Easy, 5-step guide to picking out gorgeous bridesmaid dresses

by Brittany Anas · March 7, 2013

By Brittany Anas

Your bridesmaids are your best friends, your family members and the women who mean the most to you. So, don’t use your bridal superpowers to force any one of them to wear a gosh-darn awful mess of a dress. Bad bridesmaid dresses have become so unfortunately common that there are galleries upon galleries of them online. (Exhibit A: 20 Ugly Bridesmaid Dresses from OneWed).

Say I-do to flattering, pretty dresses and accessories for your bridesmaids. Here’s our easy, five-step guide to helping your bridesmaids look their best.

One size does not fit all: Your friends come in different shapes and sizes. Solicit their input on what cuts flatter and make them feel most confident. Your gal-pals with bigger busts might wince at wearing strapless dresses just like your tomboy friends who you played sports with growing up might fear traipsing in three-inch high heels along cobblestone.

Consider breaking away from taffeta and satin: Your wedding should be a reflection of your style. Classic taffeta and satin are certainly classic bridesmaid staples. But, stores like J.Crew have specialty wedding shops that give you more options — like a silk chiffon collection. One of our favorite summer wedding trends is the mix of printed dresses with softer pastels. Imagine a couple of your bridesmaids wearing this Ted Baker fit and flare floral dress from Nordstrom and a few others wearing a complementing Amsale chiffon halter in blush, also from Nordstrom.

Country cutie Miranda Lambert nailed it with her wedding to Blake Shelton. Her pack of bridesmaids mix and matched with floral dresses of different flattering cuts, wearing floral prints and soft, feminine solids juxtaposed with two-stepping boots just right for the reception. Whether or not you like the look, it was true to Lambert and groom Blake Shelton’s style.

Floral bouquets: Use bouquets to pop in bursts of color, especially if your bridesmaids are wearing soft-colored dresses. For an ethereal look, opt for bouquets that are filled with blush or cream-colored flowers. If your bridesmaids are wearing black, navy or darker hues — consider bright, vibrant bouquets.

Buy meaningful accessories: Your girls are working hard for you to make your wedding day special. Consider buying them a gift that they can wear even after the wedding. Whether it be a personalized charm necklace from Etsy, “forget-me-not” Bobbie pins from Anthropologie or a silver crystal flower bracelet from the Lauren Conrad collection at Kohl’s.

Make a survival kit for your bridesmaids: Inevitably a button will pop, a small spill will happen or a tear of joy will cause mascara to run. Find a cute little make-up sack to pack emergency items. (Here’s a floral-printed case from Forever 21 for $9.80). Pack a mini sewing kit, double-stick tape, a few Q-tips and make-up remover to clean up blunders, Bobby pins, a Tide to-go stick to quickly clean up stains and a bottle of nail polish to fix any last-minute chips. You can pick up these items in one-stop shopping at drugstore.com.

(Photos from top to bottom: Ted Baker dress from Nordstrom; Amsale chiffon dress from Nordstrom; Carmella dress from J.Crew)