Buy or Sell New & Preowned Wedding Items

6 brand new Jim Hjelm gowns are listed on BravoBride at almost $100 off!

It’s time we changed the stereotype about bridesmaid dresses. If you really want your bridesmaids to actually wear the dresses you chose again, you need to think outside the box. As a bride, your goal should be to choose dresses for your girls that are universally flattering and somewhat easy on the wallet.

Often, traditional bridal shops sell dresses that are more expensive than most department stores. While traditional venues may be able to offer a wider range of sizes and color choices, department stores such as Macy’s and Nordstrom’s have more original designs and can have better prices. Depending on the body types of your girls, you might want to check out the junior departments for basic styles and lower prices.

Tips on thinking outside of the box:

• Choose a color and allow each bridesmaid to select their own dress within the shade.
• Turn your bridesmaids into a floral backdrop by setting guidelines for their dresses to be floral patterned and the silhouette of your choice.
• Have each bridesmaid wear a plain black cocktail dress.  It’s an easy way to have them look classy and guarantee they will wear a dress they love.
• Keep an eye on seasonal sales at the mall. For example, if your wedding is in the fall or winter of next year, look for sales on fall/winter dresses at the end of this season. This works best at stores such as Express, The Limited, or GAP.
• Select a brand, color and fabric and allow each maid to choose the style of dress that best fits their body type.
• Target.com, JCPenny.com, Nordstrom.com, and Macys.com all have sections on their web sites specifically for special occasion dresses.
• Look into renting dresses. Groomsmen rent their tuxes, don’t they?
• Check out our bridesmaid section and purchase a discounted bridesmaid dress, we even have some there were never worn!

Now that you’ve helped your wonderful bridesmaids save money and look fabulous at your wedding, hopefully they will return the favor when it’s their big day.