All posts under ‘bridesmaid dress’
The secret to keeping your girls in your bridal party happy? Pick a gorgeous (and wearable) bridesmaid dress for them. And, what better time to gown hunt then right now? With the holiday season just upon us, stores everywhere are stocking their shelves with glitzy numbers and chic creations. Don’t know where to start? Fret not, here’s a narrowed down list of 62 romantic frocks.
Transfer your ‘something blue’ to your bridal party with any of these gorgeous gowns.
While being chosen as a bridesmaid is always an honour, it can also be extremely expensive. With gifting, getaways and celebratory nights out, your wedding could end up costing your maids hundreds of dollars before the big day even rolls around.
For that reason we set out to ease some of the financial burden by hunting down some of the prettiest affordable bridesmaid dresses out there in colours perfect for a fall wedding.
If you’ve been a fan of Ruffled blog from day one, then you probably knew this was coming–a Ruffled online shop! Featuring dreamy gowns, accessories, hair adornments, petticoats and bridesmaid dresses–this newly launched shop (the announcement came just yesterday) is for those of you seeking vintage and DIY-inspired fashion elements for your wedding day. And, come September (if you just so happen to be in Manhattan), Ruffled will officially be opening their studio space for you to try gowns and accessories on. Space is limited, so be sure to e-mail them for reservations. Not sure if their style is on par with yours? Here’s a small sample of their pretty offerings.
For years and years white bridesmaid dresses have been a bit of a taboo, but Pippa Middleton managed to put that notion to rest as soon as she stepped out of her town car on April 29th. Pippa single-handedly proved that a white bridesmaid dress can work, and apparently Kim Kardashian was taking notes—when she wed Kris Humphries this past weekend all the members of her bridal party, including her sisters Khloe and Kourtney, were wearing white gowns! Thinking of trying this trend for your own wedding? Here are some guidelines for making it work:
1) CHOOSE THE RIGHT SHAPE. In order to make sure that you (the bride) stand out, select a bridesmaid dress that has a different shape than your wedding gown. For instance, if your gown has a full skirt, choose sleek white dresses for your girls. Similarly, if your gown is long and slinky, dress your bridal party in knee-length frocks.
2) PLAY WITH TEXTURE. Choosing different materials is another great way to ensure that you and your bridesmaids look unique, even though you’re all wearing the same colour. If your dress is chiffon, why not pick lace dresses for your ladies? This type of contrast will make for interesting—yet harmonious—group pictures.
3) ACCESSORIZE, ACCESSORIZE, ACCESSORIZE. The best way to make sure all eyes are on you? Wear a veil! Nothing says “I’m the bride” like that pretty piece of tulle tucked in your updo! Shoes can also be a fun way to change up your look—maybe your perfect pair is red, while all of your girls wear nude pumps? This is the fun part, so play around with finishing touches that add personality to your all-white bridal party.
We watch Mad Men as much for the fashion as we do for the scandal. If you’re anything like us and have been wooed by the show’s aesthetic, you can now work an extra bit of that 1960s polish into your wedding day courtesy of Banana Republic. Using vintage pieces as inspiration, Emmy Award-Winning costume designer Janie Bryant worked with the company to create a 65-piece limited-edition collection, which includes some stunning (and affordable!) lady-like dresses that look period-accurate, but are designed to fit a modern silhouette.
Each dress was designed with a character in mind. If you’d like your girls to wear more form-fitting looks a-la-Joan may we recommend the lace tipped dress in oxide grey? For a more Betty-inspired silhouette the natural choice is the Betty dress.
The entire collection launches in-store and online today.
Want more exciting news? AMC and Banana Republic are repeating their casting call contest where you could win a walk-on role in a season five episode and a $1000 Banana Republic shopping spree. Now that would make a great wedding gift!
Photo courtesy iStockphoto
We recently asked our Facebook followers whether or not it’s okay for ladies in the bridal party to wear their gowns before the main event. Here’s what they had to say:
No, I want it to be a surprise for the guests as well and if they have already seen what the girls are wearing then it won’t be as special. I would be flattered though that my dress was such a nice pick that my girls were able to wear it other places.
- Sara Carlson
Before? No. But the dress should be something that they can get as much wear out of afterward as possible to justify the expense.
- Meredith Hall Tilley
Umm no, in case it gets dirty.
- Rhonda Km
I agree with the other ladies, if you’ve already worn it you won’t get the buzz of wearing your new dress and it won’t feel as special.
- Elisa Amy
Not a chance!!!! Crazy idea and would really upset me!!!!!
- Liz Daluz
I vote yes, why the hell not, it’s only a dress!
- Maxine Elliott
I think it depends on the reason she’s wearing it, If it’s to get used to it and feel comfortable yes, If it’s a night on the tiles then no!
- Bespoken For
Why not…freakin bridezillas chill-out..its no wonder us women give WOMEN bad names like CRAZY, Demanding, etc. Unless u are paying for it what is the big deal, its a freakin dress that they bought…Though my wedding was also relaxed and didn’t care what ppl wore, I was marrying a great man and celebrated with great friends and family why demand or want anything less?!?!? Re-evaluate your priorities. It’s not your dress she would be wearing.
- Jillian Dale
No way. It kinda defeats the purpose if its already worn
- Natasha Zenner
I can’t believe the number of brides that said “no way!”.. Your bridesmaids are paying a lot of money for that dress and they own it, so they can wear it when the want. I want my bridesmaids to get as much use out of theirs as possible because I’m sure they will cost a lot of money.
- Kate McDiarmid
I have no issue with them wearing the dress before. However, I have heard of a couple ladies destroying their dress before the wedding with stains that could not be removed and it was too late to get a new one ordered. So really it is a risk if it gets damaged…
- Jenilee R
I told my girls to just wear something black and they wore regular black dresses. One was from their closet and the other bought a new one. So yeah, one of my friends wore her bridesmaid many times before ;)
- Christina Hiebert
I would say yes, but hope they didn’t….it’s that new feeling…..we all like putting something new on especially when we look fantastic.
- Shannon Black
If they wanted to wear it before, it wouldn’t have mattered to me. I would’ve been honoured if they’d worn it! If they had gotten it dirty before the wedding, it would’ve been up to them to figure it out.
- Thalia Gray Kadiata
Wearing it prior to the wedding day might mean the bride loses the mystique of unveiling her gown and her bridal party on the big day… but we’re all for making sure bridesmaids dresses get worn again! P.S. Does it change anything if she’s paying for it?
- SmartBride Boutique
My bridesmaids all wore dressed they already owned (except one, and that was her choice). Why not?
- Allana Robinson
To join in this discussion and others follow us at Facebook.com/WeddingbellsMag. Not on Facebook? Share your thoughts by commenting below.
When it comes to dressing your best girls for the big day, there are more fashionable options than ever before. Solid colours are always in style, but right now we’re loving bold patterned bridesmaid dresses. From whimsical polka dots to romantic floral prints, there’s something for everyone. Here are 5 of our favourites:
ATTENTION BRIDES! There's still time to lose weight before your special day! Find out more ...
Graydon Hall Manor: Toronto’s most exclusive reception facility – only 4 Saturday’s left in 2010.
