How to choose your bridesmaid dresses - Ultimate Guide

The most up to date guide for brides on how to choose your bridesmaids dresses, how to avoid the most common mistakes while picking outfits for your bride's squad and how to find dresses to fit any budget.

Plan ahead before purchasing. Many online retailers take time to order your dresses from abroad or have them produced only after you have placed an order. This can take up several weeks until the dress is shipped to you. Ordering from online shops with ready to ship dresses allows you to pick your styles and have them delivered on the next day.

 Choose a colour that will match your theme but don’t forget to think about what colours compliment the hair or skin tones of your bridesmaids. Depending on whether your bridesmaids fall under cool or warm skin undertones, you will have to navigate through some challenges while trying to find a “one-fits-all” formula. Here is a guide on how to choose best colour for your bridal squad. 

If you live in a city, you will probably have more options to visit a local store on the high street, but it is no secret that most stores have a larger amount of stock online than at their physical locations. Shopping online for bridesmaid dresses and wedding accessories have become one of the leading trends in recent years, but it can also be tricky if you fall into common online shopping traps, like ordering from oversees, long production times, complicated returns and tax procedures. Our best tip for bridal online shopping would be to always go with a local online retailer, with physical presence in your country! Not only will it shorten the delivery time and simplify return processes, but also it will prevent you from dealing with customer service in a foreign language or having to pay unexpected import and duty tax when ordering from oversees.

We all have our own insecurities about our bodies and it can be very challenging as a bride to find one shape of dress that would satisfy all your bridesmaids. Opting for a universal shape that works with all body shapes is a safe option if you want to go for a unified look. In such a scenario we would recommend a versatile Multiway Neckline Dress  that can be worn in 3 ways which ensures your bridal party rocks the same dress while reflecting their style. Another popular and universal shape is a One Shoulder Design Dress. 

Recently it's become more popular for bridesmaids to wear different dress styles in matching colours or shades. Finding a shop that offers a mix & match colour selection across their lines will make your online shopping easier and more convenient. 

One of the most common bridesmaids disasters has to be a see through fabric displaying underwear, leaving the wedding guest scratching their heads and looking away cringing. Before you make your final decision, make sure to have a peek underneath the skirt and check if the lining is there, If you shop online, remember to read the product description thoroughly in search for lining information. If you don't find any, reach out to retailer to double check and spare your bridesmaids any embarrassment on the wedding day.

In most cases brides are expected to cover the cost of bridesmaid dresses, which can add a hefty amount to the total wedding bill if you decide to go for high end dresses or have lots of bridesmaids. It's important to set a realistic budget without compromising on quality and comfort. A sweet spot predicted for 2023 is between £65 - £100 per dress, if you look for budget friendly bridesmaid outfits. According to the current market with increasing fabric and suppliers costs, anything for a full price below £50 should be a red flag. The quality might not be up to desired standards or the production and delivery times are very lengthy. You can however find some great deals by browsing sale pages and end of collection offers, which offer good quality dresses for half the price.

Not sure what jewellery your bridesmaids should wear on your big day? Once the dress is chosen you can start matching jewellery or let your bridesmaids pick their own accessories. One easy way to make sure the jewellery will complement the outfit as well as save you time and money, is to choose a dress with an embellished neckline.  A jewelled neckline provides the necessary wow factor that minimizes the need for accessorizing, and your bridesmaids will love it! 

Just as in everyday life, one of your bridesmaids will always stand out and try to take control of all decision making. If you leave the dress choice to your friends, make sure you identify your alpha bridesmaid soon enough and set a clear set of rules to ensure all voices and preferences are heard; and not dominated by one opinion. There's nothing worse before the wedding than having to deal with a sour mood and disputes among your girlfriends. An easy way to keep you alpha bridesmaid in reigns is to give her one special task, for which she will be solely responsible, like choosing the jewellery or arranging matching ties for the groomsmen. 

So, you found the perfect bridesmaids dress for your girls for your destination wedding. It's absolutely beautiful with a gorgeous backless detail or off the shoulder design! You show it to your bridesmaids and to your surprise, not all of them are entirely happy. Remember that some girls literally can't wear a strapless bra if they want to have any semblance of a good time for an event. So always look for dresses with a sewn in padded bra for your bridesmaids to feel comfortable all day long!

Planning a try at home session with your bridesmaids to see which style fits and which is to be returned? Don't forget that online retailers allow you to return dresses for a refund only if you send them back in immaculate condition. That means, no make-up stains please! But we all know that trying on a dress without make up makes the experience so much less entertaining and conceivable. In the end, you want to look and feel glamourous, right? Why not use modern TikTok or Instagram beauty filters? You can ask your girls to arrive with no make-up, put on the dresses and take some gorgeous photos with make-up filters to admire the final glam look. And once the dressing up part is over, indulge in a pamper session with scented face masks and a glass of champagne.

It's easy to fall into a sizing trap and make an easy assumption which can cost you a lot of money and effort. Just because your maid of honour usually wears size 12 from her preferred brand, doesn't mean the same would apply when buying an evening gown from a different supplier. A reputable online shop offering bridesmaid dresses should provide exact measurements for EACH STYLE! It's a common practice to provide such dimensions of the garments laid flat. Keep that in mind when selecting the sizes for your bridesmaids.

Try not to get carried away with Pinterest wedding inspirations! There are so many wedding themes and styles out there, that it’s hard not to love pretty much everything. Your main point of focus while choosing bridesmaid dresses should be the level of formality of the wedding. If you are going for country wedding vibe with a boho wedding dress, you probably want to avoid bold, diamante embellished bridesmaid dresses for the squad. Equally, if you’re organising a dazzling luxe wedding, whimsical bohemian ruffles and lace can look somewhat out of place.  

