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Destination Weddings: 9 things every couple should know

Destination Weddings

destination

Weddings in quaint European towns and the exotic Caribbean are no longer a novelty. Many brides and grooms are packing their bags, and getting married in attractive locations far away from home. Nevertheless, it is a fact that while these weddings are possible, they involve more long-distance and detailed planning than weddings near home.

It is not only the couple, but also the guests at the wedding who have to make allowances to attend a destination wedding. As it is far from home, there will be lot of things to consider. From paperwork to aero plane tickets and accommodation, there are many factors to consider.

Since these weddings involve travel, the rules and expectations are slightly different than in the case of a regular wedding. Let us find out what these are today!

1.Be prepared for a smaller and more intimate wedding

It is highly unlikely that all the people on your guest list can practically attend your wedding, when it is held far away from where they stay. If you have a large friend and family group, narrowing down your guest list can be difficult. However, it becomes necessary when you consider the expenses involved. Be reasonable with your expectations when you invite people. The entire scenario is different when you ask someone to travel for a wedding. Not everyone may have the time or the finances to make this long trip. So, when you decide to have a wedding far away, prepare to be satisfied with a small and intimate wedding with the people who matter most in your life. You can always host a reception once you are back, and include all your friends and family in it. This way, they get a chance to be involved in the wedding without having to travel. All the same, this is in no way compulsory. If you are satisfied with celebrating your wedding with just those who attended it, keep it that way.

2.Send out save-the-dates earlier than is usual

savethedate

Planning a destination wedding is complicated, and you may not be certain of all the details of the wedding till much later. Even so, you should inform your guests of your plans well in advance, so they can plan accordingly. Attending a destination wedding is comparable to planning a holiday—in terms of money involved and time off work. So, the earlier you provide information, the more convenient it will be for your guests to attend. Anywhere between 4 to 8 months before the wedding, is a good time to send your save-the-dates. Include all that you know at the time, particularly the date and location. Take care to highlight the date on the RSVP, so you can plan your final guest list and confirm the rest of the arrangements based on the number of attendees. If you are very particular about having certain people in your wedding, check their availability prior to planning the wedding date. This way, you can avoid disappointment if they have constraints that do not allow them to travel to your wedding. Once you finalize your plans, don’t delay sending out the invitations. Destination wedding invitations should be more detailed than the customary wedding invitation, as your guests need to know much more to plan and budget their trip.

3.Wedding websites are your best friend

When you plan a destination wedding, your guests will usually prefer to find out as much as they can to make their trip easier. Since a wedding invitation for what it can hold, then use your wedding website for the rest. Include anything and everything your guests should be aware of, on your wedding website. Provide links to places where they can find accommodation, the weather at the time of your wedding, any dress requirements that they should be aware of, what they should carry and transportation options they have. Also share all the details of the wedding program, so they can carry all that they need to attend it. You could also go further and add some information on the local attractions, as it is likely that your guests will want to tour the place. Since you will anyway be seeking all this information out for yourself, do your guests a favor by sharing it with them. Since websites allow you to organize and provide all this information in a streamlined format, your guests will have no trouble finding what they want to know. They will also appreciate your effort in helping them plan their trip so well.

4.It isn’t considerate to guilt your guests into attending

It is your wedding, and you deserve to be happy. Nonetheless, this shouldn’t be at the expense of making someone unhappy or miserable. If an important person in your friends or relative’s circle is unable to attend, don’t pressurize them too far. Remember that the case would be entirely different if you were having your wedding closer to where you stay. Consider the different logistics that they have to work out, financial constraints they may have, or how impossible it is for them to travel so far and take time off work. So, be reasonable with your expectations and life will be a lot easier for everyone. Be understanding of those who can’t attend and answer “No” to your invitation. This is why it may be a good idea to hold a reception party later, when all those who couldn’t participate in the actual wedding, get a chance to congratulate you.

