Bridesmaid Dresses | ABCs of Wedding Planning

Next in our series.... Bridesmaids dresses.   I'm not sure about you but I'm completely addicted to the wedding shows on TLC and Say Yes to the Dress: Bridesmaids, does not disappoint.  The chaos, hideous (and gorgeous) dresses, and the crazy southern mamas are worth every minute.  We're going to share some thoughts on bridesmaid dresses in general and of course share some of our favorites.

There are a million+ options for bridesmaids from inexpensive, wear again to over the top, could be a wedding dress creations.   Think of the vision you want for your wedding.  Do you want all of the bridesmaids to wear the same dress or do you envision something a little more eclectic?

Kristyn chose a gorgeous purple long gown for her bridesmaids.  The fabric was amazing and the color actually varied somewhat based on the lighting.   However to counteract the 'traditional' feel of everyone in a long gown - Kristyn had her maids wear a fun long necklace - which they each wore a little different.  The end result is simply stunning.

Images by Daniel Michael

Davis chose a gorgeous gold cocktail gown with a wide v-neck for her bridesmaids.  They complemented her traditional lace gown and the elegant decor at the Queen City Club. Each of her girls showed a bit of her personality by selecting her own shoes.  Oh my, I wish I could have taken a few of those home.  It was a shoe addicts dream.

Five by Five Photography + Design

Adrienne's bridesmaids also had awesome shoes.  Can you say Christian Louboutin? I love that the style she chose for the maids gowns complemented all three women.  The pearls tied with ribbon added just a little bit of modern to this classically gorgeous look. Add in the gorgeous bright florals and the result is a look that will definitely stand the test of time. 

Amanda Donaho Photography | Inspired Floral Design

Amanda Donaho Photography

Aaren had a gorgeous color palette of pinks accented with black & white damask for her wedding at the Glendale Lyceum.   She opted to let each of her bridesmaids choose a style that she felt the best in.  The key when you let your bridesmaids select their own dresses is to choose a designer, set a length and color+fabric combination - so the end result is cohesive but not identical.

Varland Photography

Anne's bridesmaid's dresses were some of my favorite of all time.  Maybe it's because I am a wee bit totally obsessed with the color.  Regardless they were beautiful.  Anne had her maid and matron of honor in straps and the rest of the bridesmaids, including an expecting momma in strapless.  The strapless version she chose had the perfect cut for an expanding belly allowing her bridesmaids to all coordinate without the expecting momma having to wear a maternity option.  Trust me, it's tough.  I could tell you about my shopping experience with one of my bridesmaids that was going to be 8 months pregnant at my own wedding, but I'm sure it's one of those "you had to be there" stories.  Basically we laughed so hard we both nearly peed our pants because the maternity options were so hideous. 

Bluebird Photography

Bluebird Photography

Nicole has a style all her own and wanted the same for her bridesmaids.  However the thought of finding a designer, color, etc. that made her happy was a bit overwhelming.  So she opted to have them all wear the same dress, but it could be configured more than 15 ways.  As you can tell - she had a lot of bridesmaids, so this dress from Two Birds Bridesmaids was perfect!   There isn't a location in Cincinnati, but Indy and Louisville both have stores.

Sherri Barber Photography

This final dress is one of my latest loves.  I have been slightly obsessing over it since I saw it on a recent episode on Say Yes to the Dress Bridesmaids.  Then I finally saw it in person at our wedding two weeks ago.  The dress was in navy and Sarah let each of her bridesmaids choose a style in the stunning peau de soie fabric.  This girl was in heaven.  I cannot wait to share those photos.  I've been stalking the photographers blog, so we'll be sure to share as soon as we have them!

Alfred Sung | Dessy Collection

The best advice we have is to have an idea of what you want BEFORE heading to the bridal store.  Communicate that to your bridesmaids and take reinforcements if you need them.  Anyone who will help you stay true to your vision - if you think you might get overwhelmed in the process.  Most of all - have fun playing dress up with your closest friends.