A lot of folks got in engaged during the holidays -- at least according to my Facebook Newsfeed. How many of you now find yourself in the midst of measurements for a bridesmaid dress? And are you now reaching toward veteran status as one?
I hear a lot of brides concerned over the rewearability of their bridesmaids dresses. Often, when most of the people in the wedding party are in their early to mid-20s, one can assume there probably isn't a lot of wealth in there. So it's a kind gesture when that's a deciding factor in choosing the style -- especially when most ring up to about $200 or more.
I've had the great honor as a bridesmaid dress. Once when I was 15 in my cousin's wedding. The second time I was 20 and it was for my sister.
My cousin dressed us in basically the female equivalent of a tuxedo. It hit the tops of my feet and included no color. She said she thought my sister (another bridesmaid, 17 at the time) and I could rewear them for homecoming, prom, etc. It was a nice gesture since I fully recognize that it was in fact
her day and she could dress us in whatever she really wanted. However, perhaps because we were indignant teenagers or because the dresses were kinda conventionally ugly (something I still must note at age 24), we never wore them again. I lent mine to a friend for homecoming once, but I'm sure it now just exists collecting dust somewhere in my parents' house.
My sister did a much better job finding a design of dress I'd probably wear again. It was green -- my favorite color. The dress had a nice, simple strapless design. A family friend sewed them to our exact measurements. Unfortunately, however, I lost enough weight right after the wedding that the bodice's boning now protrudes when I try to wear it. I kept hold of it, though, in case my weight fluctuated again and I had the opportunity to rewear it.
Have you ever been able to rewear a bridesmaid dress? Future and former brides, did you try to choose your bridesmaids dresses with a rewear in mind?
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Comments (38)
I have two in my apartment right now but both are ballgown length so unless I'm invited to a very, very fancy wedding or a ball, then I don't see myself getting to rewear them. Unless another friend asks me to be in her wedding and happens to want the exact same color of the two dresses I have. I have another bridesmaid dress at my mom's house that is a nice, summery green that is tea-length with a draped front and it could be worn again to a wedding or formal event. It's not too fancy looking, but not casual either. I've had other bridesmaids dresses, but I got rid of them. They weren't expensive and I wasn't going to wear them again.
And yes, I compare my life to '27 Dresses' sometimes with the amount of times I've been a bridesmaid/maid of honor in my life.
I've been invited to be apart of at least 6 bridal parties, but was only able to participate in 5 of them because two of my friends married on the exact same day. So I have a small collection of bridesmaid/MOH dresses in my closet, of which only one of them (in my opinion) is re-wearable. When my older brother married my (now ex... sadly) sister-in-law, she chose knee length black dresses. Sleeveless with a V in the front and in the back. VERY cute dresses. I've worn the heck out of that dress and it was only like 80 bucks. Did I mention I'm only 26 years old? More weddings in the pipeline, for sure.
One of my best friends is getting married next year. She's having a 50's style wedding and the bridesmaids dresses are long, polka dotted and complete with a huge bow made of ribbon.
I'm pretty sure most people would look ridiculous in this outfit, but me specifically because I'm tiny - (4'11, 94 lbs). I told her I'm considering wearing my hair in pig tails and bringing a teddy bear with me, since I'm going to look about 5 years old.
I can't imagine ever wearing it again, but it's what she wants, so I'll do it once for her.
I'm going to be a bridesmaid for the first time this year, and the dresses we're looking at look pretty re-wearable. They're short, red, and strapless.
thelimited.com has some nice options that could be reworn :) jcrew has great wedding styles too
nope, i wish, i have about 5 dresses that just sit in the back of my closet for nothing.
@superGchik@xanga - Donate them to organizations that help girls with proms!! It's awesome! :)
@lttlegel - You're a sweet friend!! <3
I just ordered my bridesmaid dress for my sister's wedding. I will CREATE an event to re-wear that dress. I love it!
nope... all of mine have been SUPER ugly. I made sure when I got married to let my bridesmaids pick out their own dresses (any LBD of their choice) ;)
I had to order one back in the fall. I doubt it will be rewearable.
