Well if you say they look better in real life, and dresses look different on different girls, so would recommend wait till they have them on before you take there negative opinion to heart, they may love it once they have it on.

Personally for me its very important that my bridesmaids like the dress as I want them to feel comfortable and gorgeous on the day. X

My answer is No!!! If they wanna be bm they wear what they're told to or they don't take part... However if they are paying then they have a say x

I have hated some of my bm dresses in the past, I've done it 4 times now but sucked it up and got on with as it's the bride wanted... I respected her wishes and wore what was bought for me! Shut up and put up I say!

Personally I think they should like them as it may show in pics if they feel uncomfortable. I would have them try them on and then ask again how they feel.

I just think it's a bit bridezilla to tell them to wear something they don't like but that's just my opinion

I'm sure if you all went together you'll find something in budget that makes everyone happy.

i think alot of woman become bridezillas and lose friendships over weddings all because of choice of hair or dress ect , honestly bridesmaids are suppose to compliment the bride and if they don't feel pretty or nice it will show,
ask them to try on the dresses and see what they look like first and then make a choice but at the end of the day its just a wedding and to lose friendships over dresses i find aren't worth it and your wedding photos will look much nicer if your all happy in what you wearing, me and my bestfriend have a deal and would never make each other feel horrid or unpretty on either of our weddings :)

I'm in two minds, if noone is making a decision then someone has to make that decision at some point.

But when you then read another thread on here where someone is in tears because she doesn't feel comfortable in a bridesmaid dress someone has bought for them, I wouldn't want to ever think the people I held close to me were made to feel like that by me.

I do think it has to be a bit of give and take, they need to feel comfortable but you need to think they look great too.

Obviously you want your bridesmaids to like their dresses but it is also a matter of budget and theme so ultimately it is the bride's choice. It's only one day, and the bridesmaids need to put on a brave face for the sake of the bride. x

Ditto everything Linzi Jo said in addition to my earlier post x

I wanted them to like the dress and feel comfortable in it, but I think there's a difference between not liking something because it makes you look ridiculous, and therefore feeling uncomfortable, and not liking something because it isn't a colour/fabric/length you'd usually wear.

For example: I would say it's unreasonable to expect a bridesmaid with a large bust to wear something that you can't wear a decent, supportive bra under. I also think it would be unreasonable to expect a bridesmaid who is self-conscious about her weight to wear something very tight/short/etc. Same goes if it's just plain hideous (like a colour that just does not flatter any of them, or a fabric that creates lumps and bumps in all the wrong places, etc).

But if it's just that they don't, say, want to wear yellow because they never wear yellow, or want to wear a mini-dress instead of a floor-length dress, then tough IMO.

I gave mine freedom within reason: we asked that they choose something floor-length (which they wanted anyway), in the same fabric and colour, and we set the budget and chose the designer. They were allowed to choose the colour and the style (they've all gone for strapless, but one of the 3 is having a different bodice/neckline as it suited her much better), and also the fabric.

So, if they have GENUINE reasons for not liking the dress, I think that's fair enough. But otherwise I think it's a bit silly. If I was someone's bridesmaid and they were paying, while I would inwardly hope they chose something I liked and that flattered me (who wouldn't?!), provided I didn't feel uncomfortable in it (eg b00bs hanging out) I would just roll with it and would never comment.

I think it's better if they like the dresses, as it will show in the way they wear them. However if you have your heart set on a particular dress they need to accept that. The only thing I would say is that it is important that all your bridesmaids do look good in the dress, as it will spoil the photos if someone looks frumpy.

I think Barbie has it spot on (again!!) It's your wedding and you want the theme and look to be how you want it but at the same time I wouldn't like to think the BM's felt uncomfortable or self conscious. I'd see what they say when they try them on - it could all change. I've emailed a pic of the dresses I want for our wedding to the BM's and everyone seems happy enough - if they weren't I'd probably ask them what sort of thing they'd like or feel happy in - and come to some sort of compromise. But - my H2B and I have chosen the colour theme and I'm not deviating from that! Hope they like them in the end! xx

I think it is important they like them but then again it is your budget. Can you not perhaps suggest if they're really not right, that you put so much towards the dresses which is within your budget and then they pay the rest if they really want something else?x