Bridesmaid Dresses

As the bride-to-be, you’ve taken it upon yourself to pick a dress for your bridesmaid(s), but you don’t know where to start? Your official guide to wedding stress relief delivers you the advice from the experts at www.bridesmaiddresses101.com. Below is their list of 10 most important things you need to know when looking for dresses for your bridesmaid(s).
 
Start Early
 
Manufacturers are constantly adding and discontinuing styles and often increasing prices on more popular carryover styles of bridesmaid dresses. As a result, it is strongly recommended shopping for and ordering your dresses as soon as you have made a decision on the dress(es) you want. Different manufacturers have different lead times. You will also want to leave enough time for alterations – usually at least 1 month before the wedding if not sooner.
Get Ideas
 
The Internet is a wonderful resource for finding bridesmaid dresses. We also recommend thumbing through the more popular wedding magazines.
Make a Shopping Date
 
Manufacturers are constantly adding and discontinuing styles and often increasing prices on more popular carryover styles of bridesmaid dresses. As a result, it is strongly recommended shopping for and ordering your dresses as soon as you have made a decision on the dress(es) you want. Different manufacturers have different lead times. You will also want to leave enough time for alterations – usually at least 1 month before the wedding if not sooner.
Make an Appointment
 
Appointments are often necessary in bridal shops and department stores– even for bridesmaid dresses. You will want to call ahead to find out if an appointment is needed so you don’t add to your stress level when you arrive only to find out
they can’t see you with out one. You might also want to find out what manufacturers they carry and if they carry the ones you are interested in so far.
Get Measured
 
The first thing you want to do is to have all of the bridesmaids professionally measured for their bridesmaid dresses. You can often do this at your first bridal shop or department store. This way you can cross-reference them with the size chart for the manufacturer you have selected in order to ensure you order the size that is closest to their figure. Most designers make their dresses in accordance with the measurements of their own size chart and not to each individual.

As a result, you won't be able to assume that a size 8 from manufacturer "A" will fit the same way a size 8 does from manufacturer "B". Also remember that your taller bridesmaids may need to add extra length to their dresses.
Consider Your Bridesmaids
 
When choosing a dress, it is the bride's privilege to select the color and type of fabric of the bridesmaids' dresses. It should complement the bride's gown, but it should also be comfortable and attractive for the attendants. Consideration should be given to the bridesmaids’ styles, color preferences, their figure types as well as their budgets.
Shop Online
 
Help your bridesmaids save money by finding a reputable service online. Most companies can often have the dresses shipped directly to each bridesmaid if you prefer.
Order All At Once
 
You should order all your bridesmaid dresses at the same time as fabric dye-lots can vary. If you don’t order the dresses one at a time, the dresses might not all be from the same dye-lot so they might not all be the exact same color. This goes for dyed shoes as well.
Leave Plenty of Time for Alterations
 
Once you order your dresses, be sure to set up an appointment for alterations for your bridesmaid dresses. Since most dresses will need some degree of alterations, you should allow plenty of
time for 2 fitting appointments. Bridal attendants should bring shoes with the correct heel size to the fittings, as well as appropriate hosiery and slips.
Accessories
 
Accessories, such as shoes, gloves, shawls, purses and hair combs should also be decided upon once the bridesmaid dresses have been selected. Leave plenty of time for shoes to be dyed and picked up. Also consider what color hosiery you want everyone to wear, as well as bras and slips if applicable.