I have been sending suggestions of BM dresses to my MOH for styles that I like and think will work for what I have in mind. Every option I send her she doesn't like something about. I have told her I would prefer no strapless dresses, even if that's what they like because I have seen too many people end up pulling up the dresses and adjusting them and I would rather my MOH & BM not worry about it. Strapless are the only styles the MOH is sending me... At what point can I draw the line and say this is the style of dress you are getting? I am also trying to stay on a budget for them but finding a dress my MOH likes seems like it is never going to happen. My BM is my cousin and absolutely okay with anything because she was just thrilled I asked her to be in my party.
Re: Difficult MOH...
If your MOH prefers a strapless dress, I say let her have one, just provide which color you'd like it to be. You could even allow them to choose their own dress so long as it's in x color by x dress line and x length etc. It's hard to find one dress that equally flatters all women.
I hate when people treat their WP like kids, so I'm not advocating that, but one of the best lessons I've learned as a parent is that if it isn't going to cause bodily harm or property damage, sometimes it's best to just let people make their choices and deal with the consequences on their own.
I don't understand the problem with strapless. So what if she tugs all night? I mean, is that really a big deal?
It sounds like you have two, right? A MOH and a BM? You can pick a designer and a color and a fabric but let the MOH wear strapless and the other BM choose whatever neckline she wants.
If your MOH likes strapless dresses then she should be allowed to buy a strapless dress. I think the reason you don't want them to wear strapless dresses is stupid. So give them a color and length and let them choose a dress that they are comfortable in. And if that happens to be strapless then just be happy you aren't the one that has to go over and tug it up every 15 minutes.
PS if you get your strapless dress altered correctly then you really shouldn't have to be tugging on it.
I also think strapless is a silly hill for your MOH to die on. Is that the only kind of dress she wears? Does she not DO straps when going out partying? If not, why is she so insistent here? Unless you're asking her to wear something she's not comfortable with, it seems odd...
Regardless, if she's that insistent, you have to decide if it's less of a headache for you to just give in. Personally, I probably would.
If you, the bride, are so bored at your own wedding that dress tugging is ruining your good time you have bigger problems than other people's clothes.
Let them wear whatever they want.
One wedding I attended all of us were scrambling to find something for the (well endowed on top) bride to use for straps to hold her dress up - the boning had entirely given out on both the gown and her long-line and nothing was going to hold things up. They ended up using a robe tie with pins.. For our wedding I was assured that the dress wouldn't have this same issue - if not for my hips gravity was winning and I was yanking at it. So NAF of strapless either... Regardless of that I've heard of some churches not allowing strapless dresses primarily for the reason of modesty, but if a photographer takes a picture from behind while they're sitting it looks like they aren't wearing anything..
OP - go live to look at some dresses then make the executive decision within their budget and complimentary for their body size/shape for something that fits your image of how you want your BM's to look or give them a color and let them choose themselves since there's only two knowing that the one will ultimately choose strapless. There are some wonderful dresses out there that aren't spaghetti strap nor strapless yet incredibly elegant on a budget (Search Macy's formalwear...but Sears, JCP, Deb, Nordstrom, also offer formalwear lines that have awesome return policies and are budget friendly)..
You want your girls to be comfortable right? She might only feel comfortable in a strapless dress. I know for me in the summer, I prefer wearing strapless dresses because it's warm out, and even a spaghetti strap can be irritating in the heat. Unless you have a law abiding reason why she can't wear a strapless dress, let it goooooooooooooooo
I agree with PPs, it's better to just give your WP a color and let them choose the style of dress they want to wear. If your MOH wants a strapless dress, let her buy a strapless dress.
"Love is the one thing we're capable of perceiving that transcends time and space."
You may want to discuss what the MOH likes about certain dresses. Is it budgetary? Is it the fabric? Is it how it will lay on her chest/waist/hips/bum? I would ask her about why she likes each dress and try to pull in those elements in the final 3 you send.
Are you having a church wedding that does not allow bare shoulders? Or is this a modesty thing? I would argue that even if there isn't a church ceremony, sometimes strapless is still inappropriate, just like dress lengths may still be inappropriate, but it's a know your crowd thing. For you to feel so strongly about a non strapless dress, there has to be another reason other than "pulling at it."
If you've already said that you do not want them to wear strapless, she is being inconsiderate sending you only strapless dresses. But, this is not a hill worth dying on for either of you. Try to remember that. If this has been an actual argument, I would give in and let her have the strapless dress. Provided there is more of a reason to "I don't like people pulling at their dresses," I think you can justify saying no, but only if you haven't already made that your reason with her.
For your SIL, there's no reason for her to be involved in wedding planning. She's in a position of honor, not your wedding planner. Give her a dress specification: e.g. color and length, and let her handle it. If she drags her feet too long and has to pay rush fees or can't get her first choice, it's not your fault.
How much time is left until your wedding? She may not want to shop too far in advance.