Going bridesmaids'' dress shopping... Any tips?

[anchor31]

My sister (MOH) is leaving for Perth, Australia on July 7th and coming back a year later (4 weeks before the wedding), so I''m going dress shopping with her and my BFF (BM) on Saturday.

Should I make an appointment since it''s on a Saturday? Are there any useful tips I should know about?

I''m picking the colour and letting them pick their dress (they don''t have to match), so I hope things will go well! My sister hates dress shopping... I hope she''ll behave.

 

[robbie3982]

I would defintely make an appointment if you want them to help you. Saturdays are typically very busy.

My advice is to have them pick out a bunch of dresses that they want to try on and you pick out a bunch that you think would look nice and then just let them pick.

 

[cara]

Yes make an appointment. Maybe two places if you want but no more.

I wouldn''t buy bridesmaid dresses this early. Its one thing to get a wedding gown a year out as some alterations are standard, but for bridesmaid dresses you risk big alterations charges or it plain not working if someone puts on weight. Just write down the style numbers and have measurements taken. Order at some reasonable date closer to the wedding in case your sis changes her mind on style or changes size at all in her year away.

 

[anchor31]

Thanks for the advice. I''ll call for appointments at two stores that carry the Alfred Angelo Bridesmaids'' line, their dresses are pretty and simple, which fits my wedding and my ladies'' style.

I won''t be ordering the dresses right away. I''m planning on ordering them from netbride.com sometime before next February.

 

[climb2cloud9]

You should be able to find more than a few nice dresses at Alfred Angelo and from my experience, they are really helpful. Good luck!

 

[Fancy605]

Alfred Angeleno has some lovely bridesmaid dresses! Another good one for bridesmaid dresses is Bill Levkoff. I know a lot of brides who have chosen dresses from both designers. My bridesmaids tried dresses from both, and they selected one (they wanted to match) by Bill Levkoff although an Alfred Angeleno was a close second. I think if you are being so flexible and letting them each pick their own, then you will have no trouble finding something to suit everyone.

My advice for shopping with people who don''t like dress shopping is: if you don''t like something put a positive spin on it or blame the dress. Instead of saying, "No, that looks bad," say stuff like, "You know, I bet I''d like this next one even better," or "That dress doesn''t make you look as skinny as you really are," or "No, that dress is poorly constructed." That usually keeps people from getting too down on themselves when things don''t work. I know a lot of girls start feeling like it is their fault when certain dresses don''t fit, when really it''s the dress''s job to fit them, not the other way around.

 

[anchor31]

Thanks for the advie, Fancy! I''ll do that.