Wedding very preliminary bridesmaid dress help

[alli_esq]

Hi, ladies...with all the bridal canvas stuff going on, I wanted to see what people thought of any or all of these bridesmaid dresses...

I would prefer to allow all my 5 of my girls to wear something different (or at least different colors), since I am not terribly into matchy-matchy and they are all different shapes and sizes...but I want them to coordinate--this is generally what their shapes are like (they are all gorgeous though, of course!):

MOH: 5''9", very skinny, not curvy, wears about 0-2 (asked that her dress please not be strapless)
Bridesmaid1: 5''4", very busty, wears about a size 8-10
Bridesmaid2: 5''4", thin, curvy, wears about 2-4 (tends to wear very slim-fitting clothing)
Bridesmaid3: 5''8", thin, curvy, wears about 2-4
Bridesmaid4: 5''4"ish, curvy, wears about 10-12 (never wears a dress)


Now, I haven''t really shared any of these with any of the girls, but I am curious what you mavens think...

Colors are not set in stone, but it is a November wedding, and I would like chocolate brown and possibly cranberry (I love burnt orange and more fall-like colors, but as you see in this picture, my venue is pink ::sigh

so yeah, I need some help

1. Do any of you like any of these colors for the room (ignore the middle dress''s color)? I think the pinkish ones might clash...
2. Do you like any of the dresses?
3. Do any/all of them coordinate with the venue/my dress (on top)?
4. Do any/all of them coordinate with each other (not counting color)?
5. Could my questions be any more annoying or confusing (I already know the answer to that one

)

Thanks in advance, ladies!! You all have such awesome taste, and I need alllll the help I can get...so I figured I should start early...

 

[PilsnPinkysMom]

Alli--

I really like brown v-neck between the two-toned and cranberry dress. It''s not super-slim fitting (so your one B.M. may not adore it) but I think that it will be flattering on all body types- espeically the tall one Empire wastes are very forgiving... I just looove the look of a long, billowy skirt and a slim-fitted bust. That deep V will elongate everyone, as well.

I''d steer away from too-curvy-form-fitting-hip-hugging of a dress. I''m 5''4 size 6 and a curvy (hippy, not busty) woman, but I have a VERY SHORT TORSO. If something is too form fitting through the bust & hips, it emphasizes how short my torso is and makes me look very squat. If you have a curvy, short B.M. she may look WAAAAY curvy in a slim-fitting dress, while a taller, thinner B.M. will look ultra svelte... IDK- I like a little more uniformity. An empire waist and flowy skirt will look similar on everyone, and emphasize decollete (& most women think their bust/neck/collar bone/shoulders are their prettiest areas!)

p.s. Brown & cranberry will look uber pretty with a light pink backdrop
p.p.s. Are you a lawyer/law student? The esq. in your name made me wonder

 

[sunnyd]

I love the cranberry, but would busty gals bust right out of it?

 

[kama_s]

I think the cranberry would look absolutely lovely! I love the cranberry dress in the far right (my size/height is like your 4th BM's) and it would look nice on both the size 0-2 as well as the 10-12. It has ample cleavage support as well. I also really like the chocolate coloures dress on the far left, it would great for the busty BM.

Could you maybe have your BM's wear one colour (like cranberry) and your MOH another (chocolate brown) and then co-ordinate with the opposite colour flowers?

ETA: My second favourite was actually the chocolate coloured one right next to the cranberry one in far right. But I chose the chocolate one at the far left only because it would offer more upper body support.

 

[diamondgirl4382]

All of them are beautiful, but I LOVE the brown one on the far left. I think it will look good on everyone and, like was already said, will offer plenty of coverage on top--some of the others look like the V-necks might be too low for busty girls. I also like the two-toned one and I think it will flatter everyone''s shape. The more slim-fitting ones are nice, but they will probably not be as universally flattering.

 

[urseberry]

1. Is your ceremony actually being held in this room? I don''t think bridesmaid dresses need to go with the reception room, but yeah, they probably wouldn''t clash with the ceremony location. I like all of the colors you picked out. It''s hard to say if the cranberry would clash because the lighting may be different between the two photographs. The way it looks on my screen, it looks fine.
2. The dresses are very pretty!
3. I think they look great with your venue and dress. I like that all of the dresses, including yours, have a gathered element and a nipped in waist.
4. As long as the color and the fabric are the same, I don''t think the dresses really need to coordinate with each other. These do coordinate anyway, because of the gathering and nipped waists.
5. Aww, your post isn''t annoying or confusing at all. Good luck with the search and the rest of your planning!

 

[kittybean]

Alli, I love your taste. The dresses are all lovely!

