How To Choose Your Bridesmaids' Dresses

Step 1: You Will Need

Step 2: Homework

Thumb through bridal magazines, and clip out some pictures of your favorites for later reference. Browse the internet for ideas. Also, call recently married friends and relatives for some recommendations of bridal salons to visit.

Step 3: Pick Your Style

When you go to bridal salon, show them some of your cut out pictures of bridesmaid dress favorites. This will immediately convey to your bridal consultant the types of dresses you are looking for.

One general stylistic rule to consider, if the bride is wearing a floor-length gown, her bridesmaids should do the same.

Traditionally, it's the bride's privilege to choose the style, color, and fabric for all her bridesmaids' dresses.

Since most bridesmaid's body types differ dramatically, some brides choose a dress manufacturer that offers different styles in the same fabric and color for more flexibility. In this case, the bride will still ask for certain stylistic rules, like no dresses above the knees, or no strapless dresses.

In any event, whether you go the traditional single bridesmaid dress route or the more flexible one, your main focus should be finding dresses that complement your wedding gown and wedding style.

Step 4: Pick Your Color

There are many considerations in choosing the color of your bridesmaids' dresses - the time of year, the color of your flowers, the color of your wedding gown, your overall wedding style or theme, etc.. Currently, pale colors like platinum, silver, ivory, light sage are popular, but some colors, like black, are always in fashion. Whatever color you choose, remember that you always want the bride to stand out when next to her bridesmaids, and not the other way around.

Step 5: Pick Your Fabric

When selecting your bridesmaids' dress fabric, consider your wedding's season and what will be most comfortable to your bridesmaids. For example, thick satins or velvet might not be a good choice for a summer wedding, just as lighter satins and chiffon are a little thin for winter ones.

Step 6: Decide

After much shopping and research, no doubt you have some finalists to choose from. Now is the time to single out your favorite. Try to keep in mind that you are expecting your bridesmaids to pay for their own dress, so it is considerate to choose something affordable. Most bridesmaids dresses can be purchased for around $200.

Remember, though, you can't order these beautiful dresses just yet. Since each dress manufacturer uses a different size chart, your bridesmaids need to get professionally measured to make sure their dress will fit them properly.

One additional note, you should order all your bridesmaids dresses together, at the same time, to ensure that they're all cut from the same dye lot of cloth.