At some point in the history of marriage, the perceived roles of bride and groom became cemented, for better or worse: That is, while your bride zealously plans the most memorable day of her life, you’re somewhere on the periphery of all the action.

Certainly, if you feel a little pensive about poking in and seeing where you can be of assistance, most folks won’t blame you. After all, it doesn’t take a Bridezilla to assume complete ownership over the big day’s proceedings, whether you like it or not.

If your fiancée takes ­­on a more visible role, think of yourself as an important behind-the-scenes project manager—in many ways, you’re going to be equally responsible for planning the kind of party that gets everyone reminiscing 20 years from now. Also, you’ll want to keep things from getting too girly—the proceedings are going to need a requisite dash of masculine chivalry and your own special touches. And, even if you don’t get major props from all the people who think showing up was your most demanding task, you’ll both know better.

A Groom’s Responsibilities

Matt LaPlanche, 29, remembers his wedding day with a mixture of horror and amusement. “I think, like most people, I believed that the wedding was the bride’s territory,” he said. “So during the several months of pre-planning, it was like…everything Alyssa told me went in one ear and out the other.”

The disaster that was LaPlanche’s wedding started out fairly innocuous: He made all the stock mistakes grooms are apt to make, i.e. waiting till the last minute to pick a best man, or not checking to make sure that he and the groomsmen had coordinated tuxes. Certainly, these might make any bride cringe, but nothing that couldn’t be smoothed over, right?

Wrong. Apparently, there were a few other things LaPlanche neglected to do, such as pay the clergy fees, get the bride’s bouquet and going-away corsage, and plan the honeymoon trip. “Alyssa was livid!” he said. “I had no idea the bridegroom was supposed to do so much. These were traditions I was completely clueless about.”

Luckily, a few brief phone calls and connections with an airline company stopped any potential crises in their tracks. But, for good reason, LaPlanche remembers the whole fiasco as the most mortifying experience of his life.

His story might be more extreme than most, but clueless grooms and pre-wedding jitters that rule out resourceful planning actually are quite common. While the typical bridegroom maintains a hands-off approach when it comes to the big day—preferring to let his bride handle all the boring minutiae—recognizing that he does indeed have an important role can take heaps of stress off everyone’s shoulders, including the overburdened ones of the frazzled bride-to-be.

“What a lot of men don’t realize is that planning a wedding for anywhere from 10 to 1,000 guests is a full-time job and then some,” said Amy Cervantes, a wedding planner in San Francisco. “A lot of brides prefer to take control of that process, but there are invariably things that fall through the cracks, which is why there are traditional duties that are delegated to the groom.”

It might be news for most people, but some of the roles that bridegrooms are accustomed to taking on, according to Cervantes, include getting the bride’s engagement and wedding rings; paying the clergy fees; picking out the flowers in the bridal bouquet and going-away corsage, as well as boutonnieres for men in the wedding party and flowers for all the women; picking out all the necessary accessories—ties, cuff links, etc.—for the men in the wedding party; planning the honeymoon trip; and paying for the rehearsal dinner. And that’s just the short list!

“The thing to keep in mind is that these are traditions dating back to our parents’ and grandparents’ times,” Cervantes said, “Gender roles have changed a lot since then…and lots of couples are choosing to personalize their weddings and do away with a lot of time-honored practices, so it’s important for a bride and groom to stay in communication about who’s doing what.”

And who gets to be the ultimate decider?

“Talking it through is important, but given that most women consider their wedding day to be the most important day of their lives…it’s probably best for the groom to defer to the bride,” Cervantes said.

Clothes Make the Groom

First things first—forget the invitations or renting the right hall for the ceremony. A groom’s ultimate statement is his sartorial style, according to Kyla Berman, a Santa Cruz, Calif., wedding planner whose specialty is helping grooms pick out their perfect tux.

“Depending on whether it’s an indoor or outdoor wedding, whether his personal style is simple or more flamboyant, there are virtually hundreds of options for the bridegroom when it comes to his attire,” Berman said.

Deciding on his attire shouldn’t have to be a high-pressure task, but it’s the most imperative one for a groom—and most grooms wait until the last minute before they start thinking about their getup.

“At first, I didn’t think getting a tuxedo would be that huge of a deal,” Hector Garcia, 35, said. “After all, the wedding is the bride’s day—and everyone’s busy looking at her. But a week before the wedding, getting a fitting for a tux was like pulling teeth because there apparently were a lot of weddings during that time in my area.”