5.Everyone at the engagement party and whoever receives a save-the-date receives an invitation too

Valentines day Wedding Ideas

Whether your save-the-date RSVP says Yes or No, the addressee is eligible for a formal wedding invitation. The same goes for the guests at your engagement party. This is one area where traditional wedding invitation etiquette applies. Even if your guests have confirmed that they won’t make it to your wedding, they still deserve a formal invitation. Some couples worry whether sending an invitation to someone who won’t be coming, is like they are fishing for gifts. It isn’t! The guest you send the save-the-date card to, might in fact feel ignored or slighted if they do not receive a follow-up invitation to the wedding. Things may also change along the way, and if they find a way to make it to the wedding, they may be disappointed when they do not receive an invitation. The other way you could handle it, is to send an invite to the reception you will host later, if they confirm they won’t be attending the wedding. So, if you have an engagement party, make sure that you choose the guest list properly, so that it will only have those people who will be invited to the wedding as well.

6.Your wedding dress should be low-fuss, easy to transport and manage

Wedding dresses are yards of fabric, delicately and intricately woven into splendid designs. Most of the traditional style wedding dresses are heavy, and may easily crinkle or look shabby if handled too much. If there are too many embellishments on it, over-handling can displace stones or crystals and ruin the overall look. These factors make it important to choose a wedding dress that is practical to transport. You will have to carry your wedding dress in your hand luggage when you board the aircraft. So, it should be a dress that is possible to stow away in the overheard luggage compartment or be hung above your seat. Once you are at the location, you may have to steam the dress to get rid of wrinkles and creases. So, it should also be made from fabric that can be ironed easily and not be damaged. Dresses in light, breathable fabric with just the necessary amount of embellishments are your best bet. Uncomplicated gowns without too many layers are practical to be transported and restored to its original look after the long journey to your destination. Dresses from collections such as the Mori Lee Voyage bring you plenty of options that will be perfect for a dream wedding away from home. Here is a sample.

This beautiful Mori Lee 6784 in poetic lace is a dress perfect for a vintage style wedding in an exotic location. The slim silhouette is formed of light layers that hold their shape during handling and the minimal embellishments reduce your risk of damaging the gown.

7.Your guests and wedding party will appreciate it if you offset some of the expenses

You are in no way obligated to foot the expenses for any of the factors that are normally paid for by your guests or bridal party. So, destination wedding or not, your guests will have to arrange for accommodation, bridesmaids will pay for their dresses and the wedding guests have to find their way to the venue. Nevertheless, if you have the funds to help with some of their expenses, like the accessories for bridesmaids or transportation on the day of the wedding, it would be very helpful for them. You could consider hiring a van or arranging a cab to pick your guests up from the airport, to transport them to their hotels. Or you could sponsor a guided tour on a day they are there, and we are sure your guests will love you for the thoughtful arrangement. Another thing you could do is to sponsor breakfast on the days they are there. It will be one meal they don’t have to pay for, and also allows everyone to meet and get together ahead of the wedding.

8.You can still register for gifts

gift

Don’t think twice about  registering for gifts. The people at your wedding will be spending a lot of extra money to make it to your wedding venue. Nevertheless, they will still want to gift you something to remember them by. The others who are unable to attend your wedding may also like to gift you, since it is a wedding after all! So, do set up a wedding registry. The only thing to remember is that your registry should contain affordable gifts of different prices. This way, your guests will have plenty of options. It will also take the burden off them to buy an expensive gift, after they’ve spent so much money to attend your wedding.

9.Your guests will appreciate it if you help them find cheap travel and accommodation deals

Air tickets are expensive, and so are hotel bookings. While this is on the cards when your guests agree to attending your destination wedding, you can still do a little in helping them along the way. The first thing you can do is to choose off-season wedding dates, so the entire transport and stay will be much cheaper. You could also research bulk airline booking discounts and hotel stay discounts that will lighten their expenses. If you inform an airline that there will be a group of people traveling together to your wedding, it is likely that they will offer you a discount. If you do your hotel reservations in advance, you may be able to block a set of rooms for a lower price and help your guests this way too.

Destination weddings have their pros and cons, just like every other wedding. Despite all the difficulties of planning and getting people to attend it, it is a unique, one-of-a-kind wedding that you should consider if you can afford it. The memories of getting married in an exotic location with the people you love the most, is definitely worth it.

