If you're preparing to get married, one of the most important decisions you'll make is who to include in your bridal party. Your bridesmaids can offer you valuable support, and keep you sane when table plans and spreadsheets are taking over your life. Having your best friends and your family around you on your wedding day is really special, and there's nothing like walking down the aisle flanked by your girlfriends. Before you get to this point, there's a major job to tick off your planning list: finding the perfect bridesmaids dresses. If you've got a large party or you've got maids of all shapes and sizes, choosing a style can be really tricky. Thankfully, we've put together some handy hints to make the process run like clockwork.
Involve your bridesmaids in the decision-making process
Some brides choose a gown , order a range of sizes, and hope that everything will turn out alright. If you want to take control of the process, that's up to you, but it's usually best to involve your bridesmaids. You need to think about what will suit each of your girls and choose styles, which will enable them to feel comfortable and confident. Set up a group chat, and encourage your maids to send over pictures of dresses they like, and have a chat about colors, shapes, and materials. Get together to have an afternoon of browsing wedding magazines and fire up your laptop and enjoy virtual window shopping at sites like . Pinterest is a great resource, especially if you're looking to do something a little quirky or different, and you may also find platforms like Instagram useful.
As a bride, you'll probably know all too well that dresses look completely different on you to how they do on a hanger. Not every dress will suit every person, so try and be flexible. If you've got a bunch of girls who are all different heights and shapes, it may be best to go for variations of the same dress. If you've chosen a strapless design, and you have a bridesmaid who is conscious about her arms, for example, you could add cap sleeves. Multiway dresses are a great option, as they can be worn in lots of different ways. The best thing to do is plan a shopping trip, and try on a load of different gowns. This way, the girls can see how they feel, and you can get an idea of the kind of look you're aiming for. If you find a dress, but it's not quite perfect for everyone, remember that it is possible to make alterations and adjustments.
You want your bridesmaids to look wonderful at your wedding, but you also want them to feel amazing. Try and encourage them to be honest with you, and to tell you if they don't like a certain dress, or they would be happier with the gown you've chosen if some minor alterations were made.
The last thing you want when you're planning your wedding is dress dramas. A happy bridal crew makes for a happy bride, so be flexible, take your bridesmaids' preferences into account, and try and find something that everyone loves.
