Your friend is getting married. She’s thrilled. You’re thrilled for her. And she’s asked you to be a bridesmaid. It’s a happy occasion. Keep reminding yourself of that. When she’s freaking out about the cake, say it: It’s a happy occasion. When she picks out Plus size Bridesmaid Dresses that makes you look like a sick seal, say it: It’s a happy occasion.
You’ve agreed to be a bridesmaid, so it’s your job to help the bride. Sure, a year of planning may seem like a long time to be focused on your friend. And it is a long time. But, you knew this when you agreed to be a bridesmaid. So, don’t let her down. Follow these rules to being a good bridesmaid, and you might remain friends after the wedding.
Remember, it’s an honor
Be proud of yourself that you’re a good enough friend to rate. Maybe you were there the first night they met. Maybe you were there the moment they fell in love. Maybe you morally supported them throughout their courtship. Maybe you’re the best high school friend, the sister, the sister-in-law-to-be, or the best college friend. Maybe they just don’t have many friends and you got the position by default. Whatever the case, you’re one of their closest friends and for that you should be proud.
Don’t be the bad bridesmaid
Try very hard not to be the worst of the group. Brides remember bad behavior and nothing is worse than going down in wedding lore as the person who ruined the wedding. So, put on a happy face, be agreeable, and try to help out.
If you want to know, after the fact, if you were the worst bridesmaid, here’s how you can tell. Were you asked to stand at the end of the wedding party line-up during the pictures? This is a dead give-away. This was so the photographer could easily crop you out of the portrait that will forever hang in their living room even you are in your Strapless Bridesmaid Dresses. Curious guests now ask your former friends about the wedding party. They might even remark that it’s unusual to see that there were more groomsmen than bridesmaids.
Don’t say, “When I get married, I’m going to…”
No bride cares about your imaginary wedding. This is her real wedding. Get with the program. You can tell your other friends that you’re going to choose V-Neck Bridesmaid Dresses. Or, better yet, keep a journal (since no one really cares about your imaginary wedding). Plus, you might not ever get married. Especially if you keep talking about boring subjects such as your imaginary wedding.
Never say, “This is just like what so-and-so did”
Each bride is unique and her wedding is proof of her individuality. All weddings are not the same. She may not be the only one who ever thought to choose the Champagne Bridesmaid Dresses, but it’s a fine choice. Their decision not to shove cake up each other’s noses is an innovation to be proud of. Always praise that idea.
Do what you can
Spend what you can and bow out gracefully when you have to. No bride expects you to break the bank or attend every wedding-related event. (When bowing out, just remember: Don’t be the bad bridesmaid.)
Call for updates
Calls should be made on a sliding scale depending on proximity to the event or related events. Even if you win the lottery, cut off your hand in a freak boating accident, and get an audience with the Pope all in the same day, do not ever talk about yourself on the update phone call. Only talk about yourself if asked, and even then try to deflect attention back to the wedding. Your hand is gone. There’s nothing you can do about it now. Only mention it if gloves are not part of the bridesmaid ensemble. And even then, be very delicate about it. “What do you think about gloves? I see them a lot in these bridal magazines you sent me.”
Be agreeable about style choices
Only if you’ve cut your hand off and want to disguise it should you make any fashion suggestions to the bride. Keep all opinions about the wedding style positive. You love the Cap Sleeves Bridesmaid Dresses. You love the tuxes. Even if your wardrobe is completely wash and wear and your idea of a tux is the polyester kind from the 70s, you approve of, and wholeheartedly support, the bride’s choices.
Be nice to the goober they want to fix you up with
People in the throes of love want everyone to be as blissfully happy as they are. Pretend you believe.
Help your friend go to the bathroom
You’re on duty at the wedding. And your friend is wearing five tons of dress. So, keep this in mind when you tip your champagne flute. If you get drunk then who will hold the cream puff skirt up while she backs into the stall?
Do the chicken dance
Remember, they picked the music. So, don’t say, “I hate this song.” Also, stay until the reception hall manager kicks you out. Then go to the after-wedding party until the bride and groom go to their suite … finally.
