You’ve asked your girlfriends to be your bridesmaids and now it’s time to start planning all the other fun details … I’m sure the questions have started of “what color dresses?” “are any of the groomsmen cute 😉 ?” “where’s the bachelorette party going to be?” and you just want to breathe for a minute! Let’s start with the bridesmaids dresses and talk about that experience for a minute. Bridesmaids Dress shopping is typically the first gathering of all the bridesmaids for wedding events…planning ahead and knowing what you want will help set boundaries early on without it having to get awkward.

Do your research

A few things to consider are:

• What are your wedding colors?
• Do you want the attire to be formal or more casual?
• Do you want the bridesmaids to all be in the same dress? Or do you want them all in the same color but different style dress? Or do you want different colors and dresses?
• Is it possible for all the bridesmaids to get together to go shopping or would ordering online be best?
• Talk to your fiancé to see what the groomsmen will be wearing? Sometimes the groom to be will surprise you and have exactly what they’d like or it will open up a conversation about it. You will want the bridesmaids and groomsmen apparel to compliment each other and although the groomsmen don’t need to worry about their attire quite as early as the girls do, it’s a good idea to have at least some gathered thoughts on what you are thinking as you go into bridesmaid dress shopping.

Once you know what you would like, invite your bridesmaids into the conversation

We recommend by starting the conversation by thanking the girls for being willing to stand by your side and talking about your vision for the wedding day including the bridesmaid attire. This would be a great time to ask the girls whether they would like to go shopping together or order online as well as getting an idea of what their budgets are. Talking about money can be awkward, especially if you just brush it under the rug. Be open about it so you aren’t putting anyone in an uncomfortable position.

Plan your outing

Do some more research (wedding planning is 75% research honestly!) and look to see what bridesmaid designers your local bridal shops carry. Look at those designer’s dresses online and see if you like what they are. Once you have found a few designers that you like, schedule an appointment with 1-2 dress shops. If you can narrow it down to one bridal shop, your life will be easier. I promise!

While making your appointment, you can ask what their ordering process is like so you are prepared and can let the bridesmaids know. Oftentimes shops require a 50% deposit on the dress to order and will not order until all the bridesmaids have paid. This ensures that all of the dresses are cut from the same batch of fabric and are the same color!

You can plan to go out to brunch before or dinner after your dress appointment as a way to hang out with the bridesmaids and catch up! It makes it a fun day!

Here are some bridal shops we love & recommend (after owning a bridal boutique myself, please know these recommendations don’t come lightly! We want you to be in good hands!)

• Ever After Bridal, Endicott / Binghamton
• Dress Your Fancy, Vestal
• Mirror Mirror Bridal Boutique, Baldwinsville NY
• GeeJune Bridal, Skaneateles NY
• Blushing Bridal Boutique, Scranton
• Vow Bridal, Clarks Summit
• The Dress, Montrose

Order Online

If your girls are spread out or have tricky schedules or if you are laid back & not the shopping type (ME!), consider shopping for bridesmaid dresses online! We gathered around the kitchen table one night and looked through dresses together and that was right for us. I had done some research ahead of time with websites that I knew I could trust, along with liking the styles and colors of dresses they offered.

A few websites we recommend checking out are:

Azazie
Shop Revelry
Dear Cleo
BHLDN
Birdy Grey

Helpful Tips to Keep In Mind

• Bridesmaids dresses typically take at least 3 months to come in after being ordered, whether in store or online.
• Most bridesmaids dresses will need to have alterations done as they are not custom size ordered but instead your size is determined by where your measurements fit on a size chart. The dresses all come quite long to be able to accommodate all heights so hemming will be needed for most. Plan for at least 1 month for alterations.
• Dresses will fit different body types differently so we really love the new trend that bridesmaids can choose the style of dress they feel comfortable in and all get the same color. This allows everyone to feel loved, heard and comfortable so they feel their best!
• Dress boutiques don’t carry the same designers so be sure to look at what designers the shop has before going in. Look up what styles that designer has as well as the price point.
• Choose what shoes you would like the girls to wear around the same time as ordering the dress so the bridesmaids can buy the shoes and have for when they take the dress for alterations.

Bridesmaids Dress Shopping should be fun!! Don’t overthink it, be prepared yet open minded and you’ll do just fine!!