For such a long time, bridesmaids have had to live by the rule that each and every girl was assigned the same dress, and the same color. More and more brides (myself included) are now throwing out the tradition in favor of looser restrictions. Some request only for their girls to shop a single color; others choose a color and a designer. While ultimately the decision is yours, here’s my reasons for encouraging you to consider letting the girls weigh in.
- Unless you live in Stepford, chances are your bridesmaids will all have different body types. Something that might be flattering on your maid of honor might look awful on your sister, and vice versa. Let’s be frank here: your girls will be in a lot of your pictures with you, and you’ll all want to look your best.
- Got junior bridesmaids? Clearly, there are some cuts you might love on your older girls will just not be appropriate for younger girls, or may not fit them properly if their bodies are still changing.
- Give them a gift back. They’re paying hundreds of dollars for everything from hair and makeup to shoes, not including their gifts to you. When it comes to their dresses, giving them an option will help justify their expenditures (beyond the fact that they care about you) and will also give them the opportunity to find a dress they love that might fit their budget a little better than what you first had in mind.
- Increase reuse value. If it’s a dress they love, there’s a better chance they may wear it again. Yes, often your girls never will, but because I gave my girls the option I’m already aware of three of my five girls who have plans to wear their dress at another event that follows my wedding. This also helps justify the price a little more, too!
Image from Bastian+Skoog florists.
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