Hi, I am just after some advice; I am having my 2 older sisters as bridesmaids and want them to wear something flattering to their ages (30's) alot of the styles i've seen just aren't appealing to me. Both have children under the age of 5 so really want something they will be comfortable in. The other thing I am unsure of is whether to buy theirs before my own dress.... not knowing the style I will wear yet! Too many decisions :) although the rest of the planning has so far been easy! Please help ladies xx
CommentAuthorNearlyMrsFountain
I am getting my from the l1ght in @ box. They are beautiful dresses and do many styles also good quality. Although its only Internet based so can't try them on first
Hope that helps a little. Xx
CommentAuthorBeckyU98
i went to look at bridesmaid dresses first and then narrowed it down to a few. then i went upstairs to look at my dress and fell in love with my dress. when i came back the next week with bridesmaids i completely changed my mind on what bridesmaid dresses i wanted. in my experience you should order yours first just in case you change your mind like i did. My bridesmaids are 15 and 25 and i have gone for chiffon full length dresses with sweetheart neckline - i didnt want the old style traditional ball gown style and neither did my MOH. for the little ones (5 and 8) i have gone for a flower girl dress ivory with a purple chiffon top and a bow on.
my advice go in shop and try all the bridesmaid dresses on so you get an idea of what you like but dont order until you have chosen yours x
CommentAuthorAmyH608
Thats one place i havent looked yet... thank you! :) i think im just working myself up really over nothing. lol! At the end of the day it doesnt matter what style they have, i just worry it may clash with my dress if i buy theirs first! :/ im sure it will work out fine! xx
CommentAuthorMel D
edited
My bridemaids were all in their 30's ... I got chiffon dresses from LK Bennett on the high street that they all loved .. they were flattering and skimmed over any tums and bumps ... I would say to get your dress first xx
Got married Sat 28/05/2011
Renewing vows Sat 29/05/2021
We're planning WELL in advance!!
Thanks BeckyU98..... thats what i think is probably what is really worrying me... changing my mind lol!! Im terrible for it! My Bridesmaids and Mum keep on at me to go dress shopping (having only 10months to go) but i dont want to risk finding one and then hating it in 6 months lol!! trust me i do this a lot with clothes! How long before your wedding have you picked yours? xx
CommentAuthorBeckyU98
i got engaged on boxing day and had mine ordered by the 20th jan lol (but its the most important thing to me except marrying my man of course!!) mine only arrived last week and took 7 months to arrive so i would really get looking now. they say it takes 6-9 months for them to be delivered in and mine took 7. you really wont have time to change your mind if that helps lol! when you go dress shopping you might be like me and fall in love with first dress you try on - just make sure you try on at least 10 other dresses in lots of styles and if 'the one' is still 'the one' you wont change your mind honestly. just get lots of pictures so you can remind yourself what it looks like - i didnt cus of H2B looking on my phone and forgot what it looked like lol. i would go and have a look now - its one less thing to worry about and if you love it enough you wont change your mind xxx
CommentAuthorAmyH608
Wow you did it quick then :) best way!! We got engaged on 15th November and had the church booked by the 18th!! 7 months!!!? oh dear lol i think i best get looking :/ haha i think im too laid back!! really wanted to lose a bit more weight before i went but i'll have to do!! thank you so much for your honest advice!! so glad i stumbled across this site :) when do you get married? xx
CommentAuthorBeckyU98
yeah i got everything done in january - H2B is in the army and away a lot so it gives me something to do lol. i actually went to look at bridesmaid dresses and get ideas for colours for the wedding but i got persuaded to try on some wedding dresses - first one i tried on i fell in love with - completely different to what i thought i wanted.
try not to worry yourself too much but you have about a month i think to look around before you need to order one. as long as you order about 8-9 months before you should be ok.
we get married on 28th March next year - wish it would all hurry up now! xxx
CommentAuthorMrsK2b
I got my dress before the bridesmaids and the dress I wanted for the bridesmaids didn't look right so I have had to change my mind.
I got my dress a year ago and it took my dress 6 months to come in and the bridesmaids took about 5 months.
BeckyU you don't have long to go.
