Wedding Wednesday: Bridesmaid Dresses!

Next up on my to-do list is to figure out Bridesmaid dresses. From working in the bridal business part time I have learned that late summer/early fall are the busiest wedding months, which means 6-8 months prior to that are the busiest wedding ordering months. This means the majority of the brides getting married in 2011 are looking for their wedding and bridesmaid dresses RIGHT now, which means the designers get backed up and things can take longer to come in. So, I am working with my lovely ladies to get a date nailed down in late February or early March to go dress shopping.

A lot of people will say, "whatever you do don't take your bridesmaids shopping with you." We've all heard the horror stories of bridesmaids fighting with each other and the bride over dresses. I'm sure everyone who has been in this scenario has said, "this won't happen to me." But I truly believe it won't. First of all, I have already sent my girls ideas of what I want, so they know what to expect and second I want my girls to look good and feel good. If I were to pick some dress without seeing it on them and they didn't look good, they wouldn't feel good and then they won't look confident and excited on my wedding day.....and I want them to! As much as I want my girls to wear their dresses again (like all brides do) I realize no matter how much they love the dress they might not ever wear it again, and I'm ok with that. All I care about is that they have a dress that fits, that is in style, that they are confident in and of course is black. And I trust that my friends are mature enough to go shopping together and find a dress without drama.

Initially, I thought I wanted short dresses because they're typically waaaaay cuter than long dresses. I have since changed my mind. I'm getting married in November in Minnesota, it's most likely going to be cold and I don't want my girls to freeze. Similarly, I want the dresses to be season apporpriate. While short dresses can be worn all year round that's not always true for certain styles. I feel like a nice long black dress will be great for the season. I also want to add a level of formality. This is going to be a formal wedding and I think with the look I'm going for and the style of my dress, long dresses will be more fitting and more formal.

With all that said, a lot of long dresses suck. They can look like prom dresses and be super unflattering. So although I've decided on a long dress, it has to be the right long dress.

To start, I was browsing the internet for any sources of inspiration. Here's what I found:





More recently I have been perusing designer websites to find possibilities for the girls. We are obviously getting the dresses from Mary Kay's Bridal because I work there, I love them and they have a great selection! They carry Alfred Angelo, Belsoie and B2 by Jasmine Bridal and Impression Bridesmaid dresses. Here are a few of the contenders....at least for now. Obviously, they'll be black.

I really love chiffon dresses because they will be flattering on all body types. I love the neckline on this dress.

I LOVE this dress. I think the cut would be very flattering on everyone, and it's formal but still in style. I love the cross cross ruching on the bodice.

This is a brand new dress from Alfred Angelo and I really like it, though it's probably my least favorite of the ones I'm showing you. I love the chunky necklace though!

When we went shopping for my dress my Maid of Honor, Libby actually tried this dress on and I loved it. I think the pockets add some fun and some style, yet, it's still a classic and elegant dress.

I hate the color of this dress but think it could be really pretty in black. It has the ruched bust and then rhinestone beading under it. It's way prettier in person, which worries me because my pictures last forever.

As of right now this is my favorite possible dress. I think it will be super flattering on everyone. It's classy, elegant and fun. I love the chiffon with the satin waist and straps. It's simple but we could dress it up with some great jewelery.

Once we find a dress for the bridesmaids I will have to decide whether or not to put our two Junior Bridesmaids in the same dresses or different. I know I don't want them in strapless because I want it to be age appropriate. If the older girls decide on a strapless dress we could always add straps for the juniors or just chose an entirely different dress. But, we'll just have to wait and see on that one.

I change my mind constantly on the dresses I like, so I can wait to get the girls in there and actually see them in the dresses!

What do you guys think? Any words of wisdom from past and present brides and/or bridesmaids?!