RACS218
08-24-2006, 10:28 AM
Just how do you look for the perfect Bridesmaid dress?
Consider these:
Style
The basic styles for bridesmaid dresses are A-Line, Empire, or Sheath. In addition, there are a few ball gown styles. No matter the style, most are floor length.
Your bridesmaids’ dresses should complement the style of your bridal gown. At the same time, they don't need to be identical. If your gown is an A-Line, for example, you are not restricted to A-Line bridesmaid dresses. On the other hand, if your gown is a fairy-tale ball gown, you won't want your maids' dresses to be modern or high fashion. The goal is to have an overall theme and aesthetic flow.
Color
The color of your bridesmaids’ dresses is usually the same as the color you have decided to use for your overall wedding color scheme. When decorating for your wedding, you will use touches of color to accent your decorations and to help carry a unifying theme throughout your entire wedding and reception. If you've decided you want dark purple, for example, you might use that color along with light purple for your flowers, for the ink on your invitations, and maybe even for bows on the chairs.
As you begin to choose the color you want for your wedding, be sure to think about both your wedding and reception site. If your church has dark red carpet, those pretty peach dresses you love so much might clash with the overall color scheme. If your reception site is full of dark wood and burgundy carpet, on the other hand, your burgundy bridesmaids’ dresses and accents might all blend in.
Finally, consider your bridesmaids. Think about their coloring, including their skin and hair, and determine what colors look best on them.
Remember, your maids don't all have to wear the same color. In fact, a wonderful Southern tradition is to have the Maid of Honor wear a different shade of the bridesmaid dresses or a totally different color. If your maids are wearing Desert Blue, for example, have your Maid of Honor wear Navy or even Rose. This is wonderfully effective when you coordinate the Maid of Honor's dress color with the Best Man's vest and tie!
Another popular and pretty trend, especially for spring and summer weddings, is a "color run." This is when each bridesmaid wears a different color of the same dress. One example of a light color run might be Pink, Pale Yellow, Light Blue, Mint, and Lavender. In dark colors, you might try Emerald Green, Royal Blue, Royal Purple, Red, and Gold. Shades of the same color also work well, such as red, medium pink, and light pink. Just be very careful to select colors that don't clash with each other!
You might also consider alternating colors. Half your maids can wear one color, while the other half wears a different color. If your wedding will be near Valentine's Day, you could put half of them in red and the other half in pink!
If you decide to use a color run or alternating colors in your wedding, be sure to find out how tall each of your maids are before you order the dresses. Remember, your maids will be arranged by height as they walk into the ceremony, when they stand by you during the ceremony, and when they exit the ceremony. They will also be arranged by height when photos are taken.
Make a list of your maids in order from shortest to tallest, but leave your maid of honor off the list. If you maid of honor is at the taller end when compared to everyone else, your tallest maid will be next to her and the maids will get shorter the further they stand from you. If your maid of honor is at the short end, however, the shortest maid will stand next to her and the maids will get taller the further they stand from you.
Beverly Spencer
Consider these:
Style
The basic styles for bridesmaid dresses are A-Line, Empire, or Sheath. In addition, there are a few ball gown styles. No matter the style, most are floor length.
Your bridesmaids’ dresses should complement the style of your bridal gown. At the same time, they don't need to be identical. If your gown is an A-Line, for example, you are not restricted to A-Line bridesmaid dresses. On the other hand, if your gown is a fairy-tale ball gown, you won't want your maids' dresses to be modern or high fashion. The goal is to have an overall theme and aesthetic flow.
Color
The color of your bridesmaids’ dresses is usually the same as the color you have decided to use for your overall wedding color scheme. When decorating for your wedding, you will use touches of color to accent your decorations and to help carry a unifying theme throughout your entire wedding and reception. If you've decided you want dark purple, for example, you might use that color along with light purple for your flowers, for the ink on your invitations, and maybe even for bows on the chairs.
As you begin to choose the color you want for your wedding, be sure to think about both your wedding and reception site. If your church has dark red carpet, those pretty peach dresses you love so much might clash with the overall color scheme. If your reception site is full of dark wood and burgundy carpet, on the other hand, your burgundy bridesmaids’ dresses and accents might all blend in.
Finally, consider your bridesmaids. Think about their coloring, including their skin and hair, and determine what colors look best on them.
Remember, your maids don't all have to wear the same color. In fact, a wonderful Southern tradition is to have the Maid of Honor wear a different shade of the bridesmaid dresses or a totally different color. If your maids are wearing Desert Blue, for example, have your Maid of Honor wear Navy or even Rose. This is wonderfully effective when you coordinate the Maid of Honor's dress color with the Best Man's vest and tie!
Another popular and pretty trend, especially for spring and summer weddings, is a "color run." This is when each bridesmaid wears a different color of the same dress. One example of a light color run might be Pink, Pale Yellow, Light Blue, Mint, and Lavender. In dark colors, you might try Emerald Green, Royal Blue, Royal Purple, Red, and Gold. Shades of the same color also work well, such as red, medium pink, and light pink. Just be very careful to select colors that don't clash with each other!
You might also consider alternating colors. Half your maids can wear one color, while the other half wears a different color. If your wedding will be near Valentine's Day, you could put half of them in red and the other half in pink!
If you decide to use a color run or alternating colors in your wedding, be sure to find out how tall each of your maids are before you order the dresses. Remember, your maids will be arranged by height as they walk into the ceremony, when they stand by you during the ceremony, and when they exit the ceremony. They will also be arranged by height when photos are taken.
Make a list of your maids in order from shortest to tallest, but leave your maid of honor off the list. If you maid of honor is at the taller end when compared to everyone else, your tallest maid will be next to her and the maids will get shorter the further they stand from you. If your maid of honor is at the short end, however, the shortest maid will stand next to her and the maids will get taller the further they stand from you.
Beverly Spencer