The fear of an ugly bridesmaid dress is a real and present danger for any bridal party member, or anyone who’s ever watched 27 Dresses. As if shelling out time and money to celebrate your friend’s impending nuptials isn’t enough, the potential to be forced into wearing a peach taffeta ballgown or a too-clingy slip dress can feel like grounds for a friendship-ending breakdown.
While it is the bride’s Big Day, stylist Anny Choi urges brides to consider their party’s feelings about what they’ll be wearing for the wedding. “It is your special day, but you also want the people closest to you to also feel great and what they’re wearing,” she says. It’s an overlooked point: wearing something uncomfortable or unflattering can dampen the mood for everyone.
Choi has seen more than her fair share of bridesmaids attire, and has some tips to help brides-to-be avoid subjecting their bridal party to the dreaded ugly dress.
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Don’t leave your bridal party’s outfits until the last minute
“A lot of people like to coordinate their flowers and wedding colors to what their bridal party is wearing,” Choi says. “Not everyone looks great in a pale pink. Keep that in mind when you’re planning for your florals and the decor. [Don’t let] the bridesmaids dresses be a last thought.”
Take your bridal party’s temperature
Everybody wants to feel heard! Choi recommends reaching out to your bridal party early to gauge comfort levels with everything from price to colors. “Something you could do beforehand—just so that everyone feels taken care of and seen—is sending out a short questionnaire. What budget do you feel comfortable with? Do you have any wardrobe restrictions? Any colors that are definite nos? and compiling that before you start the process so that you know where they stand,” Choi says.
Be mindful of different body types
“You might be six-foot, size 2, look great at a slip dress, but that’s not going to be the case for everyone,” Choi says. Perhaps consider offering a variety of silhouettes for your bridal party to choose from, that way they’re able to feel their most confident.