How to Choose Bridesmaids Dresses

  Bridesmaids come in all shapes and sizes and therein lies a lot of the difficulties of getting each bridesmaid fitted out to her happiness and comfort. It isn't impossible but it will take some planning and consideration for each bridesmaid involved.

1.Consider the preferences of your bridesmaids as much as your own. While you probably have fairly fixed ideas in mind about the ideal dress for your bridesmaids, and while it is your prerogative to choose the dresses, it's a good idea to ask your bridesmaids individually how they feel about your choice and to find out if there are elements that they'd like to contribute.
2.Seek to complement the bridal outfit. The bridesmaid dresses work best if they support and reflect the bridal outfit without deflecting from it. Keep the bridesmaids' dresses simpler in design but clearly in line with the bridal gown by having some elements similar, such as embellishments, buttons, bows, lace, etc.
3.Be considerate of your bridesmaids' individual concerns. Some of the things your bridesmaids may be uncomfortable about include plunging necklines, bare shoulders, being too hot or cold, wearing a color that doesn't suit them, too much length or not enough, transparency, and tightness of fabric.
4.Be thoughtful about future usefulness of the bridesmaids' dresses. It is a good idea to allow variations in style between the bridesmaids' dresses that reflect their physique and their wish to be able to wear the dress again for other formal occasions. Slight style variations are not such a big issue if continuity is maintained with color and some linking embellishments.