Dressing the Bridesmaids

Guest Blogger: Liz Blake, Bride-to-Be

Hey all! I'm Liz. I'm marrying the greatest guy next September (9-5-09!) and am slowly wading deeper into the whole planning process. I don't work at Bridal Guide anymore, but I was a Home editor there for 3 years. BG was my very first job out of college, and I interned there during my senior year of school. So I have a lot of history with Bridal Guide, but there's more—my fiancé works at Bridal Guide, too! He's the IT director—y'know, the computer guy. Not only that, but his family publishes the magazine. Crazy, right? We met when we both worked there. When he agreed to come with me to a family wedding after my then-boyfriend refused, I knew he was someone special. (I was right—as I write this he's making dinner AND setting the table!)

So it goes without saying that Bridal Guide has and will continue to play a big role in my life. That's why when my good friend Dana (aka, BG Fashion and Beauty editor) asked me to do some guest blogging, I happily obliged. As a former BG-er engaged to a current BG-er, and of course, as a bride-to-be, who better to talk about all the wedding-related questions and concerns that arise when planning your dream day?

Me and Jeremy

Even though my wedding is still 11 months away, I started thinking about dresses pretty much right away. Lately I've been looking everywhere for the perfect bridesmaid dresses. It's a tall order—the winner has to fit the mood of the wedding (20's-inspired chic!) and fit my bridesmaids' bodies AND their budgets. Not so simple. But all my searching is starting to pay off—I think I've found a few styles that just might work. Right now I'm loving this gorgeous dress from Priscilla of Boston:

I love the color the model is wearing, but my palette will be purples and silver, so I was so excited to see that it also comes in a really pretty deep plum shade. And, since my bridesmaids all have different body shapes, I'm thrilled that this dress looks like it would flatter them all. Plus, the material is a forgiving silk, as opposed to that dreaded satin or taffeta that clings to every unwanted curve. On a side note, why are so many bridesmaids dresses made of fabrics that so few women look good in? Makes no sense. Anyway, I'm not sure how much this dress costs but Priscilla dresses are usually pretty reasonable, so I'm crossing my fingers that this is too. I'm hoping for under $200, $250 tops.What I'm mostly loving is the jeweled brooch, which fits right into the elegant, vintage-y vibe I'm trying/hoping to create for the big day.

I also adore this style from Jenny Yoo (who, I just learned, is a college friend of another former BG-er! Small world.) I think this dress might be a little pricier than what I'm looking for, but I don't know for sure. And besides—how pretty is it?! It also probably helps that the dress is shown in the perfect purple. I think the girls will love it too, because it shows off the asset most girls (or my friends, at least!) are comfortable with—their boobs. So that's a plus. And the empire cut is super flattering. Another good option to keep in mind.

So the good news is that I found bridesmaid dresses I love! I still have to get the girls together to try them on and see if they're the right pick, but both styles are flattering, the materials are easy to wear, and the cuts should suit most body types. I'm thinking if I find a dress that my least body-confident bridesmaid likes and feels good in, the other girls will look and feel good in it too. I'll keep you all posted on the reaction of my bridesmaids—and if I find more options I love, you'll be the first to hear about those too!

P.S. These are some of my closest friends in the dresses they wore to another friend's wedding this past June. Aren't they so pretty? (The girls and the dresses!) Love the lace detail, too. Anyhoo, just wanted to share. More soon.

Posted by Liz at 3:57 p.m.