Bridesmaid Dress Shopping
If planned appropriately, bridesmaid dress shopping doesn’t have to be complicated or have a big hassle.
If there is one wedding planning task that is just as challenging as wedding dress shopping, it is bridesmaids’ dress shopping! But honestly, it doesn’t have to be!
As you know, bridesmaid dresses aren’t cheap, and it can cost an arm and a leg to be a bridesmaid!
And especially in this economy, it’s hard to find affordable dresses that appeal to everyone.
Knowing where to shop can significantly decrease your stress for yourself and your girls.
Your bridesmaids are the most important women in your life.
So, you should choose their dresses carefully so they are happy or at least satisfied with your choice.
When choosing dresses that hopefully your squad will love, it’s essential to ensure they align with your wedding theme and overall bridal dress appearance.
Here are some helpful tips from Best for Bride, a Canadian bridal dress boutique, to assist you.
Given all these factors, bridesmaid dress shopping can seem daunting.
However, you can certainly make it a success.
So, what are the best bridesmaid shopping tips?
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Tips For Bridesmaid Dresses Online
There are many reasons to shop for bridesmaid dresses online.
It is cheap, convenient, and easy to manage!
The online marketplace offers many options for every wedding theme, colour palette, and body type.
We recommend you find a few styles you like, and you can send the link to your bridesmaid.
It’s as easy as that!
Check out this post packed with amazing places to shop for online bridesmaid dresses.
People love online shopping these days.
But we have many more tips for making bridesmaid dress shopping more bearable below!
1. How Soon Should You Order Bridesmaid Dresses?
Start Early!
Like wedding dress shopping, bridesmaid shopping requires research, boutique appointments, dress trials, order placement, and fittings.
Every step in this list takes time.
Once you place an order, the dress can be ready in up to three months.
This all depends on where you shop.
But don’t take the chance and leave things to the last minute.
The next step is the fitting.
Factor in all these time constraints when planning your bridesmaid’s dress shopping.
Start at least six months before the wedding to avoid rush charges and, more importantly, stress.
2. Research First
Before visiting bridal shops for bridesmaid dresses, we recommend that you know what you want.
If not, you will be confused by the variety of options most bridal stores offer.
What’s your style?
Do you have a concrete wedding theme or an aesthetic you wish to consider?
Identify the colours, styles, and silhouettes you want your bridesmaids to try.
This will help your shop assistant direct you to the best dresses that fit the description, streamlining the shopping experience.
The less stressful you can make your bridesmaid dress shopping experience, the easier it will be for everyone!
3. Decide on the Budget Upfront
Since your bridesmaids will pay for their dresses, consider their financial constraints and plan the budget accordingly.
Unless you plan to pay for this, always keep this budget in mind.
You should always consult your bridesmaids on this factor and decide on the budget before shopping.
The amount should include alteration charges and accessories.
Most brides will purchase bridesmaid gifts, which include accessories, separately from the dress.
This is a great touch.
Once you decide on the budget, make sure you stick to it.
4. Welcome Opinions and Suggestions
It is always nice to involve your bridesmaids in their dress decisions.
This will not only make it easier to find dresses that suit everyone, but it will also improve the entire shopping experience.
If you plan to choose just one type of dress for all your bridesmaids, remember that not all dress styles look good on all women.
We are all beautiful and created in different shapes, sizes and colours.
So, avoid styles that any of your bridesmaids are firmly against.
It’s easy to say, “It’s my wedding, and I want this or that!”
But this is not a good way to go about things.
Ask them in advance if there are silhouettes or features that they love.
Although the final decision is yours, you can use these inputs to pick a dress that most of them will like.
Mix-and-match bridesmaids are still very popular and should not be dismissed altogether!
5. Mix and Match Your Bridesmaids dresses properly
We love the mix-and-match bridesmaid dress look!
If you intend to allow your bridesmaids to pick their dresses as long as the overall look comes together, set the parameters so there is no room for error.
The easiest way is to fix two or three dress features that will unify the look.
Allow them to choose the rest of the details.
Colour, fabric, neckline, and hemline are focal points of a dress that will create a cohesive look.
So, set guidelines for these factors, and the dress choices will come together.
If you are open to different styles but want dresses in the same colour, have the girls pick their dresses from the same designer collection and ensure they place the orders simultaneously.
This will ensure that the dresses are from the same dye lot.
Setting the guidelines for what you want will make bridesmaid dress shopping much more manageable!
6. Be Open to Options
When you go bridesmaid dress shopping, you are less likely to be disappointed if you are open to considering different options.
Often, dresses look very different in person than they do online.
Or maybe you envisioned a specific style or colour, and things don’t look as great as you wish.
This can be unpleasant if you have long desired a particular style or colour.
Instead, be flexible, shortlist several features and dress styles, and speak to your stylist.
You will then improve your chances of finding the perfect dresses for your squad.
7. Make the most of offers, discounts, and incentives
While doing dress research, look for cost-effective options to help your bridesmaid’s budget go further.
Bridal boutiques often offer bulk booking discounts or incentives that can come in handy.
Go through clearance and sale collections, and if you are lucky, you may find great bargains perfect for your wedding theme.
8. Don’t take all the girls shopping at once
Do you want to make your bridesmaid dress shopping more enjoyable?
Don’t take them all out at once.
This is very important if your bridal party is large.
Bringing all the girls together can result in chaos and confusion, as you must address several opinions at once.
Attend the first appointment with just one or two girls who can help you shortlist your options.
Discuss your ideas with the consultant, and have her show you dresses that meet your expectations.
Then, narrow down your choices to the ones that you like best.
Have your bridesmaids choose only from these shortlisted dresses when they visit for their shopping appointment.
9. Schedule fitting sessions in advance
Your bridesmaids will require custom alterations after receiving their dresses so they fit them correctly.
It can take up to a month after the dress delivery to complete alterations and fully prepare the dresses.
Remember to plan this into your schedule so the dresses are just perfect in time for your big day!
Every store is different.
If you are using them for alterations, be sure to ask them about delivery times and how long alterations typically take.
10. Remember that it isn’t always possible to make everyone happy
Try as you may; it may not always be possible to find dresses that will fully satisfy every one of your bridesmaids.
As long as you try your best to accommodate everyone’s preferences, don’t feel guilty.
Your bridesmaids know that it is your day and your decision.
You can only do so much while keeping your wedding theme intact.
About the Author Bio: Best for Bride is a wedding dress chain specializing in collections and various wedding-related services.
Operating from four store locations in Canada, this bridal chain also offers an extensive selection of bridesmaids’ dress collections, dresses for the rest of the wedding party, and dresses for special occasions.
You can view all their collections here.
Look at some sample work from Best for Brides on the website!
I hope you enjoyed Bridesmaid Dress Shopping tips!
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