Every year in UK, especially spring and mid-autumn, exhibition halls, hotels; and wedding barns fill up with hundreds of wedding suppliers from across the UK and Europe. Many of the local shows offer free entry and are a great way to spend the day with your friends, while browsing wedding décor, music bands, and destination wedding offers; and of course bridesmaid dresses. It’s a great opportunity to touch the fabric and try on some styles. Don’t forget most retailers offer hefty discounts for show participants, that you can redeem online. Here you can check all upcoming wedding events in your area. https://www.ukbride.co.uk/wedding-fairs/london

Trying on dresses without shoes is a massive oversight, and standing on tip toes is just impractical! Wearing heels makes a huge difference overall to posture, and will give your girls a better feel of the day. Some may not be used to heels if they live in flats all the time and this will break them in gently. If the shoes aren’t sorted yet, ask your girls to bring some of a similar heel height.

PRO TIP: clean the soles or use a sticker on the sole, to avoid leaving dirty marks at the edge of a dress if it’s long. Dirty marks on the dress will mean it won’t be refunded.

Don’t forget that much of the day/evening will include sitting down, as well as standing up. Some dress styles look differently when you sit compared to when stood up, something wheelchair users are all too familiar with. Make sure that your bridesmaids feel comfortable both when standing and sitting down. Not all of them will be on the dance floor all night long! Avoid restrictive styles and fabrics, and opt for looser flowy fits without any fussy details.

The season that you choose for your wedding should play a large part in the dress decision making. Spring & Summer weddings lend themselves to flowy chiffons, ruffles; and off the shoulder styles. Colours can be pastel or vibrant brights especially for a Summer beach wedding theme. In Autumn and Winter darker colours like burgundy wine, navy; and forest green take the lead. Consider styles with sleeves or wide straps, instead of off the shoulder, which can be paired up with shrugs to suit. 

Last minute shopping might have some advantages if you search outlets and end-of-season deals, but dresses can sell out quickly and you don’t want to be left needing just 1 or 2 more sizes. In many cases restocking time for retailers can take several weeks to months, so if you see your dream dress make sure you get it! Last minute shopping will only add to the stress already felt when planning a wedding.

Signing up to retailers newsletters is a great tip, not only will you receive special discounts for your first order, but also useful information and tricks to help you along the way. Being on a mailing list also usually gives easier access to support and order management. Studies have shown that many online retailers have opted out from being shown on coupon and discount pages, so the only way to get your first order discount code is to join their mailing list.

If any of your girls are thinking about starting a family, do bear this in mind when choosing dresses. The right shape and style of dress is important for a future mum, don’t just focus on the waist line and consider how a bigger bust and hips could be accommodated for pregnancy. Empire line styles are great as long as they aren’t too columnar in shape, and pleats and gathers give a dress more tolerance in changing body shapes.

It can be a logistical nightmare getting all your bridesmaids together to try on dresses, and shipping to different addresses around the country is just going to increase the cost of ordering online. If you’re just at the initial phase of planning, consider testing different styles on 2-3 bridesmaids that represent the body shapes of everyone. Most retailers will allow you to take photos as you try on, so you can share the pics with all the bridesmaids to get a better feel of how the dresses will look.

Your bff will probably be chosen as your Maid of honour, and will be feeling the pressure of that responsibility. It’s a really great idea to make her stand out by opting for a slightly different style dress in the same colour as the other bridesmaids. If not she could be wearing the same dress but with an additional embellishment or accessory to stand out, or perhaps a different colour flower crown. Don’t go for too much of a contrast though, otherwise she will stand out for all the wrong reasons! 

Don’t forget it’s the groom’s special day just as much as yours! Discussing the finer details with him will give you a chance to both voice your preferences. Colour themes following the football team they support might not be as bad as you think! If it’s a wedding with 2 brides or 2 grooms, there’s certainly more outfit planning to be had in co-ordinating with one another as well as the brides/grooms maids.

Take the stress out of shopping for dresses, and order online to try them at home. Invite all your girls around and open the prosecco for a fun try on session. It’s your big day, but you’ll want everyone to feel comfortable and happy when celebrating with you.

It’s highly likely that you’re planning your wedding at least a year in advance and so there’s potential that the girls’ dress sizes might change. Opting for a style with an elasticated back is a really safe decision, and will protect dresses bought in advance from minor weight loss/gain. We’ve all heard of that bridesmaid who says she’ll slim down for the perfect dress in time! Needing a seamstress for alterations can be a very costly option. 

Not everyone is brave enough to bare their arms, so it’s worth considering shrugs and wraps as a modest cover-up for your bridesmaids. This can also tie in with the season, with chiffon and lace used in Spring/Summer and heavier crepe or satin for Autumn. The ultimate Winter option is faux fur that’s not only giving warmth, but a fantastic luxurious texture to the outfit

No one wants to be faced with a bridezilla, who rages in fury over the smallest hiccup and tries to micromanage every aspect of the wedding planning.

In an attempt to avoid becoming a nightmare, some brides' attitude shifts towards becoming too laid back and give away their decision making entirely to their mum or friends. This chilled out approach is simply a recipe for disaster! If you don't want to be solely responsible for choosing your bridesmaids dresses that's fine, but make sure to give them some guidelines they can adhere to when making their choice. And it's not only about the colour, introduce them to the wedding theme, location; and level of formality to achieve best results on your big day.