So, if you have a destination wedding in mind, come visit us on Best for Bride and check out how we can help you nail your wedding vision. From the ideal wedding dresses to vendors and everything else you need for your wedding day, we can help you make your planning a big success.

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Best bridesmaid style trends that your friends will love

bridal party

Your wedding is fortunately at a time when a stunning variety of bridesmaids dresses, accessories and styles are available. This widens your choices and allows you to pick the best and most stylish options for your bridal party.

Your bridesmaids are all unique. So, their dresses and accessories should also reflect this uniqueness. Although it used to be a common practice to dress bridesmaids to look the same, this is no longer a trend. One-of-a-kind bridesmaids dresses that come together beautifully are a delightful sight. Add the finishing touches with accessories that pop, and your bridal party will look stunning. Not only does this speak eons of your taste in fashion, it also shows that you want your bridal party to be happy. Let their personalities shine through the dresses you choose for each of them. This will make the day extra-special and very memorable.

In today’s round-up, we take a look at the most stylish options of all times in bridesmaids dresses. As fashion trends change every day, these are styles that never lose appeal. Enjoy the tour and don’t forget to tell us which of these trends you will choose for your bridal party.

Enigmatic florals

Spring or summer, floral prints are never out of style. In fact, the Fashion spot suggests floral prints are a classic favorite that never go out of style. Whether large or small, floral details on a dress are always feminine and romantic. Perfect for garden weddings, these prints can easily be tied to any theme. Floral bridesmaids dresses have taken on varied forms and in every imaginable color of the spectrum. We have of course, always been fans of soft and subtle watercolor florals. At the same time, pastel and neutral backgrounds and bright blooms on shimmering fabric have been equally appealing. The dresses are even more delightful when paired with features like fluttery sleeves and ruffles. Floral prints also look beautiful on both long and short gowns. Here is a sample.


This printed chiffon gown from the Mori Lee bridesmaid collection is stylish and feminine, with its sweetheart neckline, off-the-shoulder neckline detail and side slit. The floral details add a whimsical touch, making the dress perfect for an outdoor wedding.

Silky slip or sheath silhouette

Figure-hugging and sexy, slip and sheath dresses look amazing in silky fabrics like satin. Choose dark jewel tones and your girls will look their glamorous best. This style that was in the limelight in the ’90s is just ideal for formal weddings.  The dress exudes sophistication and the slinky look can take several years off the woman who wears it, especially when it is in satin. Pair sheath and slip dresses in solid colors with accessories to match your color theme and create a cohesive effect.

This shift dress from the Alfred Angelo bridesmaid collection has a halter neckline that adds to its fun and flirty look. Simple and youthful, the dress falls over the natural curves, with the drape along the hemline wrapping around the silhouette. Pair it with shoes and jewelry in the color of your choice, and you have a stylish choice that will make your girls love you a little more.

Tea-length gowns

Neither long nor short, this is the ideal dress length that all your girls can carry easily. Tea-length dresses look lovely without revealing too much skin. They also have the sophistication to suit semi-formal events. The dress style goes very well with most wedding themes. You have an amazing variety of options to choose from, to match it to the bridal look. Dresses in airy fabrics like chiffon, lace and tulle look best for this length.

This beauty from the Mori Lee Tulle Affairs collection is sure to impress your bridesmaids. The textured bodice contrasts well with the satin waistband and layered tulle skirt. The length is just right for your girls to carry comfortably and look elegant. The classic scoop neckline with spaghetti straps is refreshingly feminine, and the dress is available in various colors.

Tiers in the skirt

Tiered skirts have been popular in bridal fashion.. This feature is just as attractive in bridesmaids outfits. Not only is it a romantic detail in a dress, it is a refreshing change to very simple dress styles. Light fluttering tiers in airy fabrics like chiffon look very beautiful. Your girls are sure to welcome this dress style that is dramatic, but not overwhelming. Whether done in asymmetric fashion for a modern twist or simple, tiered dresses are amazing and bound to make your bridal party photos interesting.

