Brides: guess what? A bridesmaid dress doesn’t have to be made of taffeta or be constructed with layers of itchy tulle. Picking the right bridesmaid dresses doesn’t have to be a battle between big bows on the butt or poofy sleeves (both of which should be banned). The perfect bridesmaid dress doesn’t have to be pricey, and it doesn’t have to turn you into a Bridezilla monster. Read on to see how picking the right bridesmaid dresses can be a fun + enjoyable experience for all. Also, get inspired with some of our favorite bridesmaid dresses from crush-worthy designer, LHC Couture! It’s all right here…

Picking the Right Bridesmaid Dresses: 3 Rules

1. The bridesmaid dresses fit the formality as the wedding.

Picking the right bridesmaid dresses comes down to formality. The reason why bridesmaids wear a special dress is to signify their special role in the wedding. The bridesmaids should be as formal as the wedding dictates, whether that means an elaborate full-length ballgown for a traditional elegant wedding or a flowy sundress for a more casual non-conventional wedding. Also, the bridesmaid dresses should never rival the formality of the bride’s gown. The bridal gown should be significantly more formal than the bridesmaid dresses.

Formal wedding? Pick a floor-length dress. This one is gorgeous. I had the opportunity of trying one of these on myself (in Coral Blush, shown below in Lavender) thanks to the lovelies at LHC Couture. It’s GORGEOUS. So soft. SO, so soft. And fits perfectly.

taylor rose

Less formal wedding? Try a short dress, like this one! Katy is a cocktail dress with a v-neck. Looks great as a bridesmaid dress and can be worn again!

katy

2. The bridesmaid dresses should be reasonably priced.

Standing up in a wedding is expensive and the bridesmaid dress is just one expenditure. Keep your bridesmaids’ budgets in mind when selecting the dress. It is always helpful to consider, “would I want to pay for this dress if I was a bridesmaid?” If the answer is no, keep looking. (Wondering what ‘reasonably priced’ is these days? Under $250 is a good place to start.)

3 Rules to Picking the Right Bridesmaid Dresses

olivia

3. It should be comfortable to wear.

When picking the right bridesmaid dresses, comfort is key — and it ties into a few different facets. First, be mindful of season. If your wedding is in the summer, don’t pick a fabric that’s too heavy; likewise, in the winter, don’t pick something really short and lightweight (or they’ll freeze their you-know-whats-off). Second, when picking the right bridesmaid dresses, find a fabric that’s soft to the touch — and preferably one that doesn’t make too much noise when she’s walking around (hello, there, taffeta, you’ve snuck up on us again!) Third, don’t pick something too clingy or risque. That also means no super-low-cut necklines or Angelina Jolie-esque leg slits. One type of dress that works extremely well for all is a convertible bridesmaid dress, which is a dress that can be worn multiple ways. For instance, the Simone can be worn as a deep v-neck or a cross-front halter. 2 dresses in 1!