Shopping For Your Bridesmaids' Dresses? Here's Who You Should Take with You

by Sandy Malone, BRIDES

Photo: Getty Images

Bridesmaid-dress shopping for your own wedding is a lot less stressful than shopping for your own bridal gown. There’s nothing to be anxious about. No stress! Just sit back and laugh with your girlfriends when something truly adorable on the hanger looks hideous on the bridesmaids … at least it should be care free so long as you bring the right people with you. Keep the following five things in mind when choosing who will shop with you or you might not have as much fun as you deserve:

1. Don’t take more than two bridesmaids with you shopping for a dress. The more girls, the more opinions you’ll have to contend with when they try on dresses.

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2. Take your bridesmaid who will be the most difficult fit with you to the bridal shop.
If you have a member of your wedding party who is plus size, or has a very large bust, or some other body shape that makes finding flattering dresses a challenge, this is the woman you need to focus on when you’re shopping for bridesmaid dresses. True, you don’t have to limit yourself to what looks good on her because a lot of bridal vendors can do different style in the same color, but it’s a good idea to make sure she’s going to look good and feel comfortable in what you’re asking her to wear.

3. Take your mom with you only if she’s on the same page as you.
If your mother is adamantly opposed to strapless, for example, and that’s what you definitely want, then don’t invite her to go along on the shopping trip.

Related: 15 Elements of An Unforgettable Wedding

4. Bring a bridesmaid who understands your taste and the look you’re going for.
If sexy isn’t the look you want at your wedding, don’t bring the girl most likely to choose something with more cleavage and less skirt.

5. Choose the least opinionated and most supportive bridesmaid for this shopping expedition.
Yes, you want your girls’ opinions, as long as they’re in line with yours. You get to choose the dress. If they don’t like it, they have to live with it. It’s only one day of their lives.

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