Basically this photo perfectly sums up Chris and I taking photos together. We’re having fun.
Anyway, I played on the internet for three solid hours last night doing “wedding stuff.”
I haven’t done that since last year when we first got engaged. But there’s a little voice in my head that’s gradually getting louder as we get closer reminding me it’s time. It’s time to get shit done.
And so I looked up those wedding check lists on Pinterest everyone talks about. They were helpful, I guess. But apparently I’m lagging in a few areas. Such as choosing bridesmaid dresses. Woof.
So what kind of BM dresses do I want… I don’t know. Hopefully not ugly. Or cheap. But not too pricey, either. I’d like them to be flattering. And just a little unique. Not too bridesmaidy.
In other words they don’t exist. And yes, I’ve checked every site. At this point I’m just about over searching for these non bridesmaid- bridesmaid dresses. And now I’ve said that word too much (bridesmaid.) It’s become funny to me in my head. What a terrible word. “Will you be my maid for a day?”
After extensive searching last night I think I’ve come to the conclusion that I like the non-uniform bridesmaid look the most. Let’s get some honest opinions here, what do we all think about this idea? I’ll obviously suggest a color palette and length, but otherwise it would be up to each bridesmaid to choose a dress they like and feel good in.
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I don’t know, the more I look around, the more I kind of like this idea.
The other thing Pinterest told me I need to lock down is my “overall wedding look.” Hair, makeup, nails, ext….
Now before I go into this I’d like to note that I’ve heard the same unsolicited advice about wedding hair/makeup several times, “Just remember, you want to look like yourself!”
Um, no I don’t.
What I’d like is to look like the most glam-wonderful-put-together version of myself. Like if I had an entire style team getting me ready to go to the Golden Globes or something. I want to be that person on my wedding day. There, I said it. And I don’t regret it.
I’m not saying I want to have the “I just got in from a day on the slopes and have finally taken off my ski googles” look. (This is just me making fun of the non blended makeup face again I see going on right now and don’t understand and/or like.)
I dream of simple things. Like having nice thick eyebrows. And pretty eyeshadow and eyeliner. Maybe some fun false eyelashes that weren’t purchased at Party City. I don’t know how to do any of those things and have been keeping it simple since ’03. I also want to wear a pretty red lipstick. Not too red. But a little red.
Based on my dress, I have this vision of a whole vintage look going on? And I end that sentence with a question mark because I’m not even sure what that means, but I sure like the sound of it. An old fashioned hairstyle with an old fashioned lipstick to match.
Then again, when I imagine myself on my wedding day I also look like Gigi Hadid… so sometimes my expectations don’t meet reality.
Opening up the table for suggestions now. Where did you get your bridesmaid dresses? What sites should I be checking?
Lastly, hope everyone has a great weekend, brunch your heart out! (shameless t-shirt plug.)
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I felt the same way about bridesmaid dresses, so mine are all picking their own dress. In a similar shade and length. So personally I obviously like that idea. And as far as overall looks, I've got nothing. I also don't understand what that means and I'm fairly certain my dress doesn't go with anything else in the wedding planning and IDGAF.
I love the idea of the same color palette and letting them choose! When they get to choose, they will feel more confident and radiant which in turn helps with pictures and such.
I LOVE the idea of having non-uniform bridesmaid dresses! I ended up going with no bridesmaids at all and just had all my girlfriends come over to my hotel room pre-ceremony to hang, have drinks, and put my dress on. It was so much more fun for me because wedding planning was super stressful. I also dream of looking like Gigi Hadid on the reg!
I 100% recommend you treat yo' self and get a makeup artist the day of your wedding. I felt so beautiful and didn't have to worry about my makeup (through all the tears and shots and dancing) the whole night (my wedding was until 6am…it was in Croatia). It "looked like me" but then again didn't but I'm so happy that I felt beautiful.
Check it (it's super short) –
Good luck with your planning! I think people are crazy when they say they loved planning their wedding bc it was so much stress for my hubby and I. We have an awesome wedding trailer video that I also highly recommend you ask your videographer to do! Photos and videos were really important to me. Our wedding photographer was a friend of ours and her photos were so stunning. This was in 2012 though so pre-instagram hashtags so I didn't get to scroll through my friends taking photos throughout the weekend but it's so awesome that you can do that now!
p.s. sorry for the long ass comment!
I was in a wedding where the bride had the same requirements for bridesmaid dresses so we got our from the cocktail dress section at Nordstroms.
