · June 2013

DancingDuck said:

daveANDkristen said:

Why would your FI care about the BM dresses? I have never heard of a groom who has an opinion on this, unless maybe he is concerned about modesty for a church wedding.

I have been avoiding this post because I find your comment very hurtful. Why shouldn't my fiance care about the dresses? I understand some grooms don't care about details, but my fiance wants to plan with me. It is his wedding too. Please do not make snap judgments like this as they can be very rude and hurtful.

Dude, I don't understand how what she said could be hurtful. It's not like she said "Your FI cared, that's sooo dumb. He must be a loser." She just said that most guys don't care - which is probably true for a lot of men. Ease up on the sensitivity.

Why don't you and him sit down together and decide on how you want your wedding party to look? That way you have a joint vision to guide your dress shopping.

DancingDuck · June 2013

Thanks for the help girls! I think what this has all come down to was a misconception of how to put together a good mix-match bridal party look. From what I have seen now, most bridals who get this look find a few different dresses in the same length, color and fabric and let the brides choose from them.

I think I have found a really nice David's bridal gown, and once I have a chance to see it in person I will probably pick it.

Thanks again for all the input and help. It is easier to do this planning with the internet at your fingertips. I am not sure how people planned before then.

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