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5 reasons we love short bridesmaid dresses

Just like bridesmaids come in all sizes and shapes, so do bridesmaid dresses. From long flowing elaborately embellished bridesmaid dresses, to short and sweet ones, we’ve seen them all. The long evening gown is classic and elegant in it’s own right, but there is a certain charm to a short bridesmaid dress. Here are the top five reasons for why we love short dresses, and you should too!

Bridesmaids 6Image Credit: outreachr.com, via Flickr (CC BY 2.0)

1.Short dresses cost less

Less fabric directly translates to lower cost. Of course, this also depends on the dress you choose. But, as a general rule, a similar dress with a shorter hemline will be cheaper than a dress that extends to full-length.

2.Chances of reusing the dress are greater

When a girl signs up to be a bridesmaid, she knows that a new dress is on the cards. However, the bride should remember that she cannot always use her bridesmaid dress again. At least in most cases, and especially when the dress is typical bridesmaid style. The exception is in the case of a short dress, as it may work for her when she goes out for an evening with her girlfriends. So, help your friend get the most of her money by choosing a short dress instead of a long one. The chances of reuse are maximized when the color is a neutral and the pattern that isn’t common bridesmaid choice.

3.They make your bridesmaids look young and smart

Long gowns are ladylike and elegant, while short dresses are fun and cheerful. There is no doubt that a woman looks much younger and more smart when the dress is short and well-fitted. She looks more confident and chic in a short dress, and if she has pretty legs, you would be doing her a favor by letting her flaunt them in a short hemline.

4.The shorter style fits a casual setting easily

The best thing about short bridesmaid dresses is that it is refreshingly casual. If your wedding style borders on semi-formal to informal, a short bridesmaid dress is the best choice you can consider. If your wedding is to be held outdoors, it also makes a practical choice. Remember that your bridesmaids will be running around a lot, so it only makes it a lot easier to manage in a short dress that doesn’t stifle her movements. Short hemlines paired with other casual elements like ruffles, lace and frills make the textures at your wedding photographs interesting. What is more, when you are in a long gown, your dress will instantly be in focus against the shorter hemlines of your bridesmaids, in photographs.

5.Short dresses allow your bridesmaids to choose unusual and interesting shoes

Helen & David-128Image Credit: John Hope, via Flickr, (CC BY 2.0)

We love this idea, which we found on the Exclusively Weddings blog. Unlike a long gown, which covers up most of the leg and gives you less chance of showing off stylish footwear, short bridesmaid dresses allow you to give your bridesmaids a cohesive look with the same style of shoes. In winter, consider having them wear chic boots that look dressy. For a summer wedding, you can have your bridesmaids in a neutral colored dress, and add that interesting pop of color by choosing similar shoes in a vibrant shade.

So, what do you say? Do you prefer short bridesmaid dresses to longer ones? Let us know.

Visit our bridesmaids dress collection on Best for Bride, and make your choice from the best you can find, whether you prefer long or short dresses for your favorite girls.

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Radiant and Expecting: Essential Wedding Dress Tips for the Soon-to-Be Mommy Bride!

Getting married when you are pregnant doesn’t mean you have to look matronly on your wedding day. There are plenty of choices for expecting women, so they can look fantastic on their big day while they celebrate their journey towards motherhood.

When choosing a wedding dress, the question you should ask yourself is whether you want to hide your bump or flaunt it. Here, we have rounded up some tips to help you choose the right wedding dress in both scenarios. Join us as we discuss them.

Conceal your bump with a gown with a raised waistline

via Best for Bride

A raised waistline is one that lies above your natural waist. In such a design, the focus is shifted to the bust area. You find this in gowns with empire waistlines. When there are several layers of fabric that flow away from the body, it is easy to hide your bump. Another idea is to wear an overlay skirt with an interesting waistband at a height where your bump will be conveniently concealed. Asymmetrical waistlines which drape towards one side of the body instead of at the centre, are also a good option.

Flaunt your figure in an A-line or trumpet gown

via Best for Bride

If you want to show off your new silhouette, you can do so with an A-line gown or trumpet gown that fits you snugly. Go easy with the embellishments and details, as you do not want to look too cluttered. A gown with a satin finish will be slimming, while it still draws attention to your figure. While altering your gown, don’t make it too tight as you will feel and look uncomfortable in it.

Size the gown right

You cannot predict how much you will grow in the months leading up to your wedding. So, choose a dress that allows you to accommodate the changes in your size and shape. As a rule of thumb, add one inch per month for the months remaining up to your wedding date, and then order a dress one size larger than what this corresponds to on the size chart. This means there will be enough fabric to take in, if you do not grow as big. It will also easily fit you, even if you grow bigger than you expect to.

Choose a flattering neckline and sleeves

via Best for Bride

Your overall look will also depend on the neckline and sleeves of your wedding dress. V-necklines elongate your torso and make you look slimmer. Similarly, a strapless or sweatheart bodice allows you to emphasize the slimmest part of your torso—the neck and shoulders. Also choose sleeves that add the illusion of length. Three-fourth sleeves and cap-sleeves are stylish and good options to try.

When choosing your wedding dress, make sure you are comfortable in what you wear. It should allow you to breathe and not stifle your movements. Have it hemmed to the right length, so you do not risk tripping over it. Also pay attention to the shoes you wear. Avoid high heels, instead go for a good looking but comfortable pair of peep-toes or flats.

