Bridesmaid dress--stress!?

Question

-My wedding is in a year, so it's time to start planning. I have 5 bridesmaids that couldn't be more different in body types! Gi-normous boobs to none....super skinny to not so super skinney...curvey...junk in the trunk--You get the picture! What are some good styles that compliment everyone! I don't think I want to have everyone in different styles of dresses...but I will as a last resort. Please help me!!

--My number one concern is that they feel beautiful and comfortable.Also, I want to pick a dress that shows of my sense of style. I realize that I am not a "Queen", so I'd appreciate helpful answers, not judgment of my character.
--thanks a bunch ;)

Answer 1

First, go with black, or a dark color for the ladies. Second, long and fitted, goes with big legs, big butt, short legs, no but, the boobs you can always acentuate with padding, pick a flower arrangement for them to carry that will draw attention from the dresses, all black, beautiful flowers, mabey sunflowers and roses, something fancy, nobody will notice the all black dresses.

Answer 2

keep the dresses simple ; over 30+years of dressmaking I have found that a ""princess line"" style dress will suit most shapes & figure types.
this style skims the body from the shoulders to whatever length you want it to finish at. can be straight down from the hips or have anything from a slight flare to a full flare. it also has seams that incorporate the dart from the armhole over the bust-line & right through the length of the garment. this can be just 2 seams front & back or multiple seams.
a skirt & top is another option
however I recently made skirts & tops ( very fitted with a small sleeve) for 4 girls for bridesmaids who were a BIG range of sizes the biggest one's measurements were bust -50inches ( 126cms); waist 51inches( 128cms); hips53inches (135cms) & the smallest was - B 34(86); W 29.5 (76) ; H 37.5 (95) & about 5 inches ( 12cms) difference in the heights - so you can see a WIDE range; I felt however that they would have looked better if they had all had a dress; the style had been chosen before I was approached to make the outfits & I did not see the biggest girl until I did her 1st fitting- she lives in another town
go to
www.sewingpatterns.com/index-mccalls.html
& have a look at these pattern numbers to give you some idea of what I am talking about style wise
2954; 3571(skirt & top) ; 4016; 8107; 5180
hope this helps- feel free to mail me if I can be of further help

Answer 3

You'll want to go with an empire waist, where there is a seam right under the best and the dress flows away from the body from there.

Just do a google search for empire bridesmaid dress

Also, check out www.houseofbrides.com, and Forever Young brand.

I think my maid of honor is getting this one:
http://www.davidsbridal.com/bridesmaids_detail.jsp?stid=2330&prodgroup=110

Also, I was in a friends wedding and all of us were different sizes...she did 2 pieces, with the top being a thick fitted material....so you didn't see any "rolls" or anything on anyone. It was VERY flattering on everyone. You'll see those on basically any bridesmaid websites...

Answer 4

I am so glad to hear you say that it is important that they each feel and look beautiful. Props to you for taking such a positive, practical outlook!

I felt the same way, and I faced the same dilemna. I went with the Alfred Angelo separates. The girls all wore the same color (they voted from my top three colors). The bottoms of the dress were the same; they were the A-line or ballgown cut, the wide flowy one that looks great on everyone. Then they chose their own top. This was great because they chose the top that most flattered their figures and were in their price range. All of my girls looked beautiful and wore the dress that looked best on them, but at the same time still had a streamlined look because the bottoms were the same and all the dresses were the same color.

I highly recommend this approach. My bridesmaids definately appreciated the flexibility, and I didn't have the bridesmaid-dress headaches that many brides get.

Answer 5

My bridesmaids are the same way! I'm considering going with a 2 piece gown (www.alfredangelo.com has beautiful "mix & match" styles - www.davidsbridal.com also has nice styles). You can let the girls pick the top that most flatters them without making the wedding party look too different. But it's a great way to flatter all of the shapes and sizes.

Answer 6

I had a similar issue, and I cannot recommend a specific style dress. My best advise is to try what I did. I chose a color, and we went shopping. It was around prom season and the girls were able to get good deals especially since I requested black and they could wear the dresses again. Choose your color, then try getting your girls together to go look. I found that a flowing material was the best way to hide flaws and accent their good qualities. I choose the dress to be tea length, just below the knees, because our wedding was at 2pm. The skinny girl looked great, the black girl with the junk in her trunk wore an almost identical dress and looked great and my thick moh wore a similar dress with silver beads and it looked great too. email me if you'd like a picture of the girls and their dresses. [e-mail]

Answer 7

I had this happen for my attendants too; they ranged from a size 5 to 17. We lucked out by finding dresses that really, really suited all of them, but I had a backup plan that I had seen in another wedding. Once you choose a solid colour, each attendant finds a dress suitable to her body type - some strapless, some full bodice, some with a little jacket, etc. It looked really cool, and each woman felt wonderful. Actually, you have enough time to get someone to make the dresses, so that would be even better.

Answer 8

I'm getting married in May and I have 7 bridesmaid that range just like yours.So we went to Davids Bridal and they showed me what they liked.The only two skinny girls are my soon to be sis in laws so I told them they didn't have a say in the dresses(haha)b/c they would look good in anything.The heavty girls picked out a halter style dress-tea length looks flattering on all 7.I aslo chose two colors-palm beach coral and canary.I will be alternating them.Good luck.By the way I haven't bought my dress yet-how sad:(

Answer 9

Some brides are now letting the bridesmaids choose their own style dress as long as it's the color of the bride's choosing. Give them each a swatch of color and tell them to pick out the dress they would like. Bridesmaid's dresses no longer have to match each other.

Answer 10

I understand, right there with you, I've got 4 that could be no less alike! plus, 3 juniors with one diving head first into puberty! A-line skirts will be your best bet, they are kind of the fashion neutral. as far as the tops, maybe something with lots of bonig that will support and hold in the big girls, but still look great on the smaller ones? maybe try a corseted look. Maybe if you don't mind, let them all have different tops and have matching skirts? hope this helps! good luck!