So Garcia decided to settle for a suit he’d worn a few years prior at one of his sister’s weddings. “Luckily, the fit was fine,” he said. “But something that I forgot to take into account was that since I was the groom, I was supposed to look better than every other guy there. And, of course, every other guy there was wearing a tuxedo…looking just stellar compared to me!”

Los Angeles-based personal shopper Arin Gelder suggests that a groom start thinking about his garb at least six weeks ahead of time, and consult with the bride on what to wear, depending on whether the ceremony is formal or informal, during the day or at night.

“The good news is that you don’t have to get stuck on the formula of tuxedo with bow tie. For semi-formal weddings or small ceremonies, a groom generally can wear a nice, sleek suit,” Gelder said. “During the daytime, for a semi-formal wedding, colors like white or gray are preferable; but if it’s an evening ceremony, a black dinner jacket and tie and cummerbund that match the colors of the bridal party are the way to go.”

And for a formal evening? “At night, a black tuxedo—that’s one tradition that’s not gonna change anytime soon,” Gelder said.

And, of course, get a suit or tux that flatters your figure. “Women aren’t the only ones who have to worry about getting the right fit,” Gelder said. “I don’t know how many grooms I’ve seen wearing cuts that are absolutely wrong for their bodies.”

Tailor Charles Fairchild—who keeps men looking dapper in his Palo Alto, Calif., shop—recommends that tall, stocky grooms with broad shoulders and muscular frames pick looser jackets, avoid narrow ties and constrictive collars, and select trousers that have pant legs with wide silhouettes. Slender grooms can opt for a classic look with a double-breasted tuxedo with high shoulders, high rise in the trousers, and a vest or tie. Shorter grooms will want to elongate their bodyline by going for wide peak lapels, single-breasted jacket and pleated trousers.

“A lot of men get easily embarrassed because they might not know how to tie a bow tie or might not know what to do with cummerbunds or cuff links,” Fairchild said. “If you’re having trouble with formal attire and accessories, practice, practice, practice! Do it at least a half-dozen times before the wedding—ask your tailor, ask your bride-to-be or anyone who will be able to help!”

Aloysius Henry, 28, recalls that when he wed his long-time sweetheart, Charlene, three years ago, he took some important tips from his mother. “She told me, ‘Be prepared, because you’ll have to be standing for long periods of time and will want to have comfortable shoes.’ She was right!” he said. “So instead of wearing a brand-new pair of dress shoes, I wore them a handful of times before the ceremony to make sure I’d broken them in.”

Wedding Rings: Your Perfect Statement

Now that you know exactly what you’re going to be wearing, the next priority on the list is the wedding rings. According to jeweler Lula May in San Diego, the ring is the quintessential symbol of a couple’s union, and great care should be taken to avoid generic statements. “Going for simple is always good, but adding a special touch, like an inscription of a favorite song or the date you both met each other, brings up the value so much,” she said.

Options such as matching bands, hand-carved rings and tricolor banding abound these days, but figuring out what’s right for you might take some extra digging.

“First of all, the couple should talk it all over before purchasing the rings, since personal tastes run the gamut,” May said. “Also, be aware that different material has different advantages. For instance, weight fluctuations are not unheard of as you get up there in years, and gold stretches ever so slightly over the years in such a way that it won’t ruin the pattern of your ring, and the ring won’t necessarily have to be resized.”

Also, starting the search early—probably shortly after you’ve decided on where your wedding is going to be held—will save your bride a great deal of stress, since she’s probably going to be busy making a variety of other arrangements for the wedding around the same time.

Adam Spencer, 37, recalls that after choosing a pair of simple platinum bands, he wanted to figure out a way to make them more romantic.

“At first I thought it might be nice to have a quote from our favorite song or something poetic in that vein,” he said. “But then I got the perfect idea. Azucena is a composer—so I did some research and decided that I’d engrave the first few notes of a song that she wrote for me into both the rings. When she saw the rings at the wedding, she started to bawl—nobody else got the significance, but knowing our rings express something that is so uniquely ours makes me feel like a million bucks.”

Just One of the Guys?

The most important decision you’re going to make at your wedding—aside from what you’ll be wearing—is selecting your best man. It might sound like a mere honorary title for your favored buddy, but the best man has a meaty role in all the festivities. Aside from planning your last fling of freedom (the bachelor party, that is), the best man is the guy who takes care of the rings and gets you to the church on time. And while it’s your responsibility to pay the church fees, the best man is the one who does it on your behalf. Aside from making sure all the guests have transportation to the reception, he gives a congratulatory speech at the reception and also makes sure that honeymoon plans are squared away and whisks you and your bride to the airport after all the merriment comes to an end.

