The perfect bridesmaid gown should set off the wedding dress, flowers and invitations — and help set the tone of your wedding. But its second major function is to contrast with the bride’s gown, making it sparkle even more than it does on its own. In other words, a bridesmaids dress should complement the bride’s gown to perfection. But there are several factors to consider when deciding on what type of bridesmaid dress to get.
onefabdayBefore You Go Shopping …
Take a moment to ponder:
- Who will be your bridesmaids?
- Are they grown adults, small children, or both?
- Are they full-figured ladies, or slim and petite? Will anyone be pregnant?
- What color hair/skin do your bridesmaids have? (A yellow dress would not necessarily suit a blond or a redhead.)
- Is the wedding in the summer or winter?
- Do the maid’s dresses need a warm wrap if you’re having a winter wedding?
- Do the dresses need to be new or will the ladies rock a used dress comfortably?
elizabethannedesignsThink these things out before you go off hunting for the perfect bridesmaid gowns — not all styles of dress suit everyone. A dress that’s gorgeous on a reedy teen probably won’t flatter a more mature adult. So you may have to choose two different styles of gowns, one for the adults and another for the teens and pre-teens.
If your bridesmaids have different hair and skin coloring, and you want them all to wear the same color dress, try to pick a ‘neutral’ color that will suit any hair color and skin type. As I said above, a yellow dress won’t look great on most blonds or redheads, but might suit brunettes quite well. Or, an alternative: have a ‘rainbow’ wedding. Dress each individual bridesmaid in a gown of a different color, depending on their hair and skin. I’ve seen this type of wedding many times before, and it always looks bright and colorful.
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