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Bridesmaid Duties From Past To Present: It’s More Than Just Bridesmaid Dresses

Did you know that the whole wedding ceremony has a long and rich history? Yes, from the groomsmen to the bridesmaids, a lot has been written about the how they entire wedding entourage came to be.

Today, it is but proper for the bridesmaids to wear the best and the most interesting bridesmaid dresses. In the past, bridesmaid dresses are limited to mimicking the bridal gown? Let’s see why.

The Early Roman World

During this period, bridesmaids formed some kind of a protective shield or an infantry in order to protect the bride as she travels from her place to the village of the groom. Protection was needed as there’s always a possibility of thugs hurting the bride or suitors stealing her away. You can see here that even at such an early civilization, violence has always been one of the by-products of unrequited love.

In the Western World

The tradition begins with complying with the wedding ceremony requirement of having ten witnesses. The aim of this requisite is to outsmart evil souls and spirits who are believed to be in attendance during the ceremony. Thus, it is but proper that bridesmaid dresses are identical to that of the bride (the attire of men ushers must also be identical of the groom’s) so the so-called evil spirits would have a hard time identifying which of the ladies and gentlemen present are being wed.

If you take a look at wedding photographs of Victorian marriages, you’d really have a hard time identifying which of the couples got married simply because of the sameness of the clothes that the entourage is wearing.

In Today’s World

These days, the need for a female troop to protect a bride is no longer imminent. This clearly eliminates the fact that bridesmaid dresses need to be identical with the bride’s. However, bridesmaid dresses should still be in harmony with the theme of the wedding ceremony.

Wedding decor

And although bridesmaids are no longer required to help fend off curses and hexes and evil spirits altogether, they still maintain a vital role in the entire wedding ceremony.

For example, they need to provide key support to the bride. This may be in terms of shopping for the perfect wedding gown or scouting for the most reasonably-priced hotel for the couple’s out-of-town guests. In addition, bridesmaids would also prove to be such a great help in looking for least costly but memorable wedding favors.

Wedding favor

Of course, their responsibility to the couple — especially to the bride — is not only confined in the wedding ceremony itself. There is still bridal a shower to host and organize.

Being a bridesmaid is truly demanding — in a positive way. If you are one, make sure you prepare yourself to get busy months or even years before the special date. You need to spare some time in taking care of wedding preparations. And the payoff for all of these hardwork and sweat? A gorgeous gown that you can wear down the aisle!

You see, the function of bridesmaids hasn’t really changed that much over the years. It has never really made a 360-degree turn, it simply has modernized and has adapted to modern times. Because the fact is, wearing those bridesmaid dresses (identical to the bride’s or otherwise) gives bridesmaids one role: supporting the bride.

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Bridesmaid Dresses Basics: Finding The Design For Your Bridesmaids

Deciding on the best design of bridesmaid dresses is challenging, next to finding your perfect wedding gown. Ideally, as the bride, you don’t want to be stressing over this matter. However, unless you want your wedding to be dubbed as the “wedding with the worst design of bridesmaid dresses,” you definitely would want to have a hand in finding the best bridesmaid dress.

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The dresses of your bridesmaids need not be overly sophisticated. After all, your wedding gown still remains central to the whole perfect wedding scenery. What matters is that each bridesmaid dress complements your gown. This results to a fluid and coordinated picture of merriment, style and tradition.

Uniformity

The gowns of your bridesmaids need not look identical. In fact, one bridesmaid dress can differ from another in terms of style. What’s more important is that all these bridesmaid dresses conform to the theme and motif of the wedding.

Consider your Wearers

Rarely will you ever assemble a wedding entourage where bridesmaids are identical in size, color and height. Therefore, it is also your lookout — or your wedding planner’s — to ensure that the design of the bridesmaid dress will look good on every size, color and height.

For instance, an empress cut gown – contrary to popular belief – would neither be ideal nor suitable for heavy-busted ladies. It would make them look pregnant. If one of your bridesmaids falls under “this category,” then you might to consider another design of bridesmaid dress for her. Perhaps, a low-neckline frock would do the job of flaunting this asset.

Maternity bridesmaid dress

On another note, short ladies would look shorter when made to wear a floor-length bridesmaid dress. Dresses of this length are ideal for tall and skinny bridesmaids. Therefore, if you have someone who’s not that gifted in the height department, you may want her to wear a knee-length, or an above-the-knee bridesmaid dress. Just make sure that it’s not super-short that she’ll end up looking out-of-place.

Ruffled sleeves are also great for those with firm shoulders and arms. Therefore, you must ascertain that the appropriate design of the bridesmaid dress goes to the appropriate person, or body type, so to speak.

Go for Long Life

If you want your bridesmaid dresses to be used not just solely for your wedding, then look for designs that are sophisticated but safe enough to be worn on other dressy occasions. Otherwise, such dresses would only end up in the closet — waiting for them to rot and go out of style.

Evening wear

Going for a bridesmaid dress design that remains relevant outside of a wedding party also spells practicality and significance. You are practical enough to think of your wearers, that they will have an extra fashionable gown that they can wear on special occasions besides your wedding day. You also remain significant as you have thought of a design that can be flaunted to the world anytime, anywhere.

