Detroit Area Wedding Guide
The Wedding Party Dresses
Bridesmaid and Flower Girl Dresses
Choosing bridesmaid dresses is a difficult task. The more women you choose as attendants, the more difficult it will be to please everyone. If the bride is paying for the dresses, then she may have greater influence over the style and color but if the attendants are paying themselves, then they will most likely want a greater say in the choice.
Given the fact that there will be several people involved in the buying decision, make sure to start looking early. Try to eliminate as many styles as possible and come up with a list of potentials that everyone can agree upon. Then move forward from there. Even if the bride is covering the costs, some consideration should be given to the individual preferences and body shapes of the women involved.
Traditionally, the maid of honor's dress was a different color than the other women. Now, some brides are choosing a different color for each dress and possibly even different styles but similar designs. Either way looks very nice in pictures. If each woman is wearing a color that suits her, then she can use the dress over again after the wedding.
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When looking at bridesmaid dresses, try to find groups in similar styles. For instance, the dresses may be different but are made from the same material and obviously look like they came from the same collection. If one girl feels comfortable wearing an off the shoulder dress while another prefers cap sleeves, then everyone will still look uniform when the dresses are chosen from the same collection. By doing this, you can choose the perfect styling for each woman.
Sometimes, brides go as far as matching the material of the bridesmaid gowns with the wedding gown. If the wedding gown has pearls or lace, she may choose the same for the bridesmaid gowns. Colors will be chosen according to the bride's theme for the wedding, the time of the year and also the time of the day. For garden weddings, a bride may choose flouncy gowns with parasols. For evening weddings, she may choose darker colors with sparkles or rhinestones.
Points to Remember:
Have the women professionally measured when ordering dresses. Do not go by the size of their everyday clothes. Each designer will have different sizing plus different styles will produce different sizes. Be safe and order by actual measurements.
Order the gowns as soon as you have chosen the style so that if the dress becomes discontinued, you do not have to start looking over again.
The bride really does make the final decision on whether she wants all matching gowns, colors and styles.
Make sure the gowns are practical enough that the women are comfortable throughout the day.
Do not purchase dresses that are not suitable to one or more of the bridesmaids. For example, if the gown is clearly made for model size woman, do not force a plus size lady to wear that style, even if it looks good on the other women and they want that dress.
Like the bride, the bridesmaids and flower girls must take the wedding shoes and undergarments to the final fitting.
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The material for the bridesmaid dresses is made in "dye lots". Be sure to order all the dresses at the same time in order to avoid different coloring and hues.
When choosing dresses for younger girl attendants and little flower girls, order dresses that are suited to their age group.
An extremely regal effect to the bridal party is having the little girls wear pretty white dresses instead of colors like the women.
Choose comfortable shoes for the little girls and ring bearer. Very young girls may wear patent leather shoes or ballerina style slippers. Older girls may wear a heel associated to their age group. The children should "break in" their shoes. Weeks before the wedding, let them wear the shoes indoors for a little each day so they do not become miserable the day of the wedding.
Children grow very fast at young ages. Be careful not to buy their outfits and accessories too early in case they become too small for the child.
For little ones, it is important to remember that their attention span is very short and they become tired fast. Choose a few dresses in advance, then have the little girls go and try them on. It is not necessary for the children to be along on all the outings.
Lastly, remember that it is not necessary to order dresses. There are plenty of stores that offer lovely gowns off the rack. Depending on how many women are involved, the fewer the number, the easier it will be to find all the sizes that you require. Purchasing off the rack will also help you to keep to a budget and will maybe allow the women to wear the dresses at another function in the future.
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