Five Tried & True Tips for Bridesmaid Shopping

mismatched bridesmaid dresses with pink velvet and light green colors

Photo: Mara Mapes, Dress: Stella York Style 6391

So, you’ve found “The One” for you… but what about your besties? Grab your notebook and settle in because today we’re spilling all the deets on bridesmaid dress shopping. From gathering inspo to picking your bridal party gowns, you and your day ones deserve an easy breezy dress shopping experience. With help from our five best bridesmaid shopping practices, you’ll be saying “yes” and popping champs with your bridal party in no time. And added bonus… check out some MAJOR bridesmaids inspo from our real brides!

dark green bridesmaid dresses

Photo: Tessa June Lange, Dress: Essense of Australia Style D2972

golden tones bridesmaid dresses

Photo: Carmela Joy, Dress: Stella York Style 6626

Yellow bridesmaid dresses

Photo: The White Tree, Dress: Martina Liana Style 1078

Here are our favorite tips for bridesmaid shopping that will help make your experience a total breeze:

1. Come Inspired

Who doesn’t love a good ol’ mood board? Gather a few of your favorite photos for inspo to give your bridesmaid stylist a general ballpark at your bridesmaid appointment. With so many styles and colors to choose from, narrowing down your options will have your bridesmaid search off to a great start!

Whether you’re looking for a classic neutral palette, or a bold mix-and-match, you’re already halfway there if you have a dreamy bridal vision in mind.

2. Agree on Budget

While we suggest keeping an open mind when it comes to your bridesmaid dress styles and color palette, your budget should be fairly set in stone. You don’t want price to be the only factor for choosing the perfect dresses, but give yourself a firm price range before heading to your bridesmaid shopping appointment.

Ask your friends what they’re comfortable paying too! Getting their financial input will help ease you and their worries before making a final decision.

Stylist showing bridesmaid dresses

3. Get Professionally Measured

Like all clothing, bridesmaid dress sizes and styles will vary depending on the label, silhouette, and fabric, so we highly recommend your besties get professionally measured for an accurate fit. As a bride-to-be, you know alterations can be quite pricey, so making sure your bridesmaids have near perfect measurements is a huge plus. This way, you’ll avoid last-minute alterations down the road and ease your friends’ concerns about estimating their size on the fly. And if you’re concerned about adding yet another appointment to your busy schedule, not to worry – your friends can be measured during your bridesmaid appointment!

bridesmaid dresses at store

4. Keep an Open Mind

We don’t know about you, but we’ve definitely had a little buyer’s remorse after purchasing a dress online with an awkward fit! Bridesmaid attire is no different. What a gown looks like online might look completely different during your “I Do” Crew try-on sesh. Allow yourself a good variety of different options as you choose dresses for your bridal party, especially if your peeps have a range of body types, styles, and opinions. If you want a more laid-back, modern look, consider this year’s hottest bridesmaid trend: Mix-and-Match bridesmaid dresses!

5. Make the Final Call

This might be seen as controversial, but it’s OK to not make everyone happy. Although you might try your best to please all members of your squad, chances are someone isn’t going to love your first pick. Carefully consider their opinions and the advice from your stylist at your bridesmaid dress fitting and choose the bridesmaid dress that fits your bridal vision best! After all, your support team wants you to be happy, so be confident in your final decision.

If you’re still looking for that “Aha!” moment, check out some more real bridesmaid inspo below:

burgundy bridesmaid dresses