Bridesmaid Dresses Shopping Guide: From Styles to Fittings

Step-by-Step Guide

1. 1

   Decide the Format Before the Colour

   Before you pick a colour, decide the format of your bridesmaid look: fully matching (same dress, same colour), matching colour with different styles (one colour, each bridesmaid chooses her own silhouette), tonal palette (different shades of the same colour family — blush, dusty rose, mauve), or fully mix-and-match (different colours that sit together in a palette). Fully matching is traditional and easiest to execute but least flattering across different body types. Matching colour with different styles is the most popular modern approach and works for almost every wedding aesthetic. Tonal palettes photograph beautifully and are very forgiving. Fully mix-and-match requires a confident eye for colour but looks stunning in editorial photos.

2. 2

   Choose the Colour Palette

   Your bridesmaid dress colour should work with your overall wedding palette, the venue, and the season. Consider how the colour will appear in photos: jewel tones (emerald, sapphire, burgundy) photograph beautifully in low-light indoor venues. Earth tones (terracotta, sage, rust) work well for outdoor and rustic weddings. Pastels (dusty blue, blush, lavender) suit spring and garden weddings. Neutrals (champagne, taupe, ivory) create a soft, elegant aesthetic but risk blending with the bride — keep them at least two shades darker than your dress. Avoid trending colours that may date your photos quickly — the 'Pantone colour of the year' is rarely the right choice for a wedding that will be photographed forever.

3. 3

   Have the Budget Conversation Early

   Before choosing a dress, ask every bridesmaid what they can comfortably spend. Do not assume. A five-hundred-dollar dress is a major financial burden for a bridesmaid who is also flying in for your destination wedding, renting a hotel room, and paying for a bridal shower. Aim for a dress cost of one hundred fifty to three hundred dollars unless you know your bridesmaids' budgets allow for more. If you have a wide range of budgets, consider a mix-and-match approach where each bridesmaid can choose a dress in the right colour at their own price point — some from higher-end retailers, some from budget retailers — and let the colour unify the look.

4. 4

   Shop with the Bridal Party (or Virtually)

   If your bridal party is local, schedule a group shopping appointment at a bridesmaid-specific retailer (Bella Bridesmaids, Dessy, Revelry, Azazie). Book a two-hour appointment on a weekday morning to avoid crowds. If your bridal party is spread out geographically, use online retailers with try-on-at-home programs (Azazie, Birdy Grey, Brideside) that ship sample dresses in multiple sizes for a flat fee. Create a shared Pinterest board or group chat where each bridesmaid can share the style she is considering so you can confirm cohesion before ordering. Avoid scheduling a group appointment with more than four bridesmaids at one time — the appointment gets chaotic and the sales consultant cannot give anyone proper attention.

5. 5

   Order at Least Four Months Before the Wedding

   Bridesmaid dresses typically take twelve to sixteen weeks to produce and ship, plus four to six weeks for alterations. Order at minimum four months before the wedding, preferably six months. Rush orders are possible but add fifty to two hundred dollars per dress. All bridesmaids should order from the same batch (same dye lot) on the same day — colours can vary between production runs, and ordering at different times risks visible differences in photos. Assign one person (usually the maid of honour or the bride) to coordinate the order date, collect measurements, and confirm that everyone has placed their order by the deadline.

6. 6

   Nail the Sizing and Measurements

   Bridesmaid dresses run notoriously small compared to regular retail sizes. Every bridesmaid should be measured by a professional tailor, not a friend with a tape measure, and should size according to the designer's specific size chart rather than her normal retail size. The three critical measurements: bust, waist, and hips. If a bridesmaid falls between two sizes, always size up — dresses can be taken in but rarely let out meaningfully. For pregnant bridesmaids or those planning significant weight changes, wait as long as possible to order (eight to ten weeks out if the designer allows) and choose styles with stretch, empire waists, or adjustable ties.

7. 7

   Plan Alterations in Advance

   Every bridesmaid dress will need alterations. Standard alterations (hem, waist, bust adjustments) cost one hundred to two hundred fifty dollars per dress and take four to six weeks. Schedule the first fitting six to eight weeks before the wedding and the final fitting two weeks before. Bridesmaids should bring the exact shoes they will wear to every fitting — even an inch of heel height difference changes the hem dramatically. If bridesmaids are in different cities, each can use her own local tailor as long as you communicate the final hem length target (floor-skimming, above-ankle, tea-length) so the group looks cohesive. Budget extra for additional alterations if someone's weight changes in the final month.

8. 8

   Coordinate Shoes, Jewellery, and Accessories

   The dress is the anchor, but shoes, jewellery, hair, and accessories affect how unified the group looks. Decide in advance: shoe colour (metallic, neutral, match the dress), shoe style (flexible or specific — heel, flat, or either), jewellery (provided by the bride, coordinated colour, or bridesmaid's choice), hair (down, up, or each to her preference), and accessories like clutches or wraps. The most common modern approach is to dictate the dress colour and style rules strictly and let bridesmaids make individual choices for shoes, jewellery, and hair within a general palette. This balances cohesion with personal comfort.

9. 9

   Handle Returns, Exchanges, and Drama

   Bridesmaid dresses are typically final sale once altered, so solve sizing and style issues before the alterations begin. If a bridesmaid wants a different style than the one you chose, listen before saying no — sometimes a specific cut genuinely does not work for her body, and a different style in the same colour will keep her comfortable and the group cohesive. If a bridesmaid drops out of the wedding after ordering, the dress is usually non-refundable; you will need to absorb the cost or see if another bridesmaid can use it. For weight changes between fittings, the final fitting is the last chance to adjust — a dress that fits two months out may not fit on the wedding day.

Frequently Asked Questions