Be amiable. Do what they want you to do. It’s only one night, so even after your feet start to bleed, hang in there. You can ice and bandage them at two, three AM, at the very latest. Plus, they probably gave you a gift for all of your trouble. You spent hundreds of dollars. You spend countless hours. And they gave you a necklace and earrings that’ll match the Silver Bridesmaid Dresses you’ll never wear again. (Remember, it’s an honor)
Of course, these tips will keep you in good stead with the couple. In fact, if you follow these guidelines, you may be their only friend. That is, of course, until it’s your turn to get married. So, if you really want to keep friends, when it’s your turn … elope! Marry in private. Sure, your friends might think they want to be bridesmaids. This might be because they’ve never done it before. So, spare them the agony they put you through and let the wife and daughter of the justice of the peace be your witnesses.
November 18, 2009
Honor or Disaster?
November 17, 2009
Hot Bridesmaid Dress Trends 2009-2010
For bridesmaids in 2009 and 2010, less is more, although Elegant Bridesmaid Dresses is all the rage as well. Here are some of the hottest trends in bridesmaid gowns this year.
So what kinds of bridesmaid gowns are brides choosing for their girls for 2009 and 2010? Thanks to the economic downturn, one trend that’s definitely not in style is gowns that cost hundreds of dollars. Brides and bridesmaids are looking for Cheap Bridesmaid Dresses to designer gowns.
Here are some bridesmaid dress trends for 2009 and 2010.
Bridesmaid Dresses Rentals
For years men have been renting their own tuxes, and yet somehow bridesmaids have been expected to buy their own. Finally, though, Bridesmaid Dresses rental industry is really growing. In addition to saving money, bridesmaid gown rentals are a great way to be able to wear something once that’s way more fabulous than a typical bridesmaid can afford to own.
The Black Bridesmaid Dresses Trend
When it comes to a dress that has to look good on a number of different women, black has its advantages. It’s slimming and generally favors most complexions. Black dresses also are advantageous because they tend to look for expensive than they really are, so a great way to make a gown seem more elegant is simply to buy it in black. It’s also pretty easy to mix-and-match black dresses, so bridesmaids might even be able to wear nice Black Bridesmaid Dresses they already own and save quite a bit of money.
The Cocktail Style Bridesmaid Gown Trend
Whatever bridesmaid gown color the brides choose, chances are a shorter, cocktail style version of a gown will be much cheaper than the longer version. What’s more, in terms of finding a dress that bridesmaids might actually wear again, Short Bridesmaid Dresses probably will get more reuse opportunities. Popular Cocktail Dresses silhouettes for 2009 and 2010 include the trapeze dress, which is a forgiving style that tends to look great on lots of figures (unless it’s really, really short). Other popular trends include spaghetti straps and single-shoulder dresses.
The Purple Bridesmaid Dresses Trend
For brides who want a little vibrant color in their weddings this year, one of the hottest choices throughout the fashion industry is dark, violet shades of purple. Happily, this is a color that looks surprisingly well with most complexions, and unless the dress is designed quite poorly, Purple Bridesmaid Dresses tends to be fairly slimming the same way black is. Lavender gowns can work too, but this color is less forgiving, and a bad lavender gown can scream “80s prom gown.”
Bare Shawls
A trend that was hot last year and has returned is the bare shawl accompanying a gown, especially one with Cap Sleeves Bridesmaid Dresses. Shawls can be simple, or they can jazz up a black or gray dress with some beads, sequins, or other sparkly details.
Bridesmaid Dress Trends in an Economic Downturn
This year, less is more when it comes to bridesmaids gowns, at least usually. Versatile black dresses and cocktail dresses often are cheaper, but look elegant and can be reused for another occasion. Bridesmaids dress rentals are in style as well. Clearly, it’s perfectly reasonable to shop for bridesmaid dresses with a budget in mind and still locate beautiful, stylish dresses.
November 11, 2009
wedding dresses for yourself
A couple years ago, I went to two weddings that demonstrated polar opposite philosophies about bridesmaid’s dresses. You didn’t know that choosing a dress for your bridesmaids was philosophical? Well, now you do.