Remember, however, that your bridal gown should remain as the best-looking dress and the star of the most important day of your life. But, thinking wisely of how your bridesmaids would look on their respective gowns would also speak highly of you and your wedding. Together, a perfect wedding gown and well-thought-of bridesmaid dresses could send your day to the top of the Perfect Wedding List.

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How to Avoid Hideous Bridesmaid Dresses

The first question is: Have you ever been assigned the terrifying role of a bridesmaid? Do you have some tales of trauma when it came to bridesmaid dresses? If not, you are one of the lucky 70% of the entire bridesmaid population.

There have been quite a few ladies out there who have had serious problems with their bridesmaid dresses. The odd thing is, although bridesmaid dresses are delivered days ahead of the wedding, very few of them actually do something about it.

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Here are five of the biggest bridesmaid dresses-related issues:

1. “I look like a bunch of wedding cakes huddled together!”

Looking like a wedding cake in your bridesmaid dresses is awful enough. Looking like a bunch of wedding cakes is the worst. You could just imagine the froufrou, bows and laces. That sort of bridesmaid dress could probably cover up an entire chicken coop – or even an island.

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2. “I look like a sausage!”

So, here it is. First, we have wedding cakes, now we have a sausage. Great! Lovely meal. If your problem is that the design, cut and fit of your wedding dress makes you look like processed meat, then the best thing for you to do would be to have it altered. Imagine how uncomfortable you would feel throughout the wedding ceremony if you won’t have it restructured.

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3. “The color simply does not work for my skin tone!”

This is actually quite a common problem among bridesmaids all over the world. Sad to say, ladies, that brides can not have their entire wedding theme reorganized just to find a color that best suits your skin tone.

4. “I’m wearing a tent!”

Uh, that is not so bad, actually. A tent is a lot more comfortable than processed meat.

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So how do you deal with these? It is elemental, really. Here are a few solutions that might help ease your bridesmaid dresses blues:

1. Ask the bridal boutique if there is anything they can do to change the frivolousness of bridesmaid dresses. Brainstorm and find means to turn a cake-ish dress into a classy, sexy one.

2. Have your skin tight bridesmaid dresses resized. A stitch or two here and there and an alteration in the design is far better than walking down the aisle in agony, doing your best to smile despite having your breath choked out of you. This time, talk with the dressmaker. Specify what you like and what you don’t like. Let her know which assets you want enhanced and which flaws you want to cover up.

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3. As for the color, there is really nothing much you can do about it. Simply wear your bridesmaid dresses the best way you could. Nothing beats wearing an armor of confidence. Who cares if the color is not so you when you can own the dress – and the color.

4. For large, extremely loose bridesmaid dresses, you can always have it altered to your style and liking. As mentioned above: Own the dress.

Looking for bridesmaid dresses and wedding cakes? Visit the bridal boutique that has it all. Visit BestForBride.com today.

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The Best Accessories to Add a Little Pizzazz to Your Plus Size Wedding Dresses

You can add a bit of life to your traditional, gorgeous plus size wedding dresses. Instead of merely settling for the “all white” look, go for something spunky, something a little less dull, something that represents you.

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Plus size wedding dresses, however, need careful attention when it comes to accessorizing and spicing up. You need to be extremely careful in choosing colors, designs, patterns and beadworks. With careful research and an open mind, you can spice up your plus size wedding dresses to suit you perfectly.

How, you ask. Here are a few guidelines in adding a few frills to your plus size wedding dresses.

1. Go for subdued colors. When adding a splash of color to your plus size wedding dresses, add it near the hemlines. Choose your colors carefully in doing so. Be sure to choose subdued colors – subdued does not mean colors of mourning, mind you. Choose any of these pastels or neutral shades: tan, light grey, peach, light pink, light blue, light green or lilac. You may also go for metallic shades such as silvery grey, bronze or even matte gold. Do not risk patching up patterns such as stripes or plaid, and do not opt for bold colors such as bright red or neon green, neon orange or electric pink. These will drastically change the entire feel of your wedding dresses. Stick to the formal theme; do not go wild with the colors. It is also important to lock this in your head: No leopard prints, zebra prints or animal prints are allowed. There are no plausible excuse for humiliating yourself that way on your wedding day.

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2. Go easy on the beadwork. Beadwork, sequins, embroidery, Swarovski crystals – these all make great wedding dress accessories. However, sprinkle them on your plus size wedding dresses minimally. You have to make sure you do not look like you are covered in ice or that you are not a walking disco ball. It would be safer if you seek the advice of bridal shop owners on the best means to accessorize your wedding dresses with beadworks, sequins and embroideries. With their years of experience in the business, they are sure to give you some pointers that would save you on your wedding day.

3. You can also opt to add in a few flowers in or on your hair. But be careful with this one because this is quite tricky. You would not want to end up looking like a wedding favor. Choose lovely, classy flowers, made into a beautiful halo. Do not go for the ordinary types or flowers which you can merely pluck out of the central garden – if you won’t get caught that is. Also, make sure that the “flower in your hair” theme goes well with your wedding theme. If you are having a formal church wedding, one that would very nearly rival those of Britain’s royal family, a halo of flowers is not exactly the perfect choice.

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Your best armor in choosing the right accessories to make your wedding dress is your own judgment. Choose well.

When it comes to plus size wedding dresses and wedding favours, go for a bridal shop you can trust. Visit BestForBride.com today.