Despite the simplicity of this gown, this Mori Lee bridesmaid dress packs a punch. The even tiers in the skirt evoke interest and make the dress one of a kind. The texture in the skirt balances out the monochromatic color and also diverts attention from the simple bodice.

Romantic rose gold sequins

Replace pretty pastels, unobtrusive neutrals and monochrome dresses with the bling of rose gold. Bridesmaids dresses embellished with rose gold sequins are very dressy and will make your girls shine like stars. The soft tint of rose gold looks good on most complexions. The other good thing about this choice is that you needn’t worry about accessories. In most cases, the dress will be a statement piece by itself. Additionally, the light color blends well with most themes, and almost acts as a neutral. Opt for dresses with rose gold sequins only in the bodice, if you don’t want too much bling.

Here is a ravishing sweetheart sheath with rose gold sequins all over, from the Alfred Angelo collection. The silhouette as well as the sparkling embellishments make this dress a winner. Choose it for a banquet venue or a country club, and it will shine at either location.

Also take a look at the dress below, that features rose sequins in the bodice alone. The embellished empire bodice contrasts beautifully with the smooth finish of the rest of the dress. This has a fun and flirty look and is ideal for semi-formal and casual weddings. This dress is also from the Alfred Angelo collection.

Interesting back details

We cannot think of a single bride who doesn’t love dresses with amazing details in the back. This design factor immediately draws focus to this angle of the dress, and adds to the glamour. While brides have intricate and very interesting details like illusion backs and keyhole cut-outs, bridal collection designers haven’t forgotten about their best friends either. Bridesmaids dresses that feature interesting back details will be loved by your girls. Most ready-made dresses feature details in sheer fabric and are combined with textured bodices for a beautiful effect. There are also designs with open backs, crystal and beaded embroidery and similar details that add style to the rear angle.

This Mori Lee bridesmaid dress has a diamond shape cut-out in the back. The detail is crafted in lace, and is the statement feature of this dress. Since the cut-out makes the dress interesting from the rear angle, consider highlighting it with a hairstyle like a high bun that keeps the hair off their shoulders. With a bateau neckline in the front, this feature adds an interesting element to the otherwise simple dress.

Jewel tones for warmth and drama

Jewel tone colors are always more attractive than plain hues. The deep richness of these colors will add an air of sophistication to the overall outfit. Hence they are perfect for adding more color to your wedding palette. The refined shimmer of jewel tones also makes it easier to match the dress to any complexion. Like this article on the Oprah website suggests, jewel colors make everyone look more radiant.  This will make it easier for you to find colors that work for most of your bridesmaids. It is also easier than working with pastels and plain shades.

This mulberry colored dress from the Mori Lee collection is exquisite for its jewel tone. Imagine the same dress sans the shimmer and you will understand how simple it would be in comparison. The rich and bold color is what makes this dress stand out and look vibrant.

Flutter sleeves

Flutter sleeves are ultra-feminine and flatters women of all sizes and shapes. The length and texture can be customized according to individual body types. This is a feature that will add a romantic vibe to your wedding scenery. It is suitable for both full-length and short dresses. While adding a modest touch to the outfit, flutter sleeves are also youthful. Soft, fluttering sleeves in airy fabric like chiffon look beautiful on dresses with ruffled details in the bodice and skirt.

The fluttering sleeve on this off-the-shoulder gown from the Mori Lee collection adds a vintage feel to this bridesmaid dress. The fluttering sleeve extends into a ruffled neckline, which is the signature element of this beautiful dress. Soft and romantic, this is a dress your bridesmaids will look lovely in. Don’t be surprised if they choose to wear it more than just once.

All-white setting

All white palettes are a safe option for your wedding. Instead of searching far and near for the perfect color for your bridesmaids,dress them in white. Then choose accessories for accent colors that tie to the palette. White bridesmaid dresses look classic, and are relatively easy to match to the bridal look. Also, white is a universal favorite that flatters every complexion. Why would wedding dresses otherwise be in white? Whether you pick your bridesmaids dresses in soft chiffon, beautiful lace or crisp organza, the color or lack-of it is bound to work seamlessly with the rest of your wedding theme.