At the first wedding, the brides were all dressed in a very plain, form-fitting dress. Now, I’m a guy, so I can’t say anything especially brilliant about the particular dress style, other than it was “okay.” But the color, a sort of mocha (I told you I’m a guy — this color’s probably called Venetian Arrivista), truly looked awful.
After all, this was a Sicilian wedding, and the bridesmaids were dark-skinned. The bride looked great, but the bridesmaids sure didn’t. The color of the Black Bridesmaid Dresses didn’t suit their skin tones, and the style of the Ball Gown Bridesmaid Dresses didn’t flatter. As harsh as it sounds, this bride thought of her bridesmaids as props.
At another wedding, instead of the traditional dress, the bride chose an Cap Sleeves Evening Dresses. While the color wasn’t ideal for every single bridesmaids, there were enough hues and subtleties in the sequins to soften any mismatches. Better yet, since the pantsuit consisted of separates, the bridesmaids could pair the sparkly top with a pair of jeans and sexy heeled boots for a hot night on the town. These bridesmaids thanked the bride repeatedly for choosing an Cap Sleeves Bridesmaid Dresses that they could wear to other formal (or even not-so-formal) occasions.
Of course, the most important dress at any wedding is the bride’s. But after that, the next most important is the bridesmaids’ gowns. They’re important because there’s a number of them being worn at the same time, so they make a big visual statement. Quite often, the flowers are keyed to the ‘maids gowns. And finally, those gowns vividly reflect your tastes.
Picture this: the groom and groomsmen are dressed in dodgy tuxedos — the groom’s wrists are peeking out from the sleeves, and the men are all wearing pink floral cummerbunds even though the wedding’s at 8 pm. Most people would just chuckle and chalk it all up to the groom. If the bridesmaids look similarly neglected, everyone wonders why the bride chose such ugly dresses. Don’t let this happen to you!
When choosing those dresses, in fact, it’s best to involve your bridesmaids from the start. In fact, in this age of the internet and photo-swapping by email, there’s really no excuse not to. Your first thought’s probably color, and while you probably have a favorite in mind, it may not suit everyone. In fact, each of your bridesmaids probably has a different skin tone, and it’s not easy to find one color that flatters everyone.
It’s true, your wedding’s not a democracy. But this is one area where it’s really good to compromise. This is doubly true if your bridesmaids are paying all their own costs. Find yourself getting stuck on color? Try these strategies to mix things up: choose two colors, dividing your bridesmaids down the middle. Have three buy a Red Bridesmaid Dresses and three buy a Chocolate Bridesmaid Dresses one. (If you go this route, make absolutely sure that you’re grouping your maids by shortest to tallest, or they’ll look funny.) Or single out your maid of honor with a dress in her own unique color. Being creative can go a long way toward the solution.
Price is key, too. Since most ‘maids will never wear that dress again, it’s unfair to have them pay an arm and a leg for it. Making sure it’s affordable will make you popular. Along those lines, many brides are trying harder to find dresses that the bridesmaids might wear to other formal occasions. Others are driving a deal with a local seamstress and having the dresses custom-made — or occasionally, driving a deal with Mom. Thanks, Mom.
You’re the bride and it’s your day, so the final choice is yours. But if you’re able to relax your grip and let a little give-and-take into the proceedings, your bridesmaids are sure to thank you. Choose two or three dresses that you can live with, and let the girls vote on their favorite. This way, you know you’ll like the dress because you picked the options, and the bridesmaids will feel they had some say over where their money went.
Most women who’ve served their time as bridesmaids can share horror stories of some pretty unflattering dresses. By following these guidelines, you can make sure your bridesmaids belong to happily-ever-after stories instead!
November 9, 2009
Plus Size Bridesmaids Dresses
Getting married is a happy time in any bride’s life, and the wedding is a chance to make all your fantasies come true. One of the things to think about when you are planning your wedding is the wedding party. Most brides enjoy picking out dress for their bridesmaids. When deciding what dresses to pick out for your bridesmaids, it is important to remember their size. If you have plus size bridesmaids then you will want to make sure to pick out dresses that will fit them and also make them feel comfortable.
