There can be quite a few things on a busy bride’s to-do list outside of the immediate wedding plans themselves. Choosing the dress of your dreams is of course right up there on top, but after you’ve found the gown, you need to start thinking about the attire for the rest of the bridal party!

Finding dresses for your bridesmaids is one of those tasks that can sometimes cause a bit of friction and headaches, especially when you have bridesmaids of different ages, figures or heights to contend with, as well as different personalities and tastes. It’s important to try and balance their feelings with your overall wishes for how you want them to look and fit into your wedding day décor. It can be a fine line at times to find a dress that your bridesmaids like and feel comfortable in, as well as being one you are happy with and you may find yourself dreading the shopping trip instead of looking forward to it. But don’t panic, with a few simple steps choosing your bridesmaids dresses can become a doddle, rather than a chore.

If you’d like to chat to me about this or any other aspect of your wedding day décor and planning, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

If you have a feeling that the shopping trip for the bridesmaid’s dresses may be tinged with friction, why not try and make it a bit of a fun outing. Organise a nice lunch or prosecco stop midway through the day and make it as social and laid back as possible.

Choosing the colour is probably the first thing you should think about for bridesmaids dresses. Consider how the colour will fit into your wedding theme or palette, but also consider how your chosen colour will work with your bridesmaids. For example, you may desperately want a vivid yellow or green, but if one of your bridesmaids has a pale complexion it’s going to likely wash her out and that won’t make her feel comfortable or indeed look good in your wedding photos. If you’ve got different complexions and hair colours to contend with then try and go for colours that are universally flattering such as dusky pinks, greys, sand and of course black.

One handy way to get around different body shapes is to look for identical dresses that have multiway fits. So for example the dress style and colour are the same, but the top part allows it to be worn as a halter neck, off the shoulder, strapless or with straps, etc. That way you can keep everyone happy, including yourself!

This is not a look all brides want, but if you have a variety of ages and body types, considering differing dresses should be a real option. While many brides prefer uniformity for the photos, different dresses can look really well too. For example you can keep things looking more in step if you decide to keep to one colour palette, say dusky pink, but allow the bridesmaids to choose different styles and dresses within that colour palette, that way they’ll be comfortable and you still get the one colour for your theme

Similar to having different dresses, but one step further. Mismatched dresses don’t even have to be the same colour or hem length. Instead the idea is you allow each of your bridesmaids to have different styles and colours of dress. Keeping them the same hem length will add some visual, uniformity but’s not a must.

Finally don’t forget to consider the time of year you’re getting married and the location! While you may desperately want a shorter length for your bridesmaid’s dresses, if you’re tying the knot in winter it may not be practical or comfortable for the ladies. Equally if you’re getting married in sunnier climes, then long gowns in heavy material will not be a runner, unless you want the sweaty Betty look!

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