Shopping for Bridesmaid Dresses
How to Get the Most out of Bridesmaid Dress Shopping
Planning a wedding can be a fraught affair. However, shopping for bridesmaid dresses should be among the most enjoyable parts of the wedding preparations. Once the bride has chosen her own wedding dress, one of the next tasks on the list will be kitting her bridesmaids out in co-ordinating bridesmaid dresses.
It can be less stressful for all concerned if the bride includes her bridesmaids in the decision-making around the type of bridesmaid dresses they will buy, and if possible takes them along on the shopping trip.
Choosing the Right Bridesmaid Dresses
Bridesmaid dresses should be chosen based on what suits the bridesmaids, as much as on the colour scheme or decor of the wedding venue. If the bridesmaids are happy and comfortable in their dresses, instead of being shoehorned into something unflattering, they are likely to look and feel more relaxed.
An unusual route to take is to suggest the bridesmaids each wear a slightly different style of bridesmaid dress according to their build, although this will only usually work if the dresses are of the same type of fabric and from the same shop so the colours match exactly.
Buying Wedding Accessories
The shoes the bride chooses for her bridesmaids are also important. However beautiful a pair of shoes is, if the heel is higher than the heels a bridesmaid is used to wearing, she is likely to look awkward in them and perhaps more disastrously, may be unable to take part in the dancing.
Again, it is best to consult with the bridesmaids before investing in those eight inch stilettos, and be prepared to compromise. Often, items that have been designed especially for weddings will be more expensive than standard items, so the bride and bridesmaids may want to consider looking at other shoes first to see if there are any that co-ordinate well with the dresses. Failing that, if the bride has seen some suitable shoes in the same shop as the bridesmaid dresses but feels they are too pricey, she could note down the name of the shoes and search for them on an auction website such as eBay.
If the bride is planning to ask her bridesmaids to wear jewellery, this should be co-ordinated with the dresses, and should not be so flamboyant or detailed as to detract from the rest of the outfit. A simple silver necklace from a high street retail store can add a subtly elegant finishing touch. If the bride and her bridesmaids are on a budget, they could see what jewellery they already have that will co-ordinate well.
A Fun Day Out for the Bride and Her Bridesmaids
Most importantly, the shopping day itself should be a day to remember. Many high street stores offer a discount on their websites; however, unless it is impractical for all the bridesmaids to meet in the same town or city, it can be beneficial to get the bridesmaids together and see how they all look alongside each other in the chosen bridesmaid dresses.
This is even more important if the bridesmaids do not know each other, as it gives them a chance to bond before the wedding day. To cut costs, they can always choose the dresses together and then order them online after the shopping trip.
To ensure the bride and the bridesmaids get the most out of the day, it is essential to stop for regular food and drink breaks and discuss what they have seen so far so that they keep their energy levels up and don’t rush into any decisions.
After the bridesmaid dress shopping is completed, the shoppers should sit back in a cafe or bar, put their feet up and their shopping bags down, and treat themselves to a hot chocolate or a glass of wine and a gossip, to reward themselves for a hard day’s shopping.
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