The Bridesmaid Dress

It used to be that the words "wedding bridesmaid dress" was synonymous with "a dress you'll never wear again." Not so today! When you ask your friends to be your bridesmaid, you are actually giving them a great excuse to shop for (and maybe splurge on) a special dressy bridesmaid dress that they will actually wear to another special occasion after your wedding day. Can you think of a better gift than guilt-free shopping?

While some brides allow their attendants to pick their own dresses, most brides want to have a say in what their gals wear. Remember, it is your day, and there's no reason you shouldn?t play fashion designer. Just keep in mind that in order to have happy bridesmaids you need to consider each girl's taste, body shape, and coloring.

Mix It Up
There is no need to dress your bridesmaids in head-to-toe matching outfits with shoes dyed to match. With the latest fashions bursting off the racks, be creative in your choice of design. Whatever you choose will reflect on your personal taste and sense of style.

However, if you are stuck and not sure where to start, check out the numerous wedding websites and bridal magazines that offer tips on finding the right dress for different body types, different seasons, and different times of day. For example, A-line skirts and empire waists tend to flatter all body types, and dark colors "navy blue, forest green, or black" are ideal for evening weddings and look good on just about everyone.

To help you hone in on the perfect bridesmaid wedding dress consider these guidelines.

• Pick one designer, and then allow your friends to choose from several styles. The dresses may be just slightly different, but each girl can choose the one that suits her best.
  
• Settle on one color and tell your bridesmaids to find a dress of that shade in whatever cut they want. You may want to add one or two "musts", such as it must also be ankle-length or strapless.
  
• Compliment the wedding's color scheme with the bridesmaid dresses. For example, if your colors are white and royal blue, consider decking your attendants out in a soft sky blue.
  
• If you choose a revealing dress style that's off the shoulders, offer your attendants shawls or another form of cover up so they won't feel too exposed and can ward off a chill.

Be a Trend Setter
Let's say you've looked through pages and pages of magazines and scoured all the wedding websites but still haven't found the right look. For some reason, you keep imagining a less traditional bridesmaid outfit, something that is relaxed and playful, but you don't see that kind of dress reflected in any of the magazines.

It's time to take a break and go window shopping at all your favorite department stores and boutiques. While walking around, you may realize that what you really want is to dress your bridesmaids in a two-piece outfit for a more casual vibe. The options are really limitless. Don't be afraid to listen to your inner voice and dare to do something that's a bit surprising.
Written by: V.W.B.
© 2006 Letters and Arts, Inc.

 

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