How to Choose Your Bridesmaids Wedding Shoes

It is natural to feel a little overwhelmed when it comes to choosing the shoes that your bridesmaids will be wearing to your wedding. You will likely want your bridesmaids input into the shoes which they will wear, but at the same time, you will want the shoes to fit in with your overall image of the bridal party. So what do you do?

You Pick the ShoePicking the shoe yourself that each bridesmaid will wear is the best option if you want a uniformed look. Try to be considerate of your bridesmaid’ financial position before picking out the most expensive shoe.

You Pick the ColourYou will likely know what colour shoes you are looking for, so ask your bridesmaids to pick out shoes in that colour. You can also indicate the style if you wish, for example heels or sandals.

You Pick the StyleYou could just pick the style and let the bridesmaids find shoes that fit these criteria. Be aware that you cold end up with shoes with contrasting colours, which is okay if that is the style you are looking to achieve.

You need to make whichever options you choose clear upfront, so that none of the ladies end up spending a fortune on the wrong shoes. Be clear and concise in what you want and more importantly, what you don’t want.

Who Pays For the Bridesmaids Gowns?

After the initial excitement of being asked to be bridesmaid is over, then comes the inevitable question, do I need to pay for my own bridesmaid gown? The general answer is yes; when you accept the invitation to become a bridesmaid you are expected to pay for your own gown. Once upon a time, the bride used to pay, but that is no longer the norm. However, bear in mind that this differs depending on what part of the world you are from. For example, in the USA and Australia the bride doesn’t pay, but in the UK most brides provide and pay for all the gowns.

When you start shopping around for gowns, it is a good idea to have a casual discussion about how much you can afford to spend on a dress. It’s not fair for the bride to pick out a lavish dress that will cost three weeks worth of pay if you cannot afford it. On the other hand, you should be realistic in your budget and set aside enough money for a nice dress that the bride would like.

You will find that if a bride has her heart set on bridesmaid gown that is over your limit, she may offer to pay the difference. The vital thing is to be upfront early on about how much you can realistically spend.

 

 

 

Avoid Bridesmaid Dress Horrors

Chances are if you know a few former bridesmaids, of if you were one yourself, you may have heard some horror stories such as dresses being made in the wrong size, being delivered weeks later than agreed or the workmanship being of a poor level.
Whilst there is no magic formula to ensure that this doesn’t happen, you can take steps to minimise the chances.
1. TIME: Order your dress early, early,  early. This way if you encounter any problems you have enough time to rectify it.
2. TAKE A PHOTO: Take a photo of what you and the dressmaker/store agree that the dresses will look like. Take the photo whilst the bridesmaids are wearing the dress.
3. GET IT IN WRITING: Try to get as much info as you can in writing as you can. From what sizes you are ordering to how long it will take for the dresses to be ready.

Pick Up Cheap Bridesmaids Gowns

You can find discounted gowns for the bridesmaids to wear after the formal season has ended (usually around late November/December) Don’t think that these dresses are just for high school seniors, as they are not. The styles and sizes are accommodating .

Can a Bridesmaid’s Dress Be Black?

Who said bridesmaid’s gowns need to be a uniformed in colour. What a striking visual ensemble Miranda, Charlotte and Samantha made as bridesmaids in Sex and the City. The photo of all four of the gals together is stunning as the fusion of colour just brings the picture to life. However, whilst I do love Miranda’s gown in black, I think that once the groom is added to the mix it could detract the attention from him if he is wearing a traditional black tux.
What do other readers think about this? Can a bridesmaid’s gown be black?