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Bridesmaids: Shut Up About Your Dress! (VIDEO)
It's June, which means a lot of you are probably shimmying into bridesmaids dresses you paid a bunch of money for and can't stand.
JoAnn From Bensonhurst is back and in this episode she tells whiny bridesmaids what's what -- namely, the bride has more on her mind than worrying about what dress YOU like! Check her out in the video after the jump. She is a trip. And she's right about this, but I have the key to getting bridesmaids to stop complaining behind your back about what you made them wear.
Pick a color and let them choose it themselves! I did it, and it was one of the better bride decisions I made. Check out the photo!
Letting your bridesmaids pick their own dresses means your friends can wear something that uniquely flatters them, instead of you trying to find one gown that will look good on women with a whole range of body types and coloring. Your friends can stay within their means and not spend $200 on a dress they hate, and you might even achieve the holy grail of bridesmaids' dresses: something they will wear again!
The most important thing is to send out a swatch of the color you want them to wear well in advance of the time they'll need to get to shopping. Make it a color that won't be impossible to find in non-bridal stores; black is good; "pink champagne" is not. And make your parameters clear: Floor length or short? Sparkles or no sparkles? If it's a religious ceremony, how covered up do they need to be?
Another tip: Be forgiving. If you go this route, you will get a million texts asking things like "when you said a solid color, do you mean on the whole dress?" or someone will show up in a dress you can't stand. Remember, though, that you did this to give your friends a break. Better that you hate their dress than they do.
For more of Joanne's unique take on life, and more on parenting and beyond, subscribe to CafeMom Studios YouTube Channel.
What's your worst bridesmaid dress story?
Image via Dave Pampreen
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Roxygurl
Since there were only two of us it was easier to decide in a dress and we actually chose the same dress. My friend just wanted it to be the same color but we both liked the same dress so it ended up working out perfectly.
linzemae
toniperoni
honestly as someone who has never been married, and a person whose friends know better than to involve in a bridal party I prob don't have any right to comment. but I will anyway.
The person footing the bill makes the final decision - ie if bridezilla wants everyone in revolting matching taupe frills then guess who pays. If the couple does not pay for the dress then the authors idea is most appropriate, Samegoes forpeoplecomplaining about parents taking over their wedding etc when they are not the ones paying for it.If you want things done your way then pay for it.
One of the things that put us off getting married in the early days (there are many reasons)was the knowledge that my partners parents who are quite wealthy would exoect us to have a BIG wedding and would insist on paying if we couldn't, and therefore take over. Should we ever decide to get married, and we may it will be on our terms and our dollar
the4mutts
They were all happy, because I had a new years eve wedding, and my theme for attire was black and white.
They didn't have to spend a dime! Every one had something in their closet already. How much better can it get?
Mandago
kisses5050
Bridesmaids get over it! It is not about you. You are a maid a helper to the bride. YOU ARE NEVER GOING TO WEAR THE DRESS AGAIN! She is never going to wear the dress again. Unless it is the most casual of weddings.. or you will look like Bridesmaid revisited... Get over it... embrace it as a day of dress up... and this comes from a bridesmaid with 15 ugly dresses behind her and two wedding gowns.
sunangel803
RhondaVeggie
JAIRATRACI
Taisie
My personal take on the attire for the wedding party is that this is the special day for the bride and groom, and that it is an honor for everyone who has been invited to take part in the ceremony. As such, they should wear what they are asked to wear, and do so happily, without grumbling and complaining. If they honestly cannot financially afford to do so, they should either politely decline, or talk openly about the financial hardship. Obviously, if they are close enough friends/family to be in the wedding party, they should be close enough to discuss the matter, and see if there is a way to work the financial difficulty out. I myself would be willing to purchase the dress myself if I knew my maid of honor or bridesmaid truly couldn't afford it!