Inspiration Nation: 5 Tips For Drama-Free Bridesmaid Dress Shopping

Monday, May 15, 2017

5 Tips For Drama-Free Bridesmaid Dress Shopping

Hi everyone, Mackenzie of Design Darling here and I’m excited to share my latest post as a Style Me Pretty blogger bride! Today I’m talking about bridesmaids’ dresses and finding looks you (and your girls) will truly love. Read on for my experience at A Little Something White plus tips to make your own shopping experience go so much smoother.

From the moment I set foot in my local bridal boutique, I knew I was in the right place. First of all, the shop owner was one of the most genuinely lovely people I’ve ever met and asked all the right questions. She truly sought to understand the setting and feel of our wedding instead of immediately suggesting dresses and designers that were too formal or too trendy. When she asked if we’d thought about seersucker (given our wedding will be on Labor Day weekend, at the tail end of seersucker season), a lightbulb went off and we never looked back.

I won’t be sharing the exact style dress we wound up choosing for everyone until after our big day but the designer of the seersucker bridesmaids’ dresses is Coren Moore and conveniently A Little Something White is one of her flagship locations. Four of my bridesmaids who live in New York were able to take the train up to Connecticut and play dress-up for the day.

I wanted to share some tips learned from my experience and hope this helps take the drama out of your bridesmaid dress shopping trip, too!

1. Shop Around

Don’t be afraid to shop outside the box. I went to a couple big stores and found them totally disorganized and overwhelming. It was only when I found a bridal boutique right in my little hometown that I felt like we were in the right place. Shop around and find what works for you!

2. Narrow Your Styles

Have an idea of what you want before you bring in your bridesmaids. My mom and I had searched at length for seersucker bridesmaids’ dresses before finally finding the perfect style at A Little Something White. The same way it’s helpful to have an idea of how you envision your wedding dress before you try on a bunch of them in front of family and friends, it was nice that my bridesmaids only had to try on a couple styles before we found the right one.

3. Be Open to Suggestions

That said, be open to everyone’s suggestions and be mindful of their comfort level in whatever you choose. We all agreed that adding a navy silk faille sash took the look to the next level. It’s also important to find a style that will flatter every body type in your group — if you’re really struggling with this, consider multiple styles in the same color and fabric so your bridesmaids can choose the silhouette they like best.

4. Come Prepared

Ask your bridesmaids to bring a strapless bra and nude underwear. I also wish I’d asked everyone to bring a pair of heels the same height as they plan to wear with their dress (of course this depends whether you’re asking everyone to purchase the same shoes or wear their own).

5. Enjoy the Moment

Make sure this shopping trip is fun! Besides finding my own dress, this has been one of the most fun days of wedding planning so far. To have four of my favorite girls together trying on dresses for our big day made it seem so much more real! We also went out to brunch afterward so everyone could get to know each other a little better before the bachelorette party. These are the girls who will be standing by your side as you enter this next chapter of your life, so enjoy every moment you get to spend with them!

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