6 Tips for Stress-Free Bridesmaid Shopping

I have heard so many brides tell me that bridesmaid dress shopping was the most stressful part of her planning, so let me help make your shopping a bit easier with these helpful tips! Gurl I gotchu.

Budget:

This is one of the most challenging parts for your maids, so make sure you are upfront about your expectations from the very start. Communicate with your girls, ask what they can afford and plan accordingly. If your girls are on a strict budget, START EARLY! Having your girls know the price of the dress a few months before they need to order, will make this purchase MUCH easier on them. Thas way, your girls can budget for the dress and not add on last minute stress! Happy bridesmaids = a happy bride :)

Time:

As I said above, time is very important, because bridesmaid dresses can take up to 6 months to arrive. Also, don’t forget your girls need to get their alterations as well. No, this is not a perfectly fitted garment, and yes, they will almost certainly need alterations to achieve a perfect fit. So, be sure to factor at least month for alterations. We suggest you select your bridesmaids’ dresses about 7 months before your wedding, and order at 6 months before. Time is always a GOOD THING. There are soooo many things that we as a bridal shop DO NOT have control over, such as a plane crash that was full of bridesmaid dresses (actually happened), boxes filled with dresses accidently sent to Amazon HQ (actually happened), the manufacturer sending the dresses in the wrong color (also, actually happened) you get the point :) More time is your best friend!

Style:

You are the boss here. You don’t have to match their dress to yours, your bridesmaid dresses can be whatever you want them to be. You’re wearing satin and the girls are wearing chiffon? YOU GO GLEN COCO! There are no set rules that you have to live by. This is YOUR wedding and you call the shots. Just because your friend got married once does not make her an expert on your wedding, it’s YOUR day and YOU are the expert! ;) Of course you want your girls to look beautiful and feel comfortable, but remember that this is your wedding and at the end of the day you make the decision. You do you girl.

Color:

Even if blush is the hottest trend right now, it may not look good on every skin tone, so keep your girls’ complexion in mind when selecting the dress color. Show that you are thinking about them and that you actually care that they look beautiful. There is always a happy medium, and that way everyone wins! Bridesmaids, FTW!

Appointment:

Make sure each girl can try something on. ;) This is the most FRUSTRATING part of purchasing a bridesmaid dress, and if you’ve ever had to buy a bridesmaid dress that you couldn’t try on, you know that I’m right. They also want to try on dresses and get an idea of what the dress will look like. Not to toot my own horn or anything, BUT :p we have dresses in a wide range of sizes so ALL of your girls can try something on!  We prefer that you make an appointment, so we can give you our undivided attention. You get to work one-on-one with an expert stylists, and trust me, working with an expert stylist is what you want. They know our stock well, and will be able to help you achieve your perfect look!

Advice:

Make your ladies feel included in the process. Ask their opinions, and maybe even give them some options to choose from. This doesn’t mean that you have to give up your vision, because as I said earlier, YOU are the boss. However, nobody wants to feel like they don’t matter, so making your ladies a part of the process will make them feel amazing about being such a big part of your day. And ultimately, we want everyone to be SO EXCITED for your day, and happy bridesmaids will be the icing on your exquisitely decorated cake.

Now put these tips in your back pocket and have fun shopping! :)

Talk soon!

-Amy