Your wedding is a big day, and make sure you have fun as you celebrate it with all the people in your life who mean the most to you—including your little bun in the oven! For more wedding tips and advice, visit us on Best for Bride.

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Wedding planning: 5 Mistakes you can avoid

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You are bound to make mistakes when you attempt something for the first time. Your wedding is no exception. With so many details to look into, it is easy to make a few errors along the way. The sad part is, some mistakes can cost you dearly.

Here is a roundup of the common mistakes many brides make, and what you can do to avoid them at your wedding.

Doing it all yourself

You certainly want your wedding to be perfect in every way, but is it worth burning yourself out by doing every task yourself? Many brides find themselves dreading their wedding day, as they are overwhelmed with the number of things they have to tackle.

Instead of worrying yourself to death, it is best that you realize some things can be done better if you delegate them. Save your energy for important tasks like choosing the wedding dress, vendors and planning the dates. The sub-tasks can be handled by capable friends or assistants. Curb the temptation to micromanage, and leave out details that aren’t extremely important. You will enjoy your planning your wedding this way.

Blowing your wedding dress budget

via Best for Bride

When brides budget for their wedding dress, they should set aside a particular amount for the dress itself and distribute the rest for accessories and alterations. Do not exceed the wedding dress amount, by looking only at those that fit your budget. If you go over-budget with your dress, you will have to compensate by cutting down on accessories like shoes or jewelry, as you cannot skimp on alterations if you want to look perfect.

Not figuring in additional costs

You have planned your wedding budget, and you intend to stick to it when ordering things and booking vendors. However, have you figured in the overhead costs as well? There are additional charges for cleaning up, taxes and tips. Make sure you incorporate these into the budget and that your bookings are all within the limit. This can prevent you from receiving a shocking bill in the end.

Being fixated on a specific idea

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This applies to your wedding dress, flower arrangements, wedding venue, décor, bridesmaids dress and all the other aspects of your wedding. If you are too particular about your choices, it is likely that you will be disappointed when things don’t work out exactly as intended. Keep yourself open to ideas and you may even be pleasantly surprised with what you find. When you go with your bridal consultant’s advice, you may discover a better wedding dress than you ever imagined; allow your florist to choose the flowers for your bouquet and you may receive a stunning but affordable one that complements your wedding theme.

Hiring family or friends who aren’t professionals

Unless your cousin is a professional photographer, or your aunt is used to baking wedding cakes, don’t hand the task over to them just because they asked for it. Whether you will be paying in full for their service or not, you will risk things going wrong on your wedding day by entrusting it to someone who isn’t capable of handling it on the required scale. Your wedding is not the occasion to take such risks, and you will be better off with a vendor who knows what they are doing, even if they charge more.

For more wedding related tips and advice, visit us at Best for Bride.

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Accessorize with Flair: Expert Styling Tips to Elevate Your Bridesmaids’ Look!

Your bridesmaids have an important role to play in your wedding. When they look good, the entire wedding feels good. So, you have to make sure that you pay close attention to how they will be dressed.

In most cases bridesmaids pay from their pockets for their dresses. The least the bride can do for these women who agree to happily shoulder their responsibilities is to buy them their accessories. Don’t you agree?

These simple styling tips will help you choose the right accessories for your bridesmaid’s dresses.

#Tip 1

Shop for accessories only after choosing the dresses

While there are accessories that go well with almost any dress, they aren’t necessarily the best choice. So, wait till you buy the bridesmaids dresses, to go shopping for their accessories. This way, you will avoid wasting time and can make a better selection.

#Tip 2

Simple dresses go with bold accessories and vice-versa

This is a very simple rule that many women fail to follow. Be it for a wedding or a cocktail party, the dress or accessories are not the main focus, but the woman wearing it. Balancing the dress with supporting accessories for an uncluttered and elegant look. Keep the accessories minimum for an embellished dress (like a sequined or patterned one or one in a bold colour). If the dress is relatively simple or in neutral shades with little to no accents, dress it up with attractive accessories.

#Tip 3

Let the neckline decide whether a necklace is necessary

Necklaces are accessories that can make or break a look. Not all dresses need necklaces to look great. For example, wearing a necklace with a halter dress would be too much. On the other hand, a sweetheart or bateau neckline would be emphasized with a pretty necklace.

#Tip 4

Don’t be scared to experiment with color

There is more than one way to add color to your bridesmaid’s outfits. While the obvious choice is a colourful dress, you should remember that not all colours look good on all women. You want your best friends to love their look, don’t you? If you prefer neutrals and toned-down colors for their dresses, add pops of color with bright and bold accessories. This may be with shoes, waistbands or jewelry. The effect is enhanced when colours are paired with the neutral background of their dresses.

#Tip 5

Mix and match accessories to suit each bridesmaid’s taste, but keep the look cohesive

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Your bridesmaids have different personalities. Respect their individuality and let their looks reflect who they are. The accessories you choose for each woman should suit her taste and match her style. This way, you can make them all happy. The only thing to remember when choosing the accessories is to keep one-factor uniform throughout. This could either be the color, the design or the impact it creates.

Now that you know what to look out for when choosing bridesmaids accessories, how about finding the perfect dresses for your pretty friends? Visit our online store at Best for Bride for designer collections of the best bridesmaids gowns in all styles and price ranges.