“This is a critical role,” said Brooke Crenshaw, a Los Angeles-based wedding planner. “The best man is a reflection of the groom’s character, so it’s important to choose prudently here. You might be tempted to select your fun but flakey buddy Bruce, but maybe your brother John would be a wiser bet because he’s more reliable and would make a better public speaker.”

And if you have a long short list of potential best men to choose from? “It’s a big decision, but it’s probably not going to be the end of the world for Bruce if you decide to choose John over him,” Crenshaw said. “Besides, there’s plenty of room for your friends in the wedding party.”

According to Crenshaw, the groomsmen—who also double as the ushers—have a number of important roles as well, which include letting the groom share his pre-wedding jitters, making sure the groom gets his measurements at the tailor, decorating the getaway car and dancing with single female guests.

“It might sound like a ton of grunt work, but the groomsmen are kind of these exemplars of male chivalry, in a way,” Crenshaw said. “They make sure that everyone’s relaxed and happy, including the groom—so it’s important to choose wisely here, too!”

Her Right-Hand Man

So you’ve made good with the bride by picking your own outfit, buying the rings and coordinating the groomsmen—but the more difficult tasks are yet to come. It’s time to navigate the rockier waters…yes, we mean dealing with the bride.

“It’s unfair to assume that all women are monsters before their wedding day,” said Todd Cleary, a Santa Monica, Calif.-based wedding planner. “But it’s safe to say that most of them are going to be stressed out in the months preceding the date, and are probably not going to want to be distracted by much. But rest assured—there are things the groom can do to help her get it together. And, trust me, she will appreciate the help!”

The consensus is that the secret to a successful wedding is avoiding conflict between the bride and groom, even though plans that fall through and the stress of spending tons of money easily could contribute to a sore exchange.

“It simply isn’t worth it to argue about who makes it to the wedding list, for instance,” Cleary said. “If you want to start your marriage off successfully, you’ll need to be willing to make compromises…such as being OK with not inviting some of your long-time friends to the ceremony because of space concerns. As long as you can both put everything in perspective and say, ‘We need to make a few sacrifices if we want the wedding to work,’ you’ll be fine.”

“It was an eye-opening experience to share the responsibility of planning the wedding with Steve,” Chana Tibbs-Pollock, 27, said. “He was such a sweetheart about the whole thing, and going through those last difficult months together made me realize how much I loved this man.”

Steve’s advice to bridegrooms: “If you’re in doubt about your partnership, all it takes is planning a wedding together to see if you have what it takes to stay in for the long haul.”

–Nirmala Nataraj

Photo credit: Vanessa Joy Photography

The post Style Tips for the Groom and Bridal Party appeared first on Wedding Dresses.

Picking Your Posse

Follow your heart, not tradition, family and/or peer pressure. Your attendants don’t even have to be female. Today, brides—and grooms, for that matter—are choosing members of the opposite sex to serve as their attendants, and it’s perfectly acceptable.

The size of your wedding party often is based on the size and formality of your wedding…and the size of your families and circle of friends. Don’t think only of your side; count his, too. Consider inviting your fiancé’s sister to be in your party, or if he has children from a previous marriage, ask his daughter to serve as a junior bridesmaid.

Trying to accommodate everyone is where things can get tricky. “My husband’s aunt wanted us to include her daughter because Dave, my husband, was in her wedding party. Unfortunately, I have about 30 cousins and felt I couldn’t have one of his and not one of mine,” said Katy Byun of Fairfax, Va., who married into a Korean family. “In Korean culture, you’re expected to respect your elders so it was hard to say no. The big lesson was that while you need to be considerate of others’ feelings, it’s your wedding. If you let each important person in your life dictate how to run it, it ends up being not what you wanted.”

“There are other ways to incorporate friends and family into the ceremony,” said Trina Laube-Oltmann of Stevens Point, Wis. “Since I had two sisters and three close friends I wanted as bridesmaids, and my husband has three sisters he’s close to, we asked his sisters to give readings. Another close friend lit the candles and two others sang.”

Diminishing Dress Stress

Your bridesmaids’ dresses should complement your gown in style and formality. The choice is yours, but it’s nice to ask their opinion. Be considerate of costs, figure-flattering features, age-appropriateness and re-wearability.

