Bridesmaids' Shopping Guide
By Mary Robbins

Five days a week, I work as a bridal consultant in a local bridal boutique. And as you might imagine, I see a ton of girls browsing for bridesmaids’ dresses every day. Most days, a group of girls will mozy into the store smiling and laughing all wound up to pick out dresses. But as the minutes tick on, the bride-to-be begins to stress out about all the questions that go along with selecting a dress that will please a handful of her friends. The questions are nerve-racking, but I know the answers and am here to provide them! So read this over before you head to a boutique with your friends, and you’ll walk out of the shop in even higher sprits than you were walking in.

When should I start the bridesmaid process?

You will want to begin the bridesmaid process four or five months before your wedding. It is helpful to start looking at dresses online and in magazines before you begin shopping. Once you’ve selected a dress, the order can take up to three months to come in. Plus, you will want to add a few weeks for your friends to get alterations once they’ve received their dresses.

Who do I bring on the shopping trip?

It is a good idea to bring along your maid of honor, or a couple of your bridesmaids, when browsing for their dresses. They can give you input and try on the dresses (while you relax). Bringing more than two girls with you can get a bit chaotic. It’s hard to imagine six friends politely agreeing on one dress when, most of the time, it’s hard to get six friends to agree where to eat dinner together!

How do I find a style that is flattering on different body types?

A great way to ensure that each bridesmaid looks and feels great on your wedding day is to have each bridesmaid choose a different style dress while keeping the fabric and color consistent. A consultant at the boutique can show you examples of dresses that your bridesmaids can choose from to keep a matching color/fabric scheme.

If you would rather each bridesmaid wear the same style and your girls have a wide range of body types, it may be a wise idea to go shopping with girls who have different body structures. This way, you can see which dresses will flatter both figures.

What about color?

It is easier to pick out a dress before you decide if it should be celadon or mocha. If you have a general idea of the color you want, it is likely that you will be able to find a shade for the dress within your desired color family. However, if you are stuck on a very specific color, it is best to find out what designers offer that exact color and in what fabrics so you can save yourself the trouble of looking through a bunch of dresses that won’t work with your vision. Many brides are inspired by their bridesmaids’ colors and end up planning the whole wedding’s color scheme around that shade.

What should I do if I have out of town bridesmaids?

Although you could let each bridesmaid individually order the chosen dress from a store in her area, ordering all of the dresses from one store is a better option. And it could be cheaper since some boutiques offer a discount with the purchase a certain number of dresses. Most stores will have you register as a bride, giving the dress information and the bridesmaids’ names. Out of town girls can call in with their measurements and credit card information and pay over the phone. If you choose this option, all the dresses should arrive at the same time and the fabric will be cut from the same dye lot. Once they arrive at the store, you can pick them up and ship them to your bridesmaids yourself or you can use a shipping service that many boutiques offer.

Ordering all the dresses from one store insures that the dresses match and that each one is the style and color which was chosen under your consent.

What measurements are needed for dresses?

Typically, the consultants in the bridal store will measure your bridesmaids and help them to select a size. However, if all of your bridesmaids cannot actually visit the store, they will probably have to call in their measurements. If this is the case, the bridesmaid can go to most any alteration or bridal shop and be measured.

If there aren’t any shops convenient to the bridesmaid, she can be measured by a friend. The measurements typically needed are bust, waist and hips. The bust measurement is taken around the largest part of the chest. The waist measurement should be around the natural waist. If you are having a hard time deciphering your natural waist, bend to the side and place you hand where your body naturally curves. That is your natural waist! This should be near your lowest rib, not where you wear your pants. Finally, your hip measurement should be taken around the largest part of your rear end.

Who should pay for the dresses?

The general trend is that bridesmaids pay for their own dresses. If there is a bridesmaid or junior bridesmaid who is still dependent on her parents for money, then it is the parents/guardians who typically pay. If you feel guilty asking your friends to shell out a couple of hundred dollars for their dress, you could offer to pay for half.

What other questions should I ask?

Is there an extra charge for plus-size dresses?
Is there an extra charge for extra long dresses?
How long will the dresses take to come in?
Can I rush the dresses if necessary? And how much does that cost?

Look for options in the gowns section.

Photo by Scott Faber Photographer.