How adorable is this cute white bridesmaid dress from the Alfred Angelo collection! The ruffled bodice and illusion neckline work in harmony with the gathered A-line skirt. The waistband adds a pleasant pop of color to the all-white dress. It is very girly and this dress would look beautiful at a semi-formal wedding.

Sleek silhouettes

As fashion edges towards minimalist and crisp, clean lines and sleek silhouettes are the rage. After all, bridesmaids do not need frumpy, frilly dresses to look great. Instead, smart and sleek silhouettes are stylish and attractive. Slim-cut skirts, fitted tops and clean necklines with minimum embellishments look great in simple colors. These are especially smart in grays, browns and black. They can be paired with colorful accessories and bouquets for a perfect Pinterest album.

Simple and elegant, this no-fuss dress from the Alfred Angelo is classic and perfect for any wedding theme at all. While the dress features a dipped halter neckline, it also has a gathered waistline and fitted silhouette. The skirt is softly fluted to create asymmetric draping over the body. The back features a racer-back detail. It is the statement element of this dress.

We hope you enjoyed this collection of dresses for bridesmaids. All these designs are from our bridesmaids dress collection at Best for Bride. So, which of these design styles do you love the most? Tell us in the comment section below.

Whether you have a traditional and classic wedding on the cards or intend to have an edgier, modern theme for your special day, find all that you need at Best for Bride. Check out our wide array of bridal dresses to interesting bridesmaid dresses, accessories, dresses for the mother of the bride and more. For more details on our inventory and services, visit the Best for Bride website.

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9 Common Complaints By Wedding Guests And How To Avoid Them … Number 7 will shock you!

9 Common Complaints By Wedding Guests And How To Avoid Them

Weddings are wrought with thousands of details that you may overlook or forget a few things. While some of these may not matter in the big picture, sure, others will make your guests unhappy. Unfortunately, after the wedding, the couple usually realizes they should have given more attention to these factors. After all, a wedding should be a satisfying and fun event for those in it and for all those who attend it.

Here is a list of the nine most common problems wedding guests complain about. We also have the solutions to each of these issues to help you handle them easily. Make sure you prioritize these potential issues when planning your wedding, and your guests will be a happy bunch.

Continue reading 9 Common Complaints By Wedding Guests And How To Avoid Them … Number 7 will shock you!
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10 new and exciting bridesmaids dress ideas

Bridesmaids in matching outfits, and resembling big balls of cotton candy! These belong to the past. Today’s brides are smart and sensible, and want their bridesmaids to look and feel great on their big day. For this to happen, it is quintessential to toss the old rule book and make way for new rules for dressing up your bridesmaids.

So, here are few ideas that will help you dress your handpicked girls to look fabulous and add extra drama and excitement to your wedding scenery. Enjoy!

Rule 1: Mix up the textures

Here is an interesting way to give each of your bridesmaids their unique style, while keeping the look cohesive–Choose dresses in the same shade but different fabrics. With this simple switch in fabric choices, you change the overall look, but with subtlety. This option also helps brides who aren’t very sure of how to do the mix ‘n’ match concept to get it right. Dresses in the same shade but using different fabrics will easily go together, and the difference in texture will add an extra dimension of fun. Most designer collections give you plenty of colors for each design, and this allows your bridesmaids enough choices. They can choose from lace and tulle, to satin and charmeuse. Another factor is that as the fabric changes, so does the price of the dress. So, this allows your bridesmaids to choose a dress for their budget, as long as the desired color is chosen. As long as there aren’t too many accessories, it is bound to bring all the bridesmaids together. Just make sure you confirm that the dresses are of the same shade, before you give a thumbs up.

We have an example here to illustrate this idea.

Our first pick is the vintage style 8622L from the Alfred Angelo collection, in a gray color and created in soft net.

We have paired it with the 7342L from the same collection, which is an organza gown in a similar shade. Notice how the different fabrics give either dress a distinct personality, even while they come together beautifully!

