Being a bride means having quite a few responsibilities. A bride needs to take care of all aspects of a wedding and it boils down to a ton of trivialities. Your wedding needs to be perfect and nothing says “impeccable” like paying attention to details. Choosing your wedding dress is exhausting enough as it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to look perfect at your very own wedding. Well, if you thought this was exhausting, you’re in for quite a treat – you now need to choose the bridesmaid dresses.
This is not a Dictatorship
Even though the bride eventually has the final say in choosing the dresses for their bridesmaids, you should always be mindful of the fact that it is they who will eventually have to pay for their gowns. Your bridesmaids are your close friends, right? This is why you need to be mindful of their budgets and, well, feelings too. The best way to approach this is by asking them to help you with the wedding, which is unlikely going to be a problem for them – in fact, they’ll probably consider this an honor. After discussing the wedding theme with them, ask them for suggestions on the dresses. Be diplomatic, but keep in mind that it is your final say and that your opinion is the most important – it is your wedding, after all.
Be Mindful about Matching Styles
With regards to your chosen wedding theme, you need to watch out for the matching dress styles. If your desired theme is rustic, modern dresses aren’t exactly going to fit in. Although this is acceptable for the wedding dress (white is neutral, plus you really do need to stick out), bridesmaid dresses need to match the theme. This is where the bridesmaid advice kicks in – if one of them is a designer, or if there’s a real style matching talent within your close-knit bunch of girlfriends, include that particular person, as this will help you achieve a perfect visual setup.
Colours are Important
Okay, yes, you are most likely going with white, regardless of the wedding theme. As mentioned, this is due to the fact that you need to be the center of attention. Bridesmaids, however need to both stick out more than the other wedding attendees, as well as to be less eye-catching than the bride herself. Wedding themes that include colors, such as spring pastels or autumn russets are pretty much easy picks. On the other hand, if your wedding is inspired with bright colors, bridesmaid dressesshould be of a shade that will flatter your own gown or complement the flower choices.
Mismatching colors can easily lead to your wedding looking like a circus. Trying different shades of the same color can go a long way in making things easier.
Keep the Season in Mind
Most of us would love to get married in the summer. Unfortunately, this isn’t always possible. In fact, some people even prefer autumn, when it comes to weddings. It’s most important to match the dresses your bridesmaids will wear to the season. For example, dark orange, purple and brown are always complementary with autumn, while green and blue are associated with spring and summer. In winter, you can go for black, but make sure that the dresses stick out, seeing as how most of your wedding guests will be wearing the same color.
Finally, always keep in mind that this is your choice. You don’t want to be ordering everybody around, but you’ll definitely want to avoid succumbing to pressure in order to make everyone happy. It’s your vision that counts the most!
Written by Diana Smith