In the past, bridesmaids all wore identical gowns. Today, you may opt to have them wear different dresses as long as they’re in the same color, style, length and/or fabric family. Going with a national manufacturer is a good move when bridesmaids are spread around the country. Ask out-of-towners to arrive a few days early for last-minute alterations, or have gowns shipped so bridesmaids can make their own arrangements.
For accessories, specify style and color of shoes, undergarments (a strapless bra, slip with a slit, etc.), jewelry, and hair ornaments. If you know stores that carry what you want, tell your bridesmaids.

Money Matters

Recognize the costs involved and whether your bridesmaids can afford them. Consider incidentals, which can add up. “When my sister-in-law married in the Caribbean, I had to pay over $65 to a cruise-ship salon for the wedding-day hairstyle, only to have to pay a salon back home to do it again for the post-wedding reception,” said Laura Janssen of Waupaca, Wis. “For this same wedding, we had to buy expensive shoes, but once we arrived at the beach, the bride had us go barefoot!”

Your financially challenged friends or relatives secretly may dread being asked. Let them know you won’t be offended if they refuse. If you can’t imagine not having your best friends as bridesmaids, consider paying for part or all of the expenses.

Destination Weddings

While you might see it as a dream vacation, your wedding party might regard it as a costly nightmare. Beyond trip expenses, factor in other related costs like lost workdays, pet care and childcare. Work time constraints also might make it difficult for some to attend.

Cost was a major concern when Melanie and Jose Alanis of New Hope, Minn., were planning their wedding with two receptions, one in her native Midwest town and one in Texas, where the family of the groom, who is of Mexican descent, resides.

“We only had one wedding ceremony, which was in my hometown, so when I asked the bridesmaids to participate in the wedding, that’s where I requested their presence,” she said. “We made the second reception an open invitation. They were invited to share a vacation with us and other friends who decided to go to Texas. To our surprise, six of seven bridesmaids decided to join us for the second reception. At both locations, we had hair appointments available, but I left it up to the bridesmaids whether they wanted to pay or do their own hair.”

Once on a destination wedding—especially a cruise or all-inclusive resort—let your attendants enjoy the trip as well. Don’t schedule every last minute with wedding-related activities.

“While every bride says the day goes too quickly, that’s better than people saying the wedding felt like it was never going to end,” Janssen said.

Non-English-speaking bridesmaids who don’t fly often might require special attention when traveling. Make sure they understand the process (security, how many bags they can bring, etc.), and provide contact numbers of people who speak their language in case of questions, said Byun, who also recommends introducing people of different cultures to one another. Having pre-wedding mixers for the bridesmaids and groomsmen to meet one another and other key family members and friends is a great way to make everyone feel more comfortable.

“Planning two receptions was more complicated, but it was great that we were able to embrace both families’ wants and needs,” Alanis said. “We included some Mexican hats, music and food into my hometown reception, and, in the Texas reception, all the Americans were welcomed and encouraged to learn Mexican dances. Everyone had lots of fun at both.”

Special Circumstances

If a bridesmaid is pregnant or will be a new mom at your wedding, give her extra consideration. “My sister got married when my son was 6 weeks old. Even though I was the matron of honor, I had to delegate most traditional responsibilities to other bridesmaids so I could care for my newborn,” Janssen said. “Fortunately, my sister understood that our bond is deeper than the tasks of one day.”

Overcommitted attendants who can’t make it to wedding-related events, or those who are constantly on their cell phones or laptops when they do manage to make it, are sometimes a bride’s lot. If such is your case, tell them sweetly but firmly that you need their full attention and commitment. Map everything out, and review the details as a group. Be ready to answer questions, and be flexible to special needs or requests.

“Communication is the most important aspect,” said Anna Tang-Norton of Harrison, N.J. “I was always open to suggestions from my bridesmaids. Two of my bridesmaids were different religions (Lutheran and Hindu), and, thanks to the rehearsal the night before, they knew how a Catholic wedding would work. Additionally, the priest who married us was very understanding and patient with the various cultures involved.”
“My husband, Brandon, and I sent out letters to our attendants before the wedding. It presented a detailed schedule from rehearsal to reception,” Laube-Oltmann said. “We also added some rules (like leaving the drinking until after the ceremony) and reminders ­(times for hair appointments and what to bring).”

Let diplomacy and the spirit of compromise guide you as you strive for a happy balance.

