The big news in bridesmaids dresses? They needn’t be something you will only wear once!

You've found the dream wedding dress, and you can’t wait to wear it on the big day. But just because you’re sorted, it doesn’t mean everyone else is. What about your girls?! They deserve to shop for some bridesmaids dresses they feel amazing in too!

No matter your wedding style or the size of your bridal party, we've got everything you need to know to make bridesmaid dress shop a breeze. Take a look through our tips below, and soon your mates will be finding the perfect styles for your wedding day!

Get a feel for the size range of your bridesmaids

A fairly accurate size list for your bridesmaids is a good place to start, and will help your shop stylist when they are initially picking out dresses. Bridesmaid dress sizes do vary per brand, sometimes as much as two sizes. So make sure your girls are aware of this, and understand that the size given to them does not reflect their actual size.

Decide on a price range

If your girls are expected to purchase their own bridesmaids dresses, you should be sensitive to the fact that some of them won’t be able to afford the most expensive styles. And that if they are purchasing themselves, it’s also important that they’re able to wear the dress again, post-wedding.

Be upfront from the start, and consider their feelings as much as you consider the overall look of your bridesmaids.

Zero in on your colour palette

Wedding flowers usually dictate the colour palette of the bridal party’s attire. However, try to steer clear of really bright colours, as they’ll sit harshly on many skin tones. Instead, pick softer colours that are kinder on skin: navy, dove grey and pale champagne are the hues to wear now. Tiffanys have a beautiful array of colours on offer, and they’re now available to browse in our Kent showroom! 

 If you're doing mix-and-match, be specific

If you’re a pretty relaxed bride and are letting your girls shop their bridesmaids dresses, be specific with what you want from them. If you can honestly say that you 100% don’t care what your girls show up in, short, long, low cut, mini skirt, etc… then by all means, give them that free-reign. But, if there’s any hesitation in the back of your mind, voice your requirements.

Should everyone wear knee-length bridesmaid dresses? Do you want them all in the same shade of purple? Are you okay with a variety of fabrics, or would you prefer something light and flowy? If you don’t set some requirements, you’ll end up with a hodgepodge of different styles that might not look too great together. Guidelines will not only make you feel more relaxed, but it will help to calm your girls too — as their choices have been honed.

Be sensitive about problem area

Everyone has an area on their body that they feel less than happy about exposing. Whether it’s upper arms, waists, knees… Try to balance out problem areas while in the shop, or before, so that every girl feels comfortable in their chosen bridesmaids dresses. If each girl has different bugbears (warning: this will open the anxiety floodgates), look to collections that offer numerous styles (strapless, high-neck, one-shouldered) in the same colours. Linzi Jay bridesmaids for example, have a wonderful range of styles.

Consider alterations on your bridesmaids dresses

Adding an extra panel here or a strap there can make all the difference to how bridesmaids dresses sit on the body. At The Kent Wedding Centre, we can offer expert advice ins-tore. And even show you how to offer more coverage on the arms, or whether extra panels could be added between side and back seams to allow for more fluid movement.

Bridesmaids underwear

The right underwear will make a tricky dress far more palatable. Invest in a stash of Spanx for your bridal party — and direct them on the bra front. You wouldn't believe the difference and even consider suggesting expert underwear measurements, you wouldn't believe how many of us are walking around in bras that don't fit!

Looking for bridesmaids dresses can be a daunting task, but we have been doing this a long time and know exactly how to find the perfect dress for every girl, trust us and book your appointment now!

Book your bridesmaids’ appointment with The Kent Wedding Centre now

Tel: 01622 873434
Email: info@thekentweddingcentre.com