I've attended weddings, once when I was a kid as a flower girl and again when I was a teen, but I've never been a bridesmaid. I personally wouldn't want my future bridesmaids to wear something considered semi-casual so that it can be reworn. I'd want it to be extravagant. however, I prefer to be eloped. instead of spending money on bridesmaid dresses, I'll use the money to rent a horse carriage
After I gave birth, I got rid of my bridesmaids dresses in a I'll never be skinny again fit. There is one I wish I would have kept, but I donated them to a good cause and I hope that some girl liked them enough for her prom.
I absolutely my bridesmaid dress for my sister this past august! she let us decide which style we like and go from there. she picked the color (beautiful watermelon) we pick the style so 5/6 girls decided to go strapless and one wasn't comfortable so she had sleeves. I'm planning on wearing it to a friend wedding this august that is if i didn't gain any weight lol. Long flowy dress can definitely be worn more than once.
I've never been a bridesmaid
never been to a wedding. My friend is planning her wedding right now though, and she is giving her bridesmaids options. She knows that the girls have different styles and body types, so she's chosen about four styles from the same store/designer/whatever and in the same colour and they can choose out of those. I thought that was kind of cool, letting them be happy and comfortable and yet still having things the way she wants. None of them are ugly or too outlandish; they're pretty simple. I would definitely wear it again if I were one of the girls in her wedding.
I've never been a bridesmaid. I'm actually kind of sad about that, haha.
I'm all for functionality, a life after the event, though...
None of my close friends are engaged or married. I feel we're all too young for that at 23 years old.
I have never been a bridesmaid, but I didn't really consider whether or not the dress could be reworn for another event when choosing my bridesmaids' dresses. I don't think there are any other occasions in which a seafoam green dress would be proper attire, except for maybe Easter, or Halloween as a part of costume. Honestly I only think "pick your own LBD" could really ever be worn again, at least from the bridesmaids dresses I've seen.
I've never been a bridesmaid. I've never even been a guest at a wedding. I've never known anyone who got married.
First wedding I'll be going to is my own in 2013... & I don't think there'll be any bridesmaids. Certainly not planning to have any, and couldn't think of anyone I'd really want as one.
Might ask my pal David to be my witness, and I guess that would make him a bridesmaid. Not sure he'd look so good in a dress though, lol.
I'll be a bridesmaid coming up in September for my friend's wedding (I'm 22, my friend will be 24 so I don't know where the 'we're all too young for that' comment came from)... however I am SOOO happy because she's letting the bridesmaids wear any dress they want with no specific color scheme.... isn't that fantastic? I think that's for the best because all the bridesmaids are different shapes/sizes so this more relaxed approach takes the ugliness/unflattering aspect out of bridesmaids dresses.
I've never been a bridesmaid (or a bride for that matter). But having attended the limited amount of weddings (including one that was just almost 2 years ago), it seems like a lot of brides choose dresses that aren't wearable afterwards due to style or color or a combo of the two. If/when I get married, I'll be looking at J. Crew or the like so that I'd be happy that the bridesmaid party looks unified and the girls will actually be happy to wear the dresses afterwards.
I'm going to be a bridesmaid in June. However, the bride and groom (who have been together for seven years!) are currently having some serious drama so I have heard NOTHING about wedding plans. Gawd. I think she'll just pick a color and basic style and let us go at it though. =D
My bridesmaid dress is a really gorgeous aubergine color, but the cut is horribly unflattering on my figure. I'm quite short and have short legs, and the dress has a drop waist. Never, ever going to wear it again. Now that I've read the comments, I think I'll donate it.
Never been to a wedding :/ so sad... but I wouldn't want to get a dress somebody couldn't re-wear. I plan on a simple black dress fitted to their body with a thick ribbon (silver which is the grooms fav color, not attached) as a belt made into a bow/ or just a simple tie in front. Then the groomsmen would wear an accent of my fav color, which is purple. I've been planning every detail of my wedding since I was young, and have just recently found the perfect dress, so I would love a replica of that. I guess I'm just lucky that the one I plan on marrying's favorite color is silver to go along with the theme still :)!!