The Bridal Party is one of the most visual aspects of a bride’s wedding ceremony. The bride typically chooses her closest friends, sisters, or other relatives to be her attendants. And while duties of the bridesmaid include assisting the bride in planning the wedding and helping with various aspects of what a wedding entails, being a bridesmaid is an honor and requires dedication to both the bride and groom for their special day. On the day of the wedding, the right dress for your special friends adds beauty to the event and gives bridesmaids enthusiasm for the day.
After putting so much thought into her own appearance, it can be daunting for a bride to realize she has the additional task of outfitting her entire bridal entourage! Even so, it’s a matter of good manners for the bride to choose bridesmaid dresses carefully. Many bridesmaids have been known to dread an upcoming wedding, not because she’s not excited for the bride, but because she is uncomfortable with the dress she has been asked to wear.
When it comes to wedding planning, remember: you probably can’t (and won’t!) make everyone happy, and while your bridesmaids DO understand your wedding day is all about you, as a Christian woman, it is always appropriate to be considerate of others and their feelings.
List your bridesmaids and go over the dress-choosing criteria below. Make notes beside each bridesmaid’s name as you do. Even if you’re not typically a list-making person, doing this may help you organize your thoughts as you make a final decision.
The Style
Are your bridesmaids different sizes? Try to find a dress they can all feel comfortable in. Are any of them pregnant? Take that into consideration, too. Keep in mind that it is not mandatory for all of your bridesmaids to wear the same dress, so you may consider picking a basic style or fabric and allow your bridal party to choose their own dresses (with your final approval, of course!).
The Color
Think about your friends’ complexions and hair colors. The Knot says brighter colors are more flattering in general. Pastels look great on many women, and navy, hunter green, and black are usually complementary of a wide variety of skin hues. If color is an issue, you could pick varying shades of one color or use complementary colors for each bridesmaid to create a truly flattering look for each lady.
Versatility & Cost
Bridesmaid dresses are infamous for being pricey, especially considering they’re usually only worn once. If your bridesmaids are going to pay for their dresses, think about picking a dress they can wear again. Are any of your bridesmaids working multiple jobs to make ends meet? Got any college-age bridesmaids? They may not have a couple hundred dollars to spend on a dress. As an act of courtesy, be considerate of others’ budgets when planning your wedding.
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MiKayla Bourque Photography
I wish I would have put more thought into my bridesmaid dresses! At the time, there was a shortage of modest apparel options, so we (or should I say my “Supermom”!) had to sew sleeves into my bridesmaids dresses.
These days, brides looking for modest apparel have options. (Check out Dainty Jewell’s gallery of gorgeous bridesmaid dresses here.) Dainty Jewell’s has several dresses that are flattering on all figures. Dreaming in Vintage has a beautiful slimming effect, and many other Dainty Jewell’s styles are available in a variety of colors. Additionally, while a typical bridesmaid dress averages between $200 and $300, you’ll find Dainty Jewell’s dresses to be much more economical, not to mention modest!
Cole Photography
Title image DollarPhotoClub.