Rule 2: Color block with one constant

Color blocking is an easy and uncomplicated way to bring more than one color into your bridesmaids outfits. Dressing up your bridesmaids in the same colors can resemble the original pattern of having all matching bridesmaids. This doesn’t do justice to allowing your bridesmaids shine individually. The better option is to mix up color block dresses, with different colors. However, keep one color constant throughout, so that there is a unifying factor that brings their looks together.

Let us demonstrate this with an example. Take a look at the 7344S from the Alfred Angelo bridesmaids collection.  It features color blocking with a black bodice and a gray skirt.

A dress that will work well with it is the 7345S from the same collection with a black bodice and soft beige skirt.  Although distinct from the first, the black bodices are strikingly similar, and this will bind the two looks together. These dresses can be chosen in any color shade in the skirt, and so make a perfect choice to play with color blocking.

Rule 3: Neutral color dresses with accessories that pop

There are two advantages to choosing bridesmaids dresses in neutral shades—your bridesmaids are more likely to use the dress again and the colors are usually easy to mix into any color palette. White, black, brown, gray and navy are neutrals that are easy to work with and form great pairings with most color palettes. These are also shades that look good on almost every skin tone. So, your bridesmaids will not have to worry about how the color clashes with their complexion.

The result is that everyone is happy, except for one small issue; not all neutral colored dresses can make that strong presence you require for your wedding. The solution—dress it up a notch with accessories in bold colors that will not go unnoticed. Choose shoes, belts or jewelry, and it will instantly add the necessary punch of color to your bridesmaids outfits. It will certainly be a better idea than having your girls dressed in unusual colors that they may not appreciate. Since they are paired with a neutral, there is no chance of the accessories going overboard. And, how about making these your bridesmaids gifts? That way, they get to use it on your wedding day and show it off. So, you now no how to add peach, sunset yellow or bubblegum pink to your bridesmaids outfits without making your girls cringe.

Take a look at this picture to see what we mean. Here, the bridesmaids dresses are a sober beige, and a bright dose of color is added through colorful heels and bouquets. By mixing up the colors, the result is interesting and lively.

The colorful bridesmaids
Image Credits: Ms.Phoenix,via Flickr,CC BY 2.0

 Rule 4: Neutral color dresses with zingy metal and jewel tone accessories

For an ultra-stylish and glamorous look, choose neutral colored dresses and pair it with bright and beautifully designed golden accessories. There are two benefits to this choice—your bridesmaids will most likely use the neutral dress again, and the metallic accessories will also work for them on another occasion. So it is a win-win situation, where they can get the best value for their money.

Here is a beautiful black evening gown, the J4003 from the lovely Jadore collection at Best for Bride.

Featuring a wide cut scoop neckline, sheath silhouette and softly sculpted cap sleeves, the gown is a beauty by itself. However, pairing it with an oversize gold necklace, waistband and bracelet makes it a dress that personifies Hollywood glamour. We are sure your bridesmaids will be excited to have a look like this. With such brilliant accessories, they will have that festive dressy look, perfect for a wedding day. The best part is that the dress being in a neutral shade gives them so many options to dress it up differently on another occasion. So, it’s definitely not a dress that will be exiled to the confines of their closets after your big celebration.

Rule 5: Go to different lengths to vary the style

Of the different ways to keep a consistent look but add drama, one of our favorites is to vary the lengths of the various gowns while keeping the color or print constant. This gives you ample choice to choose dresses in lengths that suit different body shapes and ages. So, if you have bridesmaids from different age groups and looking entirely distinct, you can easily vary the look yet bring it all together with dresses of varying hemlines. We look at dresses from the Mori Lee bridesmaids collection to bring you two examples of dresses that can achieve this look effortlessly.

Our first choice is the navy blue tulle 112 bridesmaid gown from the Mori Lee Tulle Affairs collection.

A full-length gown in tulle, with a sweetheart neckline and interesting criss-cross ruched bodice, this dress is elegant and looks best on both tall and short bridesmaids.