“Always remember that it is your day; don’t let a pushy bridesmaid try to talk you into anything that isn’t what you want,” Laube-Oltmann said. “That said, you shouldn’t expect your bridesmaids to do anything they aren’t comfortable doing—like downing shots at the bachelorette party or forking out big bucks for a shower.”

Be tactful. For instance, if payments or reservations aren’t being made, ask if they need a loan for dress deposits or hotel rooms. (Do this only if you’re ready to cover the costs should they take you up on your offer.) This friendly nudge also demonstrates you understand the financial commitment you’re asking of them.
And remember: Letting your bridesmaids know what you don’t want—strip clubs or wild bachelorette antics—is just as important.

Tokens of Appreciation

They’ve stood by you through all of your wedding’s highs and lows. Show them how much it’s meant to you. A small gift and big thanks will go a long way.

“Throughout the entire process, I sent my bridal party notecards, thanking them,” Tang-Norton said. Apart from giving them gifts after the wedding, she surprised them with a special treat. “The day before the wedding, I took the bridal party for a morning of manicures, pedicures and facials. I arranged a private morning with the owner of the salon, and we were able to have breakfast, mimosas and music.”

Some popular bridesmaids gift options include silk scarves, jewelry, handbags, makeup sets, jewelry boxes and perfume bottles. Adding individual touches, some brides have their photos taken with each bridesmaid then present the pictures in an engraved frame to each; others create customized goody bags; still others opt for a memory photo album or CD containing favorite songs of special meaning.

As with all else involving your wedding and your bridal party, whatever you choose, have it come from the heart.

–Nayda Rondon
Photo credits: Jonathan Canlas Photography, Vanessa Joy Photography

The post Bridesmaids 101: A Complete Guide appeared first on Wedding Dresses.

Inspired by Rowley’s runway line, Cynthia Rowley Bridesmaids dresses are designed for both day and evening weddings, and can be worn long after the reception. Design elements taken directly from Rowley’s eponymous ready-to-wear collection include tulle skirts and drop-waist silhouettes. “We wanted to bring a chic sensibility to bridesmaid dresses – a look that is pretty yet sophisticated,” said Cynthia Rowley.

The line consists of floor and tea length dresses in fabrics including duchess satin, cotton sateen and tulle. It is manufactured by the Dessy Group. “Rowley’s modern silhouettes and rich fabrics are complemented by our signature array of color choices, and are sure to be a centerpiece to any wedding celebration,” said Alan Dessy, chief executive officer of The Dessy Group.

The Cynthia Rowley Bridesmaids collection is available in North America, the United Kingdom and Australia and is priced from U.S. $175 to $220.

Browse more Cynthia Rowley bridesmaid dresses

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There’s a relatively new trend (relative to the decades where women dressed their best friends in identical dresses) to have a coordinated bridal party that isn’t too matchy-matchy. Depending on how willing you are to relinquish control and leave the bridesmaids’ style up to your friends, there is a spectrum of ways to incorporate this trend.

The boldest way to achieve this is to pick a color (or color palette) and let your bridesmaids choose their own dresses. You can also make sure your girls are all on the same page by choosing a specific fabric along with the color(s). This gives the wedding party a cohesive look without forcing everyone to dress the same. It is also the best way to ensure that your girls have dresses that they love and can actually wear again. But make sure to choose a color that is flattering and is easily available so that your ‘maids won’t tear out their hair trying to find a dress they like or be resigned to the one dress that actually comes in that color.

Here are eight dresses all from Nordstrom that would work beautifully together. Top (from left): Adrianna Papell ($83.90), Donna Ricco ($158), Maggy London ($138), Adrianna Papell ($78.90)
Bottom (from left): Maggie London ($128), Maggie London ($158), Maggie London ($178), Maggie London ($138)

To let your bridesmaids choose their own dresses, though, you have to be a brave woman whose ’maids have great style. Or, if you’ve got plenty of time on your hands and love to shop, you can go dress shopping which each of your ’maids to make sure that all of their individual looks will work together. If you don’t have the moxie or the patience, there are more subtle ways to individualize your ’maids’ looks.

After their dresses, the most eye-catching part of your bridesmaids’ ensemble will be their bouquets. Have your florist design slightly different bouquets for each of your bridesmaids. Depending on the size of your bridal party, you can have each of their bouquets each composed of different blooms that are in your bouquet. Or you can have them carry unique bouquets in the hues of your wedding colors. If your colors are purple and green, one girl could carry bouquets of purple freesias and green hydrangea, a second lavender sweet peas and “green envy” Echinacea and the third agapanthus and cymbidium orchids. Be creative (or let your florist be, that’s what you pay them for), but make sure the bouquets compliment your own and all look harmonious together.

