Bridesmaid Dresses
Bridesmiad Dresses change from year to year and it is important to keep up with the trends. Bridesmaid dresses this season have been much more sleek and simple as well as classical. Below I have listed some information I have collected on Bridesmaid Dresses for you to review:
Bridesmaid Dresses - Advice: 10 Tips for Buying Bridesmaid Dresses
1. Start Early
Bridesmaid Dress manufacturers are constantly adding and discontinuing styles and often increasing prices on more popular carryover styles of bridesmaid dresses. As a result, it is strongly recommended shopping for and ordering your dresses as soon as you have made a decision on the bridesmaid dresses you want. Different bridesmaid dress manufacturers have different lead times. You will also want to leave enough time for alterations for your bridesmaid dresses – usually at least 1 month before the wedding if not sooner.
2. Get Ideas
The Internet is a wonderful resource for finding bridesmaid dresses. A couple of bridemaid dressses web sites you may want to use for this are modernbride.com and weddingweddingchannel.com We also recommend thumbing through the more popular wedding magazines, such as Bride’s and Modern Bride magazines. Another great resource is bridesmaid dresses 101 which has great information on bridesmaid dresses for the season as well as great information on a timeline to purchase your bridesmaid dresses.
3. Make a Bridesmaid Dress Shopping Date
It is recommended that the bride go shopping with her Maid/Matron of Honor and/or 1 or 2 of her bridesmaids and see what styles of bridesmaid dresses they like. Make a date to go shopping and have fun! Once you narrow it down, you can then get input from your other bridesmaids if you desire. It’s usually helpful to have a second opinion, especially from someone who will be wearing the dress. However, ultimately it is the bride’s decision.
4. Make an Appointment
Appointments are often necessary in bridal shops and department stores– even for bridesmaid dresses. You will want to call ahead to find out if an appointment is needed so you don’t add to your stress level when you arrive only to find out they can’t see you for bridesmaid dress consulting. You might also want to find out what bridesmaid dress manufacturers they carry and if they carry the ones you are interested in so far.
5. Get Measured
The first thing you want to do is to have all of the bridesmaids professionally measured for their bridesmaid dresses. You can often do this at your first bridal shop or department store. This way you can cross reference them with the size chart for the manufacturer you have selected in order to ensure you order the size that is closest to their figure. Most bridesmaid dress designers make their dresses in accordance with the measurements of their own size chart and not to each individual. As a result, you won't be able to assume that a size 8 from manufacturer "A" will fit the same way a size 8 does from manufacturer "B". Also remember that your taller bridesmaids may need to add extra length to their bridesmaid dresses.
6. Consider Your Bridesmaids Before Deciding on Your Bridesmaid Dresses
When choosing a dress, it is the bride's privilege to select the color and type of fabric of the bridesmaids' dresses. It should complement the bride's gown, but it should also be comfortable and attractive for the attendants. Consideration should be given to the bridesmaids’ styles, color preferences, their figure types as well as their budgets.
7. Shop Online for your Bridemaid Dresses
Help your bridesmaids save money buying finding a reputable buying service online. According to Denise and Alan Fields, authors of best seller ‘Bridal Bargains’, Discount Bridal Service™ is their suggested ‘#1 Best Buy’. They are an extremely reputable company that has been in business since 1985 that sells nationally advertised bridal attire, including bridesmaid dresses, for 20-40% off suggested retail prices. Affordable Dream Weddings is one of their authorized dealers that you can contact for a free quote once you have selected your dress. They can even have the dresses shipped directly to each bridesmaid if you prefer and are a great company to work with.
8. Order All At Once
You should order all your bridesmaid dresses at the same time as fabric dye-lots can vary. If you don’t order the dresses one at a time, the dresses might not all be from the same dye-lot so they might not all be the exact same color. This goes for dyed shoes as well.
9. Leave Plenty of Time for Alterations with the Bridesmaid Dresses
Once you order your dresses, be sure to set up an appointment for alterations for your bridesmaid dresses. Since most dresses will need some degree of alterations, you should allow plenty of time for 2 fitting appointments. Bridal attendants should bring shoes with the correct heel size to the fittings, as well as appropriate hosiery and slips.
10. Accessories
Accessories, such as shoes, gloves, shawls, purses and hair combs should also be decided upon once the bridesmaid dresses have been selected. Leave plenty of time for shoes to be dyed and picked up. Also consider what color hosiery you want everyone to wear, as well as bras and slips if applicable.
I hope this bridesmaid dresses information is helpful for your review and thanks to Bridesmaid Dresses 101 for their guidance and approval of printing this information.