Cant wait until I become Mrs K
CommentAuthorAmyH608
BeckyU98, you are in the same boat as me!! H2B also in the army!! He proposed before his tour so i would have something else to focus on!! Thats what people say dont they that the ones you think you wont like tend to be the ones you love!! Glad you found yours so easily :)
Haha i best get a wriggle on then!! I think that will probably make it more real too!! Wow you really havent got that long to wait then!! Have you pretty much got everything sorted now? xx
MrsK2B thank you, thats what ive been thinking!! :) will defo take both your advice on board and get looking!! xx
CommentAuthorbarbie86
As far as where to look goes, there are loads of places you can try: obviously you have bridal stores stocking 'proper' bridesmaids dresses, then you also have places like Coast, Monsoon, etc, as well as department stores. I think it also depends on what look you're going for eg if say you just want them to be co-ordinated but not matching, or you're not fussed about a very formal look, they could get something from pretty much anywhere: it doesn't have to be marketed as a bridesmaids dress to be appropriate.
In terms of when to get them: definitely wait until you've got your dress, as your dress will likely influence the look you go for eg certain colours, fabrics or styles might clash with your dress. I wouldn't even have considered getting the bridesmaids dresses until I got mine.
CommentAuthorAmyH608
Yeah there are tons of places lol!! My bridesmaids havent liked anything i've picked out on pictures for them and i've not liked anything theyve shown me :/ haha maybe having sisters wasnt the best option as least with friends who are bridesmaids they aim to please, sisters really are blunt!! :) i agree with you about being able to use any stle dresses now thats the good thing!!
Thank you, from all the comments i will definately be getting my dress first!! xx
CommentAuthorBeckyU98
oh cool another army wife to be! how are you getting on with planning? have you got any military specific ideas that you have got planned? im a bit of a planning freak and like to have things done nice and early but its horrible not having control over the things he is in charge of e.g. uniform for the day, married quarters and whether we can have guard of honour or not.
ive got everything booked now and just paying things off when the deadlines come. bridesmaid dresses arrived with my dress last week and we are trying them on next weekend just got to get the flower girls in for their fittings in september. i think everything is sorted except i havent done invites yet - family are a pain with the guest list which has been the only stressful part to be honest!
im just over half way and ive got 8 months to go still feels like forever! i hope you find your dress as easily as i did xxx
CommentAuthor*The NewMrsMalin*
How about maxi dresses?
Met in 2009
Got together on12th May 2011, proposed on the 12th May 2013
When you get knocked down; smile and pick yourself up again!
Fight for what you believe in!
CommentAuthorRennie1989
I got my bridesmaid dresses chosen first before getting my dress. The BM's dresses match the colour theme and, fortunately, the material.
Why don't you take your sisters shopping and let them show you what dresses they like. If you want them to be comfortable then they need to like their dress.
CommentAuthorNataliesoon2bMitchel
Hi Amy,
I picked my dress before my BM dresses to avoid them looking similar i.e I am having a sweet heart neck so I have got the BM's to have a one strap with flowers on dress. Once my dress was ordered we immediately went shopping for them. We started in the bridal shops and got an idea of what style the girls liked / felt comfy in however their prices of £180 a dress where scandeless so we hit the high street and never came across anything which really stood out. So in the end I got them made in China using 1** Dress. The girls went online agreed on a few dresses they liked and then I had final pick. In the end their dresses cost me £50 for full length chiffon maxi dresses with like a one strap flwers kind of thing. I was so nervous ordering them but they arrived 2weeks later and they were amazing! fantastic quality, great colour and fitted the girls like a glove. Best thing I did! xx
CommentAuthorAmyH608
BeckyU98 - Its not often you get in touch with other Army wifes to be! PLanning is coming on nicely; we've got most things booked ready and hopefully ordering our invites and save the date cars this weekend too! We've tried to incorporate an Army theme in but only slightly; having his reg flags on the cake table and not sure what else yet possible the reg logo on our table plans and table numbers. How have you incorporated it? Thats the worst bit, the fact they have to organise the uniform and marriage quarters, my OH is so laid back he hasnt looked into it yet lol! I bet you're excited for next weekend then? xx
Thanks everyone for their tips and advice :) Maxi dresses are out of the options due to my bridesmaids wanting shorter dresses but i'm happy with that as its a summer (hopefully wedding)!! Will defintaly get ideas from bridal shops etc and then try to buy elsewhere, sounds awful but the bridesmaids dresses arent my main priority budget wise - £10 would suffice haha xx
CommentAuthorBeckyU98
sounds like your doing well with your planning! we arent having many army themed bits to our wedding but for our favours we are going to have charity donations to either help for heroes or for H2B regiment charity. i think we are going to get the little charity badges if we go for help for heroes and just print out a little card saying that a donation has been made in your favour. H2B is wearing his uniform for the church and a few photos then is going to get changed into same as Best Man and others suits later on in the day. we wanted to have a guard of honour but not really sure how to go about it yet as no-one has their own swords! apart from that we were thinking of having little collection boxes by the bar for either H4H or regiment charity so people can donate on the day too.