For different dresses in the same color pallet I've had friends get their dresses off Rent The Runway. Super affordable for bridesmaid dresses.
I was recently in a wedding where we all got to choose our own bridesmaid dress – only, we each were given a different color, which was interesting. My experience with it was a little frustrating, BUT I think it normally works and looks good.
You see, the bride gave us each a color and said, "Pick a dress. I don't like satin though." None of the bridesmaids knew each other, and none of us even lived closed to one another. We weren't given style suggestions. We weren't told a certain length. We weren't even really told how formal/casual she'd like. She just said, "Pick a dress in the color I gave you." (Luckily, my color was navy which was easy to find!) Luckily, we all ended up choosing knee length dresses, but I think we ended up looking a little strange up there. So, for the sanity of your bridesmaids, if you DO go the different dress route (which I think is cute!), at least give them some guidelines to help in their search! Otherwise, they may be like me and freak out. 🙂
I really like the idea of non-uniform bridesmaid dresses. I think it makes everyone look better typically. My favorite bridesmaid dress for a wedding was from j.crew. My friend chose the color and then we all chose the style we wanted which was great because we all had VERY different body shapes. It's the only bridesmaid dress I've re-worn too.
I love the look of all the different bridesmaids having unique dresses! It's just much more convenient and realistic.
elainea
toast the girl almighty
My "maids" got their dresses from J Crew. They were very casual, like a sundress but we also got married on the beach and had a very relaxed wedding. I chose the color and they chose the style and fit they wanted. No alterations needed and relatively cheap. I'm very much a "no frills" girl, so it was my style. I'm excited to see what you come up with!
I think it all sounds lovely, from the bridesmaid dress idea to the vintage-y look. I say go super glam, but do remember that the idea of looking "like yourself" is a good point…for example I never EVER wear my hair up, but we got married on the very last weekend of July, outside, and because it had been so hot for weeks leading up to our ceremony I decided the day before that I should have my hair up. It looked awful, and it ended up being the first cloudy/rainy day in history (or, that whole summer rather.) ha! When I look back now my biggest regret is wearing my hair up, because it's just "not me." (And don't worry about the rain; it held off through the ceremony and then everyone had the most epic dance party in the pouring rain during the reception. Most fun ever!)
My bridesmaids all had different dresses and it worked out well, it allowed them to choose a dress that flattered them best and also fit their own personal budget. If you decide to go that route I would set a few parameters (color, length, material, etc) I just told my girls nude and knee length and they went with it. One girl ordered her dress online and it ended up not fitting so she had to get another last minute and it didn't really "go" with the other dresses, but it all worked out. I think the look can work out great but make sure to either go with them or have them send pics before they are purchased!
My bridesmaids all had different dresses and it worked out well, it allowed them to choose a dress that flattered them best and also fit their own personal budget. If you decide to go that route I would set a few parameters (color, length, material, etc) I just told my girls nude and knee length and they went with it. One girl ordered her dress online and it ended up not fitting so she had to get another last minute and it didn't really "go" with the other dresses, but it all worked out. I think the look can work out great but make sure to either go with them or have them send pics before they are purchased!
My girls all had different dresses and I loved it! My MOH had a silver-ish tea length, bridesmaids had champagne tea length, and my flower girl/junior bridesmaid had a pretty light green tea length dress. Every color was a bit muted, but matched the grass (duh) and the little belt/ribbon thing I was wearing. Plus, I felt like a good friend being like "hey, pick something that's not gross and as long as it meets these requirements, you're golden".
my bridal party ranges in age and size so I knew there was no way I could pick a dress and have everyone feel good in it. So I picked a color, and a designer that made basically a similar dress with different necklines and shapes and let them all pick what ever one they wanted. They also are going to do what ever they want with their hair/make up/ accessorizes because I really dont give an f about that stuff. What ever makes them feel pretty is all I care about.
I would suggest checking out Rent the Runway for bridesmaid dresses. That way each lady could rent a fancy designer gown for a small price (and a second size for free, just in case), and it won't take up their closet for the rest of eternity. 😉 I think RTR has a Chicago store, so you could physically go to and see some dresses.
Hi Taylor! First off, congrats on getting married! I have been a loyal follower for quite some time but never comment (why? we aren't sure…) but having just finished planning my own wedding – I know how it can feel like you are drinking from a waterfall. Seriously.
