Yes, Virginia, There Is Such A Thing As A Pretty Bridesmaid Dress
Let’s face it: bridesmaid dresses don’t have the best of reputations. Thanks to the fact that few brides seem to prefer overly ruffled, overly tacky gowns, all brides get a bad reputation. It doesn’t have to be that grim. If you are the lucky bride looking for great dresses for your bridesmaids, here are some tips:
1) Take your bridesmaids shopping with you. While you will ultimately decide on the bridesmaid dresses for your ceremony, allowing your bridesmaids to have some input can help everyone feel better about the dresses. Even letting bridesmaids choose from a series of dresses you have pre-selected can be a good way to take everyone’s fashion input into consideration.
2) Check out all your options. Visit websites, bridal shows and flip through magazines with your bridesmaids to see lots of bridesmaid dresses before you decide.
3) Go outside the bridal shop. Most bridal shops focus on bridal dresses and sometimes the selection of bridesmaid dresses suffers as a result. Some stores even stock just a few basics. Try visiting department stores or formal wear stores to look for bridesmaid dresses that look simply like nice dresses.
4) Think simple. The complaint against many bridesmaid dresses is that they are too much – the skirts are huge, there’s too much frou frou, there are too many ruffles, and so forth. While it is the bride’s privilege to select whatever bridesmaid dresses she wants, selecting a simpler and more elegant gown does mean staying away from that dreaded prom dress look.