Bridesmaids' dresses: What you need for your big day
If your wedding is coming up, bridesmaids' dresses are almost as important as the gown itself! Unfortunately, there's often a lot of stress involved in getting them. You'll want your bridesmaids all to look great – which is hard if they're different shapes and sizes. The first thing you need to choose is the colour of the dresses, which must fit nicely with your wedding colour scheme. Pastel colours are traditional but can be hard to pull off. You might find that rich shades such as deep green, purple or royal blue make a good alternative and work with a wider range of skin tones, particularly if you’ve picked lace dresses.
Modern bridesmaids' dresses for a 21st-century wedding
Traditionally, a such a dress was something that nobody wanted to wear! Puffed sleeves and oversized bows belong in the past; nowadays, there are sleeker, chicer alternatives for your bridal party. You're more likely to see simple pillar-cut evening dresses on bridesmaids in the modern era. One nice idea is to echo the shape and line of your bridal gown in the bridesmaids' dresses. For example, have everyone wear the same neckline as you, or echo details such as spaghetti straps, a side slit in the skirt, or scattered pearl-style beads. As the bride, you'll still want to stand out. One way to achieve this is by putting your bridesmaids in shorter cocktail dresses, while you wear a full-length gown.
How to make sure all your bridesmaids look great
This could be the most difficult part of selecting bridesmaids' gowns! What can you do if you've got a range of bridesmaids with different shapes, skin tones, or ages? It's very hard to find a style that's flattering on everyone, so you might want to compromise. A good way to do this is to choose a single shade for the gowns but look for different styles of dress. This way, everyone can have a shape that looks good on them. Look for bridesmaid dresses online to ensure that the colour is the same across the board. This technique also works well if you've got a mix of ages, with little girls as well as adults. Always speak to your bridesmaids throughout the dress-buying process. You'll want to make sure they feel comfortable in their bridesmaids’ dresses; if they're upset, it might ruin your big day.
Lorena Rae