You can also let them choose their other accessories. You can suggest a type of jewelry (gold, silver, beads) or style (antique, modern, simple) and then set them free. Oh, and definitely let them choose their own shoes! It’s much more important that they’re comfortable than that they are all wearing the same cute heels. You want them on the dance floor, not hobbling around because straps were cutting into their ankles all during the ceremony. Besides, no one is going to notice what shoes they’re wearing anyway.

Or you can have your bridesmaids wear the same dress in the same color, but have them each wear it differently. How? Well, The Dessy Group has created the twist wrap dress.

The twist wrap dress comes in both a floor-length and short version and is available in twelve different colors. The ways to wear the dress are only limited by your imagination. Have a party to figure out the best way for each of them to wear it. The ways to wear the dress are limited only by your imagination. Besides letting your ’maids create their own looks, these dresses, made of matte jersey pack well and can be shipped in an astonishing 7-10 business days, which, for those of you not familiar with timelines for ordering bridesmaids dresses, is in a heartbeat.

So, gather your girls and let the adventure begin.

Happily Ever After,

{top picture from Michéle M. Waite Photography}

The post How to Choose the Right Bridesmaid Dresses appeared first on Wedding Dresses.

One of the biggest myths of weddings is that you, as the bride, can actually pick a bridesmaid dress that your ’maids will be able to wear again. You’ll have a hard enough time finding one style that will flatter all the women in your bridal party, let alone taking on the added challenge of finding one that they’ll be able to or even want to wear once your wedding is over.

I know because I tried. I really wanted to defy the odds and find the one dress to suit them all…the one dress they’d really and truly wear again. Along with being able to wear it again, I wanted to find something that wasn’t ridiculously expensive. If you’ve been through this, you’ll know I attempted the impossible. And if you haven’t been through it yet, you’ll see.

A dress that looked good on everyone, was inexpensive, yet didn’t look cheap, and can be worn again, where does one find this mythical dress? It would have to be New York City, right?

So, I gathered all my bridesmaids, or at least the 3 out of the 5 that were able to come to New York City for a weekend of bridesmaid dress shopping, and off we set on our quest. To simplify everything, I’d decided that my ’maids should all wear the same dress (even my sister, who was my maid of honor) and I’d let them pick the dress.

I sort of succeeded. We found an off-the-rack dress at Macy’s that everyone liked and you could wear it again. Unfortunately, the $400 price tag was a bit prohibitive for most of them—especially my cousin who was still in high school and my future sister-in-law who was out of work. They did love the dress, though. In fact, my cousin later wound up buying the dress when she found it on sale.

Left: This was the expensive off-the-rack BCBG Max Azria dress we all liked, only it was fuchsia, not black. Right: Here’s my cousin (in the back with two of my other cousins) wearing the dress to my brother’s wedding.

But, since it was too expensive, we had to find something else. After trying on tons of dresses, they finally agreed on a Jim Hjelm halter dress. Many emails went back and forth to choose the color…raspberry won. So, instead of the mythical dress they could wear again, they had a fairly inexpensive bridesmaid dress they all liked that they could wear once. Hey, at least I tried, right?

Although my bridesmaids couldn’t really wear their dresses again, Jim Hjlem is still selling them, so they’re still in style almost four years later. Doesn’t that count for something?

The problem with wearing a bridesmaid dress again is:
1. Most bridesmaids’ dresses look exactly like what they are…bridesmaid dresses. Even if it’s really cute and short, there’s something about the fabric and the cut that just screams bridesmaid dress.
2. The more bridesmaids you have, the more likely it is that someone will not like the color or style of the dress you’ve chosen.
3. Even if you let your girls pick from a separates collection where you’ve chosen a color and they pick a style that suits them best, they might not like the color or fabric you’ve chosen. Or, since there are only a limited number of styles, they might wind up settling on a style they aren’t really crazy about anyway.

Instead of striving to find a dress that can be worn again, try to find a dress that the women closest to you will love to wear once. The rest is just icing. And, if it helps, think about this when choosing the dress: If your bridesmaid gets married in a few years and you have to wear the dress she wore as a bridesmaid, would you be happy?

Happily Ever After,

{27 Dresses images courtesy of Fox 2000 Pictures}

The post Bridesmaid Dresses: You CAN’T Wear It Again! appeared first on Wedding Dresses.