From Budget to Style: 7 Tips on How to Pick Bridesmaid Dresses

Important Fashion Takeaways:

• Start shopping for bridesmaid dresses 6-8 months before the wedding to allow time for ordering and alterations.
• Set a budget and communicate costs with your bridal party.
• Consider cohesive styles like different dresses in the same color or timeless long styles.
• Choose dress lengths based on formality and ensure a flattering fit with structured designs.
• Prioritize comfort with breathable fabrics and built-in support for all-day wear.
• Align dresses with the wedding theme, from rustic to formal, using Dimitra Designs’ versatile collection.
• Keep personal preferences in mind and involve bridesmaids in the decision process for harmony.
• Structured dresses ensure comfort, support, and elegance, making them a superior choice.

Selecting bridesmaid dresses can feel like a complex balancing act. As a bride, you want your bridal party to feel as confident and comfortable as possible while ensuring the dresses complement your wedding theme and budget.

We’re here to help demystify and untangle what can be a complex process. Here, we’ve compiled 7 of our best tips on how to pick bridesmaid dresses that will tick every box and relieve one last worry in planning your big day.

1. Start Early, Stay Ahead

If you have never planned or been part of planning a wedding, you need to know that timing really is everything—including the bridesmaid dresses.

A brief look at the importance of timing:

Many vendors, especially the popular ones, book up months or even a year or more in advance. But it’s not just vendors; this often includes the following:

• Photographer
• Caterer
• Officiant
• Custom invites or decorations
• The wedding dress
• The Tuxedos
• The bridesmaid dresses
• Alterations

When should you order your bridesmaid dresses? Start shopping at the latest, six to eight months before the wedding date. This allows for plenty of time for unexpected delays and any alterations that may need to happen.

Speaking of, don’t forget how important it is for your bridesmaids to have dress fittings whenever it is possible. At Dimitra Designs, we offer expert fitting services in person to ensure each bridesmaid’s dress fits perfectly, providing the support and comfort to look and feel excellent—which they will undoubtedly appreciate as much as you will on your wedding day.

2. Set a Realistic Budget

How much should you spend on bridesmaid dresses? Before we cover style decisions, always establish a transparent and honest budget. Depending on the designer and materials, bridesmaid dresses can range from $100 to $300 and higher.

Open communication between you and your bridal party will be key—some brides may decide to cover half the cost, while others leave it up to the bridesmaids. Make sure that your needs and your bridesmaid's needs are communicated.

We make it easier at Dimitra by offering elegant options for every price point, meaning it is easier than ever to find luxurious, high-quality dresses without compromising style or structure.

3. Choose a Style with Cohesiveness

When it comes to the dress style, you want to achieve a cohesive yet personalized look. But how do you do that?

Establish a clear theme, choosing 1 or 2 primary colors for your wedding. Bridesmaids and groomsmen should complement each other by either wearing your theme’s color or the two shades that complement the theme.

One popular approach many brides choose is having their bridesmaids in different dresses but the same color. This allows you and your bridesmaids to choose a dress ideal for their body shape while maintaining the harmony of your wedding theme.

4. Take Note of Length and Fit

How long should your bridesmaid's dresses be? The answer will depend on how formal your wedding day is. Long bridesmaid dress styles are typically favored for black-tie or formal ceremonies, while tea-length or knee-length dresses work fabulously for more laid-back, casual weddings.

One essential aspect to look for is to ensure that your bridesmaids' dresses are comfortable and superior quality: Structure.

What are structured designs? Briefly:

• A structured dress has a defined shape and is made with boning or other superior materials to help keep the dress's shape.
• The benefits include help with posture, easy-to-iron-out seams, a flawless fit that enhances the wearers' natural shape, and that they make the wearer feel supported, comfortable, and more confident.

Dimitra designs provide dresses with structure because we uniquely understand how essential our dresses and designs are to fit like a dream and feel like wearing one.

5. Prioritizing Comfort and Practicality

Like you, your bridesmaids will likely be wearing their dress for several hours, so it makes sense that comfort is as crucial as the quality of the dress. Opt for breathable, lightweight fabrics, especially if your wedding is outdoors in summer. Structured dresses offer a practical advantage as they provide built-in support, eliminating the need for additional garment considerations.

6. Matching the Wedding Theme

Have you ever wondered why bridesmaids are often wearing the same dresses? Traditionally, this practice symbolizes unity and supports the overall aesthetic of your wedding. While this custom has evolved, keeping your bridal party’s attire aligned with your wedding is still important.

For example, if you plan a rustic-chic wedding, soft, flowy fabrics in earthy tones would work beautifully. On the other hand, a glamourous black-tie affair calls for more classic silhouettes in luxurious materials like satin or even velvet.

7. How Does Everyone Feel?

No one’s personality or preferences are cookie-cutter, and appealing to all can be one of the most challenging aspects of choosing bridesmaid dresses. As your bridesmaids are an integral part of your wedding, it’s important for you to remember that their comfort and confidence are just as key as yours. So, how do you choose your bridesmaids and their dresses without hurting feelings?

We’ve mentioned it before, but it is vital: communication is key. Consider hosting a shopping trip in person or even a gathering to shop online so everyone can try on or point out styles together and share their thoughts. While it will be impossible to please everyone, you’ll better understand which dresses work for most of your bridesmaids and have a solid foundation for choosing the ones ideal for you and them.

Dimitra Fashion Tip:

Choosing structured dresses is an excellent means to having universally flattering choices for all your bridesmaids, making your party look polished and cohesive. If you aren’t sure about this process, don’t forget that our Dimitra Design’s expert consultants are here to guide you and find the perfect fit for all.

Why Do Structured Dresses Matter?

When dresses come with structure, the dress comes equipped with either boning, consisting of lightweight strips sewn between the seams of a bodice. These boning or other structure elements help the dress maintain its shape, stay in place, and assist with posture and comfort. It can also eliminate the need for extra undergarments and supportive additions.

Structured gowns provide:

• A sleek, polished look as it maintains its shape, remaining flattering.
• Adds a touch of sophistication and formality to any dress, perfect for such a special day as a wedding
• Can be tailored to accentuate specific features like a waistline or bust
• May incorporate boning or other internal structure to provide extra support, especially beneficial to those with larger busts.

Dimitra Designs creates dresses crafted with care, offering superior structure and quality that constantly outshines our competition. When you choose a structured dress from us, you’re not just investing in the comfort of yourself or our bridesmaids but investing in an ageless silhouette that enhances the entire day—from the wedding photos to the reception, keeping your bridal party comfortable and as radiant as you.

Bringing it All Together: Your Path to Perfect Bridesmaids Dresses

Choosing bridesmaid dresses shouldn’t, and doesn’t have to be complicated, but it can come with its own challenges. From managing different body types and personal preferences to staying within budget while matching your wedding’s theme, there are so many factors to think about.

However, with Dimitra Designs' expertise working alongside you, you can create a picture-perfect bridal party. Start early, set your budget, and prioritize style, comfort, and cohesion. Our structured, graceful, and elegant bridesmaid dress collection ensures your loved ones will look and feel fabulous on your beautiful day.

The perfect dress is here, waiting for you! Explore our collection online or book an appointment to experience the Dimitra difference firsthand.