One thing to keep in mind when picking out Plus size Bridesmaid Dresses is what time of year the wedding is taking place. Most plus size women tend to feel uncomfortable showing off their arms. If the wedding is in a colder month of the year, you can get away with a short sleeve dress or even a long sleeve dress. This way the bridesmaids feel more comfortable as they do not have to have their upper arms showing. If your wedding is going to be in a warmer month during the year, then try to get Cap Sleeves Bridesmaid Dresses. If the dress styles are not what you want, then you can go for straps that are more like tank tops. Make sure you talk to your bridesmaids to make sure they are comfortable. If they feel uncomfortable, you can add a colorful shawl to the dress that can cover the upper arms and shoulders. The shawl can be very thin so that it allows the bridesmaids to cover their arms while staying cool in the warm weather. If you plan to go sleeveless, then a shawl would also come in handy for anyone who feels uncomfortable showing off their upper arms.
Another thing to think about when you are choosing Plus size Bridesmaid Dresses is the style and cut of the dress. Most plus size women do not feel comfortable in form fitting clothing. Make sure that you choose a style that is not too tight fitting to the body. A-Line Bridesmaid Dresses can be worn comfortably with the right undergarments, and Empire Waist Bridesmaid Dresses also may make your bridesmaids feel more comfortable. You do not have to have a dress that is baggy or that sticks out, but just make sure that it does not cling to the body.
Length is another thing to keep in mind when choosing a plus size dress for your bridesmaids. It is a better idea to choose a longer dress as opposed to a shorter dress. Many plus size women do not feel great about showing off their legs. Even if the bridesmaids do not mind showing a little leg, a longer dress with make your plus size bridesmaids look taller. When they are able to look taller, they do not look quite so big. This allows a more proportionate look for your bridesmaids. Not only will they feel more comfortable, but also they will look good during the activities and in the wedding pictures. If you have a mixture of sizes in your bridal party, then you can also choose a style of dress and allow each bridesmaid to make some alterations. You can choose the dress style, color, and length, but allow your bridesmaids to decide if they want sleeveless, take top sleeves, or short sleeves. Give them a variety of choices so they can feel comfortable during the ceremony and wedding reception.
It is not always easy to get your plans put together when you are planning a wedding. By choosing bridesmaids dresses that are comfortable for your plus size bridesmaids, you are able to make them more likely to be supportive and help you with anything that you need help with. If they are happy, they will be more likely to keep you happy throughout the planning and the big day.
September 7, 2009
Modest Bridesmaid Dresses
While shopping for bridesmaid dresses, there are many brides that choose to shop for bridesmaid dresses that can leave something to the imagine, rather than seeking bridesmaid dresses that tend to traditionally show a lot of skin, failing to become a modest bridesmaid dress. There are a variety of dresses available and modest bridesmaid dresses are appropriate for the formal wedding occasion, especially those with are seeking a traditional ceremony, in a church, to preserve the traditions which are associated with the church.
What should you keep in mind while searching for a modest bridesmaid dress? While shopping for a modest bridesmaid dress, it is important to remember that just because a dress is modest, does not mean that the dress doesn’t have to lack such stylish elements as being fitted, cut well and in a variety of bright colors and patterns which can compliment any figure or shape, even skin tone.
One can choose a modest bridesmaid dress based on the cut of the dress. Most cuts of the modern bridesmaid dresses that are modest will be higher to the neckline, with little cleavage. Many of these dresses will also encompass small sleeves in the form of cap sleeves Bridesmaid Dresses or short sleeves Bridesmaid Dresses, especially for a summer wedding. This way, the bridesmaids are able to feel comfortable while taking part in the wedding, knowing they are covered.
Modest bridesmaid dresses are often those that reach past the knee or Long Bridesmaid Dresses – some brides even go as far to pay high attention to tradition, as well as high attention to detail and choose to have full-length formal dresses which can create a modest appearance for the bridesmaid that is taking part in the ceremony. This way, it can be assured that everyone is able to remain comfortable while taking part in the ceremony.
