What would you let your bridesmaids do?

Question

If I was getting married, I think I'd be pretty fair with the bridesmaids and matron of honor. I'd say "as long as your dresses are the same shade/color and whatnot, wear your hair either up or down or with curls/styles, nails can have color or not,etc." Some brides strictly have it set in stone that so and so cannot wear this or that. Not me. How would you be?

Answer 1

I cannot be bothered to micro-manage the look of bridesmaids. And I would want them to look their best, and choose styles that make them look their best.

Answer 2

For my wedding, which will be next October, I'm going to pick a bridesmaid dress style and let the girls in my wedding party each pick a fall color to wear (matron of honor gets first dibs). I'll suggest that they wear black shoes in whatever style they prefer, and they can do whatever they want for hair, makeup, nails, etc. As is fairly traditional, I plan to give them all jewelry to wear for the ceremony as a gift at the rehearsal dinner. I hope that's not too restrictive. The last thing I want to do is turn into bridezilla. I've already instructed my sister to smack me if I start heading that way. ;)

Answer 3

I am having only a matron of honor. I told her she can wear whatever she wants, in whatever color she wants, with whatever shoes and accessories she wants. She has good taste and I know would not choose anything inappropriate. And, it's one less thing for me to be worried about or to plan about. It's not like there isn't enough to do without obsessing about the color of the bridesmaids' nail polish!

Though, I heard of a wedding where the bride asked the guests to wear neutral colors (beige, gray, navy) so as not to clash with the centerpieces! Now, there's a micromanager!

Answer 4

When I got married, all the girls had matching dresses. I really didn't have an opinion on the dresses, as long as they were the same color. All the girls liked the dress, so that's what we went with. As far as hair, make-up, or nails, I let them do whatever they wanted. I knew they would use their best judgement, and they all looked great. I was going to be in a wedding this past June (but they called it off), and the bride was very strict. This was going to be her 3rd marriage, so I don't understand why she wouldn't budge off of some of her ideas. She was specific on the dress, shoes (could only be closed toed, and died the same color as the dress), hair, make-up, etc.. It was crazy, and she expected us to pay for everything ourselves! $200 dress, $60 shoes, and the wedding was in another state...

Answer 5

When I got married I said "This is the color, as long as you both have a dress in the same fabric, pick what you like." I wanted them to be comfortable both in the dress and paying for the dress. They ended up picking the same dress! It was actually kind of cute! It was more important to them that the dresses be the same than it was to me.

I did that with everything, their shoes, their hair. I let them pick it all out. At the time I worked for a tuxedo company and got to see some of the biggest bridezillas you'd ever have the displeasure of meeting (I've even had a groomzilla who could have given any bride a run for their money!) and I just couldn't bring myself to be like that. As long as I ended up married at the end of the day, I was going to be happy. Don't get me wrong things turned out beautifully and I loved everything, but I wasn't bothered by any of the last minute problems either. In fact, I may have been the calmest person in the place on my wedding day! :-)

Answer 6

My girls are all wearing the dress of their choice in the color I chose. BUT as the date is getting a little closer, I kind of wish I would have done it a little differently. One girl did not choose a dress that truly flatters her body shape. And if I had chosen my dress FIRST, I would have been able to choose a dress that compliments my dress... which in turn determines the overall look of the bridal party. But my wedding is a month away and it's too late now.

It's the bride's day and it is completely up to her how her bridal party looks. If someone cannot go along with it for one day, then they should decline being in the bridal party.

But I should add that my girls are thrilled that they got to choose their own style, and I haven't ever mentioned that I am now having second thoughts. It's too late now.

Answer 7

I think the matchy-matchy thing is ridiculous. The most beautiful wedding I went to had the bridesmaids in different style/color dresses. They each chose a pretty spring color for their dress, and their flowers contained all those colors. It was as though the bride was surrounded by flowers. Instead of 4 of the same thing, which amplified their importance, this really made the bride shine.

Answer 8

I worked with my bridesmaids to find a dress in a shade of green that looked good on all four of them and that they liked and could wear again. I asked them to wear white shoes, dress shoes obviously, but any style they wanted.We all went together and had our nails done with white tips in fun designs that each girl picked out. And each one picked out their own hair style, as long as it was semi up. With four different hair lengths and thicknesses and everything, I was not about to try to get everyones hair to do the same thing! Nothing to break the bank of my bridesmaids, and shoes and a dress that won't end up in closet until they decide to give it away.

Answer 9

I had a HUGE wedding (over 500 people), and I had eight bridesmaids, who pretty much encompassed every body type you can think of.

I told them I wanted them to look great - and looking great meant they were comfortable. I didn't pick out their dress. I'm traditional, so I actually did want them all to wear the same dress, but I let THEM pick it out. They tried on three before they all agreed - unanimously.

Other than that, I told them they could do whatever they wanted as far as hair, makeup, nails, shoes, hosiery, etc. I love them because they're all unique and different women. I didn't need them to look totally like cookie cutters - they needed to look however THEY felt prettiest. That's what mattered the most.

Answer 10

The only thing I was sort of adament about was the dress, because it looked good on everyone, was affordable, and was easy for eveyone to have access to (one maid moved to Florida to be with her family and one lives an hour and a half a way from me.) The other was the shoes, because the dress is tea length and everyone will the see the shoes. Other than that anything they want to do with their nails and hair is fine with me as long as they dont dye their hair hot pink or something. LOL

May I add the dress can be worn again and again as a casual/party/cocktail type dress and the shoes are multi functional as well.

Answer 11

Although I would like my BM's to have the same style dress, they are very different body shapes, so if they each find different style's that will be fine.

My main requirements are: shoes close to the same style, dresses all one color, the same shade of blue, and the same length. They can wear their hair/nails/makeup/etc however they'd like to. I told them pick out a dress that they will wear more than just in my wedding.

I'm letting them have free reign but I will have the final say. I want them to show off their dress, not want to hide it!