My OH is so laid back about it all too! he thinks that its fine to do it in January but we are getting married in march so im trying to get him to do it a little sooner! yes im very excited! appointment is all booked just waiting to try it on now! xx
CommentAuthorAmyH608
I love that idea for your favours!!!! We've already bought our favour boxes or I would of used that :) Thats exactly what me and H2B were talking about this weekend, whether he would change in the evening! Think its the best option as i imagine the uniform will get too hot and uncomfortable!!
We are still undecided on a guard of honour too - let me know if you find out any details :)
I think its either just a man thing or an army thing (obviously when their not working lol) mine is exactly the same although we have a bit longer to prepare than you he thinks itll be fine to leave it!!
March really is NOT LONG away now!!!! :) :) xx
CommentAuthorBeckyU98
its quite a nice idea isnt it - we were going to do sweets in a box but H2B's nan had some ideas and between us we have decided on that and she wants to pay for them and help me put them together. we are going to pin the little badge onto the card and put them inside a little pillow shaped favour box so if you already have your boxes feel free to use the idea too! if i can fit it in then im going to put a little chocolate heart in the box too hopefully.
ive read lots about guard of honour and it has me completely confused! i really want one but people have told me on here that you cant have one unless H2B is an officer! but my SIL's brother had one and hes not an officer so im very confused. i know they can either borrow the swords (but people dont often lend them out as they cost like £800 each and they buy them themselves and dont want them to be lost) but i have found a company that hires them out but no response from them when i email/call. also squaddies arent the most reliable of people so whether they travel the 3 hours and turn up on day for guard of honour is another thing!
also found out on sunday that they have changed the 1's or blues that H2B is wearing and they no longer have the nice gold chains on any more - hes a bit gutted its the nicest part of uniform lol
i know :D think i better get a move on with things - thought i was doing well but people on here with 2 years to go that some more things done and made than me! xxx
CommentAuthorAmyH608
Omg i really really do like that!!! We have favour boxes which are in the shape of chairs :-/ sound odd but are really lovely and have a ribbon round them and a silver heart hanging off them too!! Where do you get the badges from?
Oh right, we to be fair havent looked into it at all, my H2B isnt too bothered about having one!! Thats odd though that the company you are trying done respond, have you not found anywhere else? haha i know exactly what you mean about them not turning up!!
Oh really? I didnt realise that, how long in advance has your H2B got to or has done already put his order in for 1s? I keep telling mine to enquire but again he thinks we can do everything last min!!
Wow i wouldnt like to be the people waiting 2 years :( i started my countdown at 19months when we got engaged in Nov and although its going super quick feels a lifetime of waiting!! xx
CommentAuthorBeckyU98
that sounds lovely. the badges are from H4H shop online £3 for the heart shaped badge for women and we are thinking of getting the poppy pins from B Legion website for the men (MIL says heart shaped badges are too girly apparently lol). the badges are a bit expensive but H2B's nan wants to buy them for us. i will make the little cards myself and then get the heart chocolates from the bay about £8 for 70 and pillow boxes are about £14. with a little ribbon and a label with our names and wedding date on and they should be done. ill try and get some pics taken when i do them next month and put them on here.
thats the only place i have found that hires them so far. will keep looking i suppose! H2B doesnt know whether they will all turn up so hes not sure whether we should do it but when you are in the archway our photographer says it makes a lovely confetti shot coming out of church.
he says that he wont go and speak to them about his 1s until after December but im quite keen for him to get them done a little sooner! they are about £120 for a week hire and he has to drive to chatham to pick them up i think but we will be on honeymoon so will probably cost more to hire them longer!
i will have waited for 15 months as we got engaged boxing day this year - H2B didnt want to wait that long but we had to cus of money! i hope the next 8 months hurry up - the longest ive spent with him was 3 weeks on summer leave cant wait to live together! xxx
CommentAuthorToniB17
You could always ask your bridesmaids what they prefer? I also want my bridesmaids to be comfortable, and I want them wearing something which is flattering to their individual shapes, so I've told them they can look for themselves. I've reserved final say, but it means they're more likely to be wearing something they like and are comfortable in. I've also got a wide range of ages, some little ones, some teenagers, two in their 20's, and my sister who's in her 40's, so I've told them they don't all have to wear the same dress, as long as they're all the same length and fit our colour scheme. You might find your bridesmaid's pick the best dresses x
