Bridesmaids

"Well wait…let me see it again…No. Absolutely not! I would rather die." - CARRIE BRADSHAW

BRIDESMAID DRESSES

You have probably seen the many ridiculous bridesmaid dresses worn by the beautiful Katherine Hiegl in the movie 27 Dresses. Even Katherine couldn’t make those dresses look good.

Urban myth claims that Brides purposefully choose ridiculous looking dresses for their Maids. This way the Bride will be the standout on the Wedding Day. History says just the opposite. That Bridesmaids were dressed like the bride so that any dangerous spirits or enemies would not be able to tell which Lady was the bride. So, the Maids were human camouflage to protect the Bride.

Either way, not much to give you hope that you will like what you are wearing down the isle if you are a bridesmaid.

BUT WAIT!! There is hope for the fashion conscious Bridesmaid. Now, there are nearly as many beautiful, tasteful options as there are Bridesmaids. Many are so attractive and “un-bridesmaidy” that you will wear it later. Many of the dresses now are in subdued colors with elegant styling. In fact, the little black dress is a popular choice for bridesmaid wear. In other cases, the Bride will ask the Maids to pick out their own dresses, or even pants, sometimes staying with a common color scheme.

Some data indicates that the average Bridesmaid dress runs about $140.00, but as with everything else, the prices vary a lot. The choice of fabrics, the designer, and where you buy the dress will all impact the price. If you select a more elaborate style such as a typical quinceanera dress, the cost will probably be much higher. And, keep in mind that alterations are often needed. They can cost nearly as much as the dress itself. Usually each attendant pays for her own dress, shoes, etc., but in some cases, the Bride’s family will pick up the cost.

Bridesmaid dresses can be found at most bridal salons, some department stores, and at special events stores where you might shop for prom dresses or quinceanera dresses. We have provided you with a list of many local resources.

Most Brides will want to work together with their attendants to select and place orders for dresses 6 months or more before the Wedding. In many cases, the seller will require a 50% deposit if the dresses are ordered rather than off the rack. As with anything you pay for in advance, be certain that you are ordering from a stable, reliable salon or shop. Nothing could be worse than finding out at the last minute that the salon you paid hundreds of dollars to has suddenly gone out of business, leaving you and your attendants out of luck.