bridesmaid dresses

Have you ever been to a wedding where the bride was indeed stunning, but there was just something off? That may have very well been the fact that the bridesmaid dresses were not exactly flattering and the discomfort showed on the faces of the girls wearing them. When shopping for the bridesmaid formal gown design, keep in mind that this is big expense for your maids and ask yourself if you would ever even consider wearing the dress that you are considering for them. If not, then you may want to keep looking.

Of course, most brides will say something like, “It is my wedding and I should make these decisions based on what I want.” Yes, that is true, however sometimes these dresses are picked because the bride does not want to be outdone or over-shadowed by the formal dresses her attendants will be wearing. When in reality if she wants her wedding to be as close to perfect as possible that means everyone needs to look good, including the bridesmaids. Additionally, if you are having a flower girl, then you should have fun deciding from the many adorable flower girl dresses available.

While it may not be possible to make everyone happy it doesn’t hurt to try to come as close as possible. Try to consider your friends’ complexions and sizes when deciding on the bridesmaid dresses, as pastels are usually a fair choice as it goes with most skin tones. Unless you want lots of frowns and snickers try to stay away from overdoing the embellishments, such as bows and ruffles, especially if you are looking at plus size dresses.

You also want to take the season and weather into consideration for the bridesmaids formal dresses. Nothing is worse than having the entire wedding party look drained and wilted because the long sleeve Victorian style dresses nearly suffocates them during an outside wedding. Likewise, you don’t want short sleeve sheath styles when it is snowing outside.

Ok, you have personally searched every store within 100 miles and scoured the internet looking for a dress style that will try to please everyone, but so far there is nothing that everyone agrees on. Some of the girls love the short and fun cocktail dresses but you want your maids dressed in long, formal dresses. Since it is not written in stone that all bridesmaid dresses must be exactly the same, you may want to consider allowing a little variation in the styles of the dresses. If they all have the same color then it will still bring your theme together and everyone will be a little happier, reducing the stress on you.

With the tough economic times we are experiencing, many brides find it necessary to reevaluate their wedding budgets.  The following ideas will aid you in your effort to keep costs down and keep more of your hard-earned dollars in your wallet.

1). Purchase flowers that are local and in-season.  Incorporating orchids into a winter wedding is going to cost you a pretty penny.  Instead, visit your local flower market and select seasonal white Calla Lilies or deep red roses to form your bridal bouquets or table centerpieces.

2). Have your wedding favors double as your place cards or guest escort cards.  Indicate the guest’s name and table assignment on a label or hang tag and attach it to the favor box or bag.  Place the wedding favors / place cards on a central table at the entrance of the reception room.  As guests collect their wedding favors, they’ll also find out what their assigned seats are.

3). Avoid couture bridesmaids’ dresses and instead peruse through the clothing racks of popular national clothing retailers.  By choosing a style and color that your gals can wear again, you increase the longevity of their dresses while stretching their hard-earned dollars.  Best yet, your bridesmaids can shop at their convenience at their local retailer.

4). Think about holding your wedding on a Friday night or on a Sunday.  This alone can save you tons of money.

5). Print your own wedding invitations.  Many discount stores now offer stylish wedding invitations, thank-you cards, and wedding ceremony programs that you can print yourself in the comfort of your own home.  Purchasing a box of inexpensive embossed wedding invitations is now as easy as shopping for copy paper and staples.

6). Have several family and friends arrange your bridal bouquet, bridal party bouquets and boutonnieres as well as table centerpieces.  A word of caution: to avoid wilting, make sure to arrange the flowers no later than the night before.  By assigning this task to a group of trustworthy individuals, you can certainly save hundreds of dollars.

7). If you know a friend or family member who has great interest in photography as a hobby, they may be willing to photograph your wedding for free.

8). Avoid using invitations with an odd shape. They only increase your postage which will add to the cost. Use standard-sized invitations instead.

9). Consider doing your own hair and makeup.

10). Limit the size of your bridal party to family members and best of friends.  Have the others take tasks that are just as important, such as passing out the programs and escorting guests to their seats.