Here, we pair it with the Mori Lee 11100 from the same collection.

This dress has an illusion lace neckline and cap sleeves, and a short and fun skirt that ends a little above the knee. Although the two dresses are entirely different, they make a splendid combination because of the matching color. Hence you have suitable choices both for the women who want to look elegant and the bold and fun-loving bridesmaids in your wedding party.

Rule 6: Go from dark to light in a single color

Choose colors like red or yellow, and ask your bridesmaids to pick dresses in different shades of this color. This will keep the spectrum constant, but with interesting variation. This ombre trend has been in the limelight for a while now, and is an exciting way to dress up your bridesmaids. The only thing you should remember when choosing this option for dressing your bridesmaids, is that you should choose colors that cannot vary too much. Green, purple and blue are colors that can go totally wrong, if this happens. This is because colors like turquoise can fall into both shades, although it may look entirely different from pure shades like navy blue and mint green. So, choose colors that can vary only in the intensity of the black and white they may contain, when you choose this method.

Rule 7: One color with different prints

Printed bridesmaids dresses are interesting and exciting. While you may be tempted to choose the same prints for all your bridesmaids, it is a better idea to look around and find dresses in the same color with different prints instead. This will add a subtle variation to the look, and each bridesmaid will be unique in her own way. The unifying factor will be the color that all the dresses feature, and this is all that is required to bring the overall look together. You can also consider mixing up dresses that have prints all over with those where the prints are limited to chosen areas on the dress, like the yoke or hemline. Here are two dresses from the Jadore collection. The first is the J6013 from the Jadore collection, with black prints on a beige base.

The next is the J5009 from the same collection, with the same combination of colors done entirely different.

Rule 8: Alternate plain and print

In this option, your job is relatively easy. All you have to do is finalize a color and choose one plain and one printed bridesmaid dress in it. Alternate this choice for your bridesmaids, so you have equal numbers wearing the plain colored dress, and the same number wearing printed dresses. By keeping the designs uniform and the hemlines of both styles the same, the entire group looks well coordinated and classy.

Here is a wedding party that has achieved this result with alternate plain and printed purple dresses.

@shoopsmoo &#bridesmaids
Image Credits:leesean, via Flickr, CC BY 2.0

The printed purple dresses feature very subtle white floral prints all over the length of the gown. The dresses blend well with the plain purple dresses that the rest of the bridesmaids wear. What we specifically loved about this combination is that the plain dresses are not exactly similar, each one features a different neckline. Thus we can safely conclude that each bridesmaid has her distinct style of dress, and yet gels in with the group seamlessly.

Rule 9: Add variety with infinity dresses

Infinity dresses are basically dresses that can be worn in various different styles. It is the true convertible dress. Here, the fabric left in the neckline and bodice to be wrapped in different ways to yield different looks. By draping the top half of the dress in different ways, you can achieve different necklines like the one-shoulder strap, strapless neckline, cap-sleeve look and more. This dress allows each of your bridesmaids to wear the style that flatters her most. Hence, it is versatile and everyone ends up happy. With this choice, you play it safe by choosing the same color for all. Even so, each has her personal style enhanced with a suitable pattern.

Rule 10: Same style, different prints

We have seen prints and plains as well as textures in the same color and pattern. Now, the only one left to experiment with is prints in the same pattern. This is a fun and exciting way to make your bridesmaids stand out from the rest of the crowd. Printed dresses make them look different from typical bridesmaids, but the unifying design brings the entire party together instantly. Here is a sample.

The Lil' Getting Ready Bridesmaid Dress Styled Shoot.
Image Credits: Plum Pretty Sugar, via Flickr, CC BY 2.0

In this picture, the pretty bridesmaids sport strapless dresses with vibrant prints. The hemline is uniform, and ends at mid-thigh. The dress also features a bow detail at the waistline, making all three dresses unusually cohesive.

Hope you now have enough inspiration to mix and match and perfect your bridesmaids dress looks. For more exciting inputs on styling your wedding, as well as for all your wedding shopping needs, continue visiting us at Best for Bride—your one stop bridal destination.