You've chosen your bridesmaids, so now it's time to shop! We've rounded up our top tips for a fun and fuss-free search for the gown that both you and your best girls will love.
If you thought finding the perfect wedding dress was hard work, just wait until it comes to finding bridesmaid dresses that fit your colour scheme, work for the season of your wedding AND that your girls actually love! We’ve pulled together our top tips to make finding the perfect wedding dress an easy (and fun!) experience.
Start with research
Shopping for bridesmaid dresses can be overwhelming. There’s so much choice out there. So to stop yourself getting disheartened, make sure you’ve spent time working out what you’re looking for.
Buy magazines, look on Instagram, andd create a Pinterest board. You’ve probably done all of this when searching for your own dress, so why not for your bridesmaids? Trust us – it helps!
Don’t feel like all of your girls need to be in the same colour. It’s a common misconception that all your girls have to be matching on the big day. Try mismatched bridesmaid dresses to keep all of them happy, be it different colours in the same gown, or the same colour in different styles.
It’s not all about the colour of your bridesmaid dresses, though. You also need to think about the style. From off-the-shoulder bridesmaid dresses, to floral patterned bridesmaid dresses, to gowns with one shoulder, there’s so much to choose from.
Choose your budget
There’s a long-running debate over who pays for bridesmaid dresses. If you’ve kindly offered to pay for the gowns, set a clear budget for your bridesmaids. You don’t want anyone falling in love with a dress that is wildly over budget. If this does happen, you could gently suggest that the bridesmaid pays the difference between your budget and the dress she wants.
Things to consider when choosing bridesmaid dresses
Fancy your girls in ’50s style strapless tea dresses but have booked a Scottish castle in December? You might have to rethink your vision. Moaning maids are not what you need on the happiest day of your life, so make sure the dresses are both pretty and practical.
Separate celebrations
Top Tip: Go wedding dress hunting long before you start looking for your bridesmaids gowns. That way, you get your own special day without worrying about how your girls are feeling, and you’ll know exactly what will complement your frock.
Timing is key
In fact, purchasing bridesmaid dresses can be one of the last tasks on your wedding to-do list. This way, any changes to your girls’ figures (e.g. pregnancy) are less of an issue, and costly alterations can be avoided! You’ll also (hopefully) have the rest of your day sorted, so colour clashes won’t be an issue either.
The lingerie to wear dress shopping
We cannot stress the importance of this! There’s nothing worse than trying on dresses when you’re wearing pants that don’t fit and a bra that doesn’t hold anything where it’s supposed to be. We recommend a nude strapless bra and thong (or seamless shorts) to ensure any dress style will look fabulous.
Don’t let bridesmaid accessories be an afterthought
The perfect pair of shoes or a fabulous statement necklace can transform an outfit. If your maids aren’t hugely enthusiastic about the dress you’ve picked for them, maybe give them a little more authority over their accessories. Many brides leave bridesmaids to wear whatever accessories they want, or just give a colour theme to stick to.
Beware of leaving accessory shopping to the last minute, though, especially if you’ve agreed to cover the costs. Last minute splurging on jewellery or clutch bags for your maids might not be in your budget. Do give them a budget, too, if they are choosing their own.
Be assertive when shopping for bridesmaid dresses
Ultimately, it’s your special day, and although you want your maids to feel happy and comfortable, don’t forget that the executive decision is yours. Try not to be swayed into choosing dresses that aren’t to your taste or style – you’ve invited your girls to be part of one of the most important days of your life, and they should respect that.
Saying that, it’s not an excuse to make them look silly – we’ve all seen some of the, shall we say ‘statement styles’, that Katherine Heigl endured in 27 Dresses…
Enjoy yourselves!
Like everything when it comes to wedding planning, it’s essential not to get bogged down with the small stuff. Make a day of shopping with your bridesmaids – have a catch-up over cocktails, or celebrate finding your perfect gowns with a dinner at the end of the day. The motto to follow? ‘Happy bridesmaids, happy bride!’
These beautiful bridesmaids dresses featured above are all by the amazing UK designer The Only Way Dress! Their stunning multiway bridesmaids are now at our sister wedding boutique Brides & Bustles & you need to check them out!
Available in 42 different colours and can be styled in over 5 different ways, so each of your girls will be happy in a gown that fits them and suits them!
Find out more about these gorgeous gowns right here.