Don't want to ruin your wedding by creating dress stress for your bridesmaids? Check out these bridesmaid fashion tips.
1. Be a Good Friend
The quickest way to perturb your best friends? Invite them to be in your wedding party, and then turn them into fashion victims. Don't dress your maids in something hideous so you'll look better in comparison. Try not to choose dresses that make your maids look heavy or sexless.
2. Find the Right Feel
Take your time and decide how you want the bridesmaid dresses to complement your gown. Find a style that evokes the same feel as your dress but doesn't look too similar -- you don't want your maids looking like the bride.
3. One Size Doesn't Fit All
Suss out a style that flatters the different sizes and shapes of your bridesmaids. A-line skirts and empire waists tend to look good on all body types.
Tip: Remember that simple, elegant designs make every body happy. Don't go over the top with details, embellishments, and accessories.
4. Mix It Up
Or consider choosing a color or a fabric and then letting each maid pick a style that will suit her. You wouldn't want to cram a tall, voluptuous maid into the exact same style as a petite, skinny brunette (totally unfair to either).
5. Color Them Beautiful
Look for colors you like and think would look good on all of your friends (consider their complexions and hair colors). Pastel hues look best on blonde and dark-haired maids with fair complexions, but not so hot on redheads and darker complexions. If you do choose pastels, look for rose-petal pinks, light lemon yellows, and pretty baby blues.
6. Fill Their Closets
Be kind -- don't ask your friends to purchase an outfit they absolutely wouldn't be caught dead in ever again. Think about what your maids could do with the dresses after the wedding (jackets over dresses, sweater sets and skirts, and dark-colored slip dresses are all totally reusable).
7. Covering the Cost
Remember to think about everyone's present financial situation. (A general price range for bridesmaid dresses is $100-300.) If you fall in love with a dress that's a bit over their budgets, consider covering the difference yourself.
8. Poll Your Pals
Ask your maids to go dress shopping with you, but don't bring them all at once if you have more than four. It will be way too hard to formulate your own opinion. Instead, use The Knot Bridesmaid search and email info about dresses you like to your maids. Listen to their feedback.
9. Make a List
Put notes beside each name about what kind of dress you think would look good on her, how much you think is fair to ask her to pay for a dress, and anything else that strikes your fancy.
10. Reusable Hues
Dark-colored dresses like navy, hunter green, and black look great on almost every maid and can be worn to formal events later.
11. Comfort Level
If you're considering strapless dresses or gowns that don't accommodate bras, ask your maids if they would be comfortable in such a style before you decide.
12. Get It Done
Don't be a control freak and try to do everything on your own. Appoint your maid of honor or a highly responsible bridesmaid to be in charge of organizing gown purchases.
-- The Knot
RELATED LINKS: See 500+ real bridesmaid looks!