When it comes to your wedding, there are so many decisions to make. It can all be a bit overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are our top tips for finding the perfect bridesmaid dresses for your spring wedding.
Draw Inspiration from Your Bridal Dress
It’s easy to get caught up in the flurry of excitement that leads up to your big day. There’s no doubt that as soon as your partner popped the question, your mind raced with a thousand thoughts — from flowers to bridesmaid dresses and venues to guests. But making snap decisions before you’ve made the foundational choices of your wedding, such as colour scheme, theme and your bridal dress is a mistake that can lead to a mismatched bridal party.
So before you start to look for your bridesmaids’ dresses establish your wedding’s foundational look and take it from there. Not only will this ensure that everyone is perfectly harmonised with the broader look of the wedding, but it will help narrow down your bridesmaids’ dress selection.
Your bridesmaids’ dresses should flatter your dress, and there are many ways you can do this. One of the most common and easy ways of ensuring that your bridesmaids’ gowns compliment yours, is to opt for a colour palette and go for hues that either echoes those colours or compliment it. For example, if your spring wedding is thematically coordinated around the delicate blues and greens of spring flowers, our ivory bluebell gown is a good choice for your darling flower girl. The soft ivory and baby blue colourway with artisan bluebell embroidery is a stylish gesture towards the colour scheme but is different and subtle enough to work with the style of the full bridal party.
Consider Your Bridesmaids Age and Physique
Who you chose to be a bridesmaid will drastically alter the style of dress for them, so keep your bridesmaids’ age and physique in mind. Many brides will select their bridesmaids from their closest friends and family, and this means you’ll have to contend with a broad range of ages and personal styles. Each bridesmaid will have a different body shape, height and style. One look may work for one person but not another, especially if you have a mix of adult and children in your wedding party. But don’t forget, it’s appropriate to opt for different styles for each bridesmaid. This works well if you followed our first point and all the dresses are harmonised with the same theme or colour scheme.
If you do have a little girl as a bridesmaid, it’s important to keep in mind that she may outgrow her dress if purchased too far in advance. Buying a designer children’s dress can be costly. You don’t want to find the perfect dress only to discover that it’s now too small, so always allow for wriggle room. Some styles are better suited to accommodating growing girls like our ivory butterfly bridesmaid gown, which has dainty cap sleeves and a loose but structured fit that gives plenty of space were she to have a sudden growth spurt. But for best practice, buy the dress as late as possible, and opt for the larger size — it’s easier to make alterations to a larger dress than a smaller one.
Pay Attention to the Season
What better season to start a new life with your partner than in the season of rebirth itself? Spring is indeed a wonderful time for a wedding, full of blooming bouquets and freshly sprouted leaves, but brides often underestimate the weather. Depending on where you’re getting married, spring can oscillate between warm and balmy to dewy and frosty — you need dresses that are suited to whatever way the weather turns.
We all know that weather can be unpredictable so err on the side of caution and select bridesmaid dresses in light, breathable fabrics. From there, you can always layer up with a dainty pashmina or shawl if it turns nippy — the last thing you want is hot and flustered bridesmaids on your big day. Our ivory ruffle bridesmaid dress is just the ticket. Inspired by the popular sports luxe trend, this ivory edition with sleeveless A-line silhouette and chic diamond mesh fabric is cool, breathable and stylish, and looks great with an extra layer.
Prioritise Comfort
Weddings can be long and physically draining affairs. Your bridesmaids will no doubt find themselves running around completing their bridesmaid duties — not to mention breaking a sweat on the dance floor — so ensure that all of their dresses can accommodate this. We know an elegant ball gown with all the bells and whistles looks gorgeous, but if your bridesmaid finds herself clambering over a long skirt or re-adjusting her neckline, the look will be ruined. Comfort should always be at the top of your bridesmaid dress considerations.
But don’t forget that comfort isn’t purely physical. If your bridesmaids feel awkward in their dress, it can lead to a great deal of unnecessary discomfort. To ensure that your bridesmaids feel comfortable and confident in their frocks, seek out their opinion and include them in the selection process. If you have a child as a bridesmaid, helping to select her very own designer bridesmaid’s dress will be an unforgettable experience for her — one she will treasure forever.
Add Some Fabulous Flourishes
Your wedding is a celebration, so don’t feel resigned to simple statement frocks — a little dash of creativity and character is well-suited for your big day. When shopping for your bridesmaids’ dresses, bear a thought for the accessories and shoes.
For little princesses, a gorgeous hair band is both a stylish and practical choice. Our ivory bridesmaid hairband with an ivory grosgrain ribbon and decorated with a bouquet of white and cream roses looks fabulous, while also keeping her hair neat and tidy all day long.