And no joke about the bridesmaids dresses, hands down this was the worst part to plan. I literally took twelve minutes to find my own dress and like ten months to find theirs, ridiculous. We landed on the same silhouette (and I was aiming for one color scheme but alas, no) but other than that it all kind of varied, with two dresses that pulled in colors of all the rest. It was mainly due to laziness at the end, but honestly it all worked out because each gal felt beautiful in a dress she had picked for her personality and body. Look up Molly Sims' bridesmaid dresses, that is a great example of mixed b-maid dresses working together and the neutral palette may work for you 🙂 I tried to add a picture but couldn't get it to work, I can send some over if you need inspiration!
Good luck!! It will all be worth it when the days comes and you can just enjoy it all with a glass(es) of wine and your new hubby, I can't wait to see all the details! And how Harlow steals the show…naturally.
Kylie
I was just in a wedding where us bridesmaids got to pick our own dresses and it was a surprising success. The bride created a Pinterest board where she pinned pictures of dresses she liked and we did the same. Her basic parameters were long, neutral, and some sparkles (similar to the picture you put in the post). It all came together really well. It was a November wedding so she gave each of us chunky cardigans in different colors (golden yellow, maroon, forest green, etc.) to wear over our dresses for outdoor pictures, which was awesome. A couple of the girls found dresses on Rent The Runway, others found them as bridal consignment stores, and a few bought dresses from Nordstroms, but the best was how everyone found an option that they were comfortable in that also fit their budget. Easily the most successful turn as a bridesmaid that I've ever had.
Yessss… love people picking their own bridesmaid dresses in similar shade and length. I helped my friend plan her wedding and she went with matching dresses (in different necklines) and I am definitely NEVER wearing that dress again (bad quality, not flattering, not a color I'd ever wear normally). She also gave us very strict instructions on shoes and I dislike those as well, haha. On the other hand, we each bought matching earrings and they were very pretty… still wear them today. That's a nice matching touch!
I have the same plans to do the non uniform bridesmaid look! I love that way better than all the same. Plus it gives them the chance to be comfortable. I planned on going to Home Depot and getting color swatches and giving them to each bridesmaid. Good luck!
This is great! I too was way more into the non-uniform look – so I let my bridesmaids choose! I pretty much said just choose blush pink (this can be a wide palette of diff shades, which I wanted), can be knee-length or just a little bit above and deciding on fabric type was left vague but basically not like lace or sequins (I wanted to have that, but it felt like too much work trying to figure out what the heck it would turn out like lol).
All in all, it turned out great! But for my bridesmaids I think it added a little more stress even though my main goal was to take away the pressure and save them money. But most of them still ended up buying from bridal shops or spent a lot of time buying and returning things online. Again, it turned out awesome and those who had been in a lot of wedding appreciated the freedom to choose but I kind of wish I would've just chose a theme and then they could pick which one they wanted, like one is strapless, one is one-strap, etc. Also for shoes I kept it super simple and just said nude heels. 🙂
Your bridesmaid idea is definitely the trend these days and it's such a fun idea! I hate when brides require their bridesmaids to buy overly expensive dresses all in the exact same style when everyone is shaped differently. I've been in that position before and it is SO uncomfortable and a complete waste of money!
I had my bridesmaids pick out the same color and length of dress and then they picked the style that they liked. Everyone looked great and I think they actually enjoyed picking their own out! 🙂 I highly recommend it! Here's a pic: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kOnkmkOe2oU/VhrVhi7mF6I/AAAAAAAAHp0/h-438exr-r0/s1600/nautical%2Bbridesmaids%2B2.jpg
eek all this stuff makes me nauseous with stress. Just elope.
Hiring a hair and makeup person was probably the best thing I did for my wedding. That way I could look like the "best" version of myself. You know, look like me but with better skin, longer eyelashes, and makeup that was applied properly. With regards to the bridesmaids dresses, I wanted each girl to be comfortable so I just gave some general guidelines with regards to color and length and let them choose what worked best for their budget and body.
TAYLOR YOU ARE READING MY MIND GIRL. Literally at work combing the internet for bridesmaids dress answers. I like the idea of the non-uniform look a lot! Just trying to figure out how to make sure it doesn't go haywire and provide good guidelines. We should finally grab coffee or a drink like we've discussed a couple times and talk solutions!
