5 Rules for Choosing Bridesmaid Dresses

When it comes to planning a wedding, some parts are fun and other parts are stressful. For brides, selecting bridesmaid dresses is both fun and stressful. There’s so much to think about and consider, yet such little time. How are you supposed to choose?

5 Considerations for Brides to Explore

The wedding dress is the first order of business. But once you figure that out, you can shift your attention to your supporting cast. Here are a few helpful considerations and suggestions for choosing the perfect bridesmaid dresses:

What Do You Want?

If your bridesmaids are like most, they’ll have plenty of opinions for you. However, be careful about asking for them. Once you ask for suggestions, you’ll get way more than you initially bargained for. And if you’re a people-pleaser, it’ll be impossible to make everyone happy.

It’s best if you focus on what you want. From the style and length to the color and fit, you have every right to call the shots. In fact, this is one of the few instances in life where you can do whatever you want and nobody can overrule you. This isn’t to say you should take advantage of your status as bride, but let it infuse you with confidence. This is your decision!

Browse Early and Often

As soon as your man plops down on one knee and pushes that sparkly diamond in your direction, you’re free to begin browsing for dresses. This is your one chance to live out your long-time dream – embrace it! Buy every wedding magazine you can find. Browse Pinterest until you’re blue in the face. Have fun with it!

Find the Right Color

Choosing the right color may be the most challenging aspect of selecting bridesmaid dresses. Even if you know the basic color you want, getting the precise hues and tones right is difficult. If you’re having trouble, consider using a tool like Search By Colors, which makes it easy to filter results based on the exact color you’re seeking.

Give Choices

There are two schools of thought with bridesmaid dresses. You can either choose identical dresses for everyone in the wedding party, or you can give your bridesmaids options.

If you’re comfortable with the idea of varying choices, this is a good route to go. Try picking a color and then letting bridesmaids select their own style. This gives them the freedom to choose a dress that fits their body type. It also allows them to spend an amount that’s within their means. (Just be sure they run everything by you before making any final purchases.)

Be Considerate

Just because you’re the ones calling the shots, doesn’t mean you should discount everything your bridesmaids think. These are your best friends, so be sure to treat them as such.

“If any of your friends have been in a bridal party before, they’ll know bridesmaids pay for their own dresses. But a gentle reminder is never a bad idea,” The Knot explains. “When it comes to price, try to be considerate of your friends’ lifestyles. If you’re concerned your wedding might be a financial burden for one or more of your bridesmaids, focus your search on dresses in a more affordable range, or select a color you like and let them pick their own style.”

Check it Off the List

There’s so much to think about. If you let it, wedding planning can become exhausting. The key is to get ahead of the stress by being proactive. The more things you can take care of early in the wedding planning process, the greater joy and excitement you’ll discover in the weeks leading up to your big day.

Don’t wait until the last minute to order bridesmaid dresses. Depending on the type of dresses you order, it could take months for them to arrive. Then each bridesmaid has to have measurements taken. Alterations can take weeks. And, inevitably, at least one bridesmaid will have an issue that needs to be sorted out.

Give yourself ample time by ordering bridesmaid dresses early. You don’t get any points for waiting until the last moment.