A couple thoughts:
- I''m a skinny girl, like your MOH, but I''m short instead of tall. I don''t like to wear deep v-necks with straps because they make my chest look flat as a board, and I never fill them out properly (also, the straps are always the wrong length on me, but that''s ''cause of my height).
- I think all the dresses except the two-tone one might be difficult for the curvy ladies to wear, especially if they are busty. What looks sophisticated and elegant on the models might look wildly inappropriate when the wearer has anything over a B cup.
- I would take your MOH and one of the curvier girls shopping with you. Have both of them try on the same dresses; see which ones flatter both. I did this, and it was very, very helpful. If I had had just one or the other with me, I probably would''ve picked something that wasn''t universally flattering. Seeing the dresses on a boy-shape street size 0-2 and a curvier street size 10 was critical in making my decision.

 

[alli_esq]

Oh yay! Thank you for writing back, ladies!!!

PilsnPinkysMom: I agree with you about that brown dress on the right--it''s also by the same designer as my gown, so I feel like they sort of coordinate. The only issue is that it really doesn''t come in an array of colors, so I might have to have all of them wear the same exact dress, which I was thinking I might want to avoid. That is a really good point about the dresses fitting the girls differently, so that they might all look different...I didn''t really think about that, so thank you! Now that I''m looking at the backdrop of the room, I''m thinking that the cranberry might clash too

I don''t knowww... but yes, I just graduated from law school in May and just found out that I passed the NJ bar yesterday! I find out about the NY bar next week, so keep your fingers crossed for me

sunnyd: yeahhh, that is definitely something I''d have to check out with them...thanks for the head''s up

kama_s: thanks for your input

I''m not sure about the cleavage support on any of them...so I''m going to have to have them each try them on to see for sure....(btw, I looooove your avatar!)

diamondgirl4382: I thought that the one on the far left was so different! like I said, I do have to have them all try these on, and it might be that there''s too much fabric going on...but I did think there was a little more coverage on that one than on most bridesmaid dresses. The two-tone one I really like, but it is strapless, so my MOH wouldn''t be into it...but I LOOOOVE that it has pockets! haha! (so does my gown--we have all kinds of jokes as to what we''re going to put in)

urseberry:
1. easy answer to that question: yeah, it''s basically the same room--it''s the same exact style and colors...
2. I''m glad you like them!
3. Yeah, I think that''s flattering on most shapes

4. I have to check on the fabric--I know at least some of them are different...but like I said--this is my first-run...
5. Aw, thanks, lady!

kittybean: oh, that means so much to me--I love love love your gown on you! I have to look up your bridesmaid dresses--i don''t remember seeing them...but I know I''ve gushed before, but oo, every time I see your ring, I just swooooooon! hehe... but yes, down to brass tacks! thank you for the notes...I would loooove to take my MOH and bridesmaid 1, but my MOH lives super far away in Canada, so I''m going to have to figure something else out...it''ll be tricky, by I have time...

Any more ideas, girls? I''m open! Only things that are important to me right now are:
-at least one of the dresses has to not be strapless
-I want them long
-no sparkliness
-no ruffles or tiers
-no pickups
-no trains

Thanks again!!!

 

[dreaming of the day]

May I ask who makes the brown one inbetween the two toned dress and cranberry dress??? I love it!

 

[jstarfireb]

Date: 11/7/2008 5:36:20 PM
Author: alli_esq
Any more ideas, girls? I'm open! Only things that are important to me right now are:

-at least one of the dresses has to not be strapless
-I want them long
-no sparkliness
-no ruffles or tiers
-no pickups
-no trains

Thanks again!!!

You and I have very similar tastes! These were almost exactly my requirements, except that I wanted them tea length instead of long. My dresses are from Alfred Angelo, and he has a few that you might like:

7005 (I'd have the butt bow/flowers removed)
7011 (note the optional spaghetti straps)
6540 (saw this one in person and it's beautiful; has a corset back in the sash color!)
7010 (LOVE the mermaid!)
6333 (love the detailing on the bodice, simple but interesting)
6587 (not sure if the girls are open to jersey knits, but this is really nice)
6551 (sweetheart neckline for the bustier girl?)
6541 (halter neckline would also work for the well endowed)
6126 (lilke the surplice waist)
6311 (nice non-strapless idea, with a flattering waist detail)
6537 (a nice one if taffeta is an option)

Also, note that my friend who also never wears dresses really liked #6540, and she's also a curvy size 10 like your #4. She looked great in it.

ETA: As for the ones you posted, I liked the first and fourth for color (I think the earth tones go nicely with the room). I like the second one best for the shape/style.

 

[alli_esq]

I''m sorry I didn''t get back to you ladies earlier! I am so thankful for your help

dreaming of the day: first of all, congratulations on your engagement! you must be thrilled

secondly, that dress is from the Priscilla of Boston Vineyard Collection...



jstarfireb: thank you so much for your suggestions!!!

 

[diamondringlover]

I like the brown v-neck one on the left, I think it would fit well on all of the wedding party