My wedding was so long ago I barely remember any of it, and my mum and nan did most of the work which was both good and not so good, I didn't have the wedding cake I wanted and eafter 30 years it still bugs me
As a bridesmaid in my friend's wedding later this year I hate the idea of picking my own dress to go with a color pallet. It is the most stressful thing to me. I do SO much better with direction!
We did a non-uniform look and my bridesmaids were able to find dresses in their own price ranges (one girl scored a dress for $25!) and didn't feel uncomfortable.
My mom did my hair and my sister's best friend did my makeup, and I kinda wish I had paid to get them done. I wanted the fairytale glam day, and didn't get the choice to.
Good luck!!!
I LOVE the mismatched bridemaid dresses. One style doesn't fit every body and it gives them the opportunity to choose what looks best on them. One color, or color scheme, helps it to look coordinated and together. Perfect, it my opinion and is exactly what I would do!
I also totally agree with not wanting to look like myself on my wedding day. I mean, a little bit of me. But I wear sweatpants and no makeup working from home most days, and I don't want to look like that for my wedding! Glam it up and have fun! We don't get excuses to go all out very often!
Glam it up for your hair/makeup – it will probably be the most photographed day of your life. Most makeup artists offer a trial to see you if you dig their style – I'd highly recommend seeking one out for the day. As for your bridesmaid dresses I wanted to pass on this site: chichistyles.com they have some really great styles but at lower cost. We were able to get my bridesmaid dresses for half the cost of what the local bridal salon. They were the exact same not knockoffs. Hopefully you can find something that matched the vibe you picture in your head.
I love mismatched bridesmaid dresses! I think everyone has a personal style and frankly it works out better that way sometimes.
I love the mismatched but coordinated dresses. One wedding I was in we "drafted" for a dress and the bride sent out like 30 different ones she liked in a range of styles and colors (but all neutralish) then we picked our top three. Everyone's were really different but fit their own personal style and the flowers brought everything together.
Oh and PS have you checked out revolve.com? I've gotten two bridesmaid dresses that aren't actually bridesmaid dresses from there.
good bridesmaids dresses are so HARD to find… so I went with the mismatched look and let them pick short (knee-length) dresses in a palette (peach/blush) and turns out they all got their dresses at F21 for $25 and under. It was perfect.
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/80853755787431658/ our wedding was casual and in FL.. hence short sleeveless dresses in January. thats why F21 worked so well, I guess. and yes, i pinned my own wedding photos. being wedding-pinterest famous would be a dream come true, ya know?
I love when bridesmaids wear different dresses because then they can choose something that they are comfortable in and maybe even more importantly, they might actually wear again! I had my bridesmaids wear mid-length navy blue dresses. Most of them got their dresses from J Crew (or tried them on at J Crew and bought it for cheaper from eBay) or Asos.
I also got married in Chicago last year sooooo, I fully recommend my make-up artist! Her name is Andie Cumber. You should be able to find her easily through Google, but feel free to let me know if you want her info. If you're still looking for photographers and/or videographers, I also 10000000% recommend the people that I used. For photos, I had 2swans photography and for video, Corfias Film. They were the most affordable for the price that I could afford as well as the best quality in my price range. I am so completely satisfied with my photos! My only regret is that I wish I didn't care so much about getting back to the venue so quickly and had stayed around downtown for some more fun photos, but that is all completely on me.
Okay and final recommendation. My DJ. He was extremely affordable (We got quoted by someone else for $2k!! FOR DJING!!) He's an old friend of mine so we got a deal, but he still is way more affordable than anyone else and he is GREAT. He's been in the music business for awhile and just in the past couple of years started DJing weddings. You could just do the iPod thing, but I loved having someone else reading the crowd who knew the music we liked and could play music based off how the crowd was. 8 months later and people still tell us how awesome our DJ was. His name is Rick Linus and his email address is [email protected]. You can tell him that Angela and Bill recommended him.
Hopefully I'm not overstepping with the suggestions! But I know wedding planning in Chicago can get stressful AND expensive, so hopefully I was able to help a bit!
Angela
Oh and if you need anymore recommendations for affordable Chicago wedding shit, feel free to email me if ya want (aneylon3 at gmail dot com)
When my sister got married, all of the bridesmaids had different colored dresses, but the "styles" were identical.
I was just in a wedding where we could pick our own style but had to be the same color. It turned out so pretty and the dresses all complimented each other. You can see the pics here…http://www.nicolechatham.com/houston-wedding-photographer-st-thomas-aquinas-catholic-church-traditions-country-club-joe-and-darby/
Sarah
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