Aside from finding a wedding dress that you love, brides everywhere have another dress dilemma to contend with – finding the perfect dresses for their bridesmaids.
Dressing bridesmaids, and ensuring each one of them is happy with the dress choice, is one of the most difficult things you’ll face as a bride-to-be.
While all eyes will certainly be on you during your wedding day, you want your bridesmaids to look and feel just as special. The key to achieving just that is to find a dress that they feel confident and happy in.
If all your bridesmaids are rocking different body types or shapes, the challenge of dressing them becomes even trickier. With the following tips, you can dress bridesmaids with different shapes with ease.
Do your research
Your bridesmaids are certain to know what they look and feel good in, but doing your own research on what suits each body shape is a must.
The shape rules surrounding everyday fashion and occasion wear are very different. By doing your homework, you can get clued up on what’s hot and what’s not for your bridesmaids’ specific body shapes.
Pear-shaped bridesmaids find balance in styles that draw attention to the upper part of the body. Apples are dressed to perfection in V-neck, plunging or strapless dresses that cinch in at the waist.
For hourglass bridesmaids, dresses with sweetheart or scoop necklines and wide waistbands look utterly fabulous. Those with more athletic figures have the body shape to rock lower, wider necklines, and tall bridesmaids will want a style that shows off those amazing pins.
Talk to your bridesmaids
Whether you have a clear vision of the look you want your bridesmaids to embody or not, getting input from the girls themselves is important.
You want your bridesmaids to be happy and comfortable with what they’re wearing on your wedding day, so listen to their concerns and body hang-ups carefully.
Take note of what they want to emphasise or hide to ensure the dresses you choose are styles they’re all happy with.
Go mismatched
Traditionally bridesmaids always have matching attire, but these days you can throw out the rule book.
An increasing number of brides are opting for mismatched bridesmaid dresses to ensure a unique look for each member of the bridal party and to complement different body shapes.
For those not wanting to leave tradition in the dust completely, choosing the same dress colour in different styles is the perfect compromise and it’s certain to keep everyone happy as Brides details:
“By committing to the same hue yet allowing for options in style and design, you’re acknowledging a golden rule that all bridesmaids can appreciate — not every dress is flattering for every person. (Duh!) An added bonus? Allow your girls to pick their favorite style. They will appreciate the freedom of choice and are sure to be comfortable and happy.”
Keep it classic
There’s a select number of dress styles that look great on a long list of body types. The A-line and fishtail cuts are classic options that never go out of fashion and better yet, they complement several body shapes.
‘Playing it safe’ with a popular classic cut will unlock a wider variety of colours and styles so they’ll be tons more for you and your bridesmaids to choose from.
Consider the cut and colour
It’s not just the cut that will make a huge difference when finding a dress style that suits all your bridesmaids’ body shapes. The colour of the dress is an important consideration too.
Without the right hue, your bridesmaids will look drained, so make sure the colour of your bridesmaid dresses complements your wider wedding theme and your bridesmaids’ skin types.
Opt for made to measure
If your budget will allow it, going made to measure with your bridesmaid dresses will ensure your bridesmaids’ body shapes and your wedding day desires are embodied easily.
Your bridesmaids will be professionally measured and the dresses fitted and adapted to their unique shapes. This is great news if you’re dressing bridesmaids with differing heights.
Different fabrics, tones, and details can also be incorporated to ensure each of your bridesmaids’ body shapes are complemented to perfection.
