Bridesmaid Dress Shopping Tips

When bridesmaid dress shopping, there are a lot of important little details to consider.  The most important advice I have is to take your maid of honor with you to try on styles before you bring along the rest of the girls.  This will make it easier to narrow down your options and keep opinions at a minimum.

Bridesmaid dresses look best if they coordinate with the style of your gown.  If you are wearing a ballgown, your girls' dresses should also be formal.  For my wedding, my bridesmaids and I all wore belts around our wastes. Mine of course was bigger and more sparkly, but it was a nice detail throughout the photos.

From pastels to neon, you can find bridesmaid dresses in any color.  If you don't like the matchy matchy look, consider having your girls purchases dresses in similar styles and shades of a certain color family, or the same style in coordinating colors.

However, there are two colors you should stay away from according to some photographers I spoke to - black and green.  Dress your bridesmaids in black, and they will blend in with your groomsmen and wedding guests.  Dress your bridesmaids in green, and they will blend in with grass and the background.  Other than that, have fun and be creative with whatever direction you choose.

For 2013, the trends are bright, saturated colors or pastel muted pallets.  Consider the colors below.

If your girls are different heights, pay attention to the length of their dresses.  Where should they be altered?  Maybe you want your girls standing in a row so the hems hit at the same height above the ground - or maybe you want the dresses to lay at the same place below the knee.  These days anything goes (even long dresses), but have the hem in mind so you can make quick decisions about alterations.

Alterations can be very pricey (sometimes $45 to $60).  Pay attention to the dress' details to ensure the girls can easily tailor them.  For my wedding, the bridesmaid dresses had a v-shaped cutout in the back and boning in the sweetheart neckline, which made tailoring difficult and expensive.  Also, dress usually run a couple  sizes larger than your street size, so don't be alarmed.

Usually, your girls will get a discount on their gowns if they are purchased from the same bridal salon that you get your dress.  If they live across the country, no worries - have them visit a nearby bridal salon to get measured (typically a complementary service), and they can email you their measurements.  


The good news is that you don't have to buy a traditional bridesmaid dress.  Popular stores like J Crew and Ann Taylor sell bridesmaid dresses online, and you can always find something gorgeous off the rack.

Dresses from a bridal salon can range from $80 at David's Bridal to $350+ for a higher end bridal designer.  Your bridesmaids have a lot of expenses related to your wedding, so don't make them pay an arm and a leg for their dress if they don't have to.  To keep costs down, consider buying gowns off the rack.  Nordstrom has a great selection of dresses for ~$150, and Target now sells bridesmaid dresses starting at $50.

If you really want your girls to wear a designer dress, consider having them rent gowns from Rent the Runway for up to 90% off retail.  Some bridal parties sell their dresses after the wedding, and you can get dresses slightly used from Recycled Brides or even Craigslist.

Let me know if you have any other questions.  I am happy to provide advice.