How did you tackle BM dress shopping....

If you tell them before the shopping trip that you have an idea in mind, they're more likely to wait for you to pick the dress out, and then give their opinion on it. If you be up front at first that you have *technically* chosen something/have something in mind, they're more likely to comply. If they feel that they can pick something out, they always will and it's always likely to be different. I would take all of them at the same time, and reveal your choice because then there's group majority pressure as well, so even if there's one dissenter, she's less likely to say something when she sees others accepting the dress.

I was on a tight budget so wasn't very relaxed about what they could have. I chose a few, sent them pictures so get their opinions on them. Ordered the one they all liked and let them try it on with the option of sending them back if they hated them. They didn't

I went shopping with my mum, found the dresses and then took my bridesmaids back and said i've found a lovely dress come and try it on. Luckily they loved them. Before hand I knew what I wanted to get them and had an idea what would suit their figures etc

Thanks all.

Thats what I'm thinking, I could take them all to show a dress I love but I may not have seen it myself so maybe I won't love it.

Might take my MOH to be sure I like it then take everyone

Reality is I'm hoping to just get whatever I pick copied by a dress maker for cheaper so they will never see their actual dress until made anyway.

I had four and they were pretty laid back. I just sent them examples of things I liked and they gave their opinions.

Then I saw the ones I wanted, sent them a link to make sure they loved them, got their measurements and bought them!

I only had two adults to it was a bit easier to manage. I picked the colour, luckily they loved it too (teal) and then I said I wanted long. We then went shopping all together and I was pretty lucky that they both liked similar things.

Are you paying for the dresses? If so, as long as the dresses are comfortable then they really should wear what ever you like in my view.

I explained my ideas to my BM then took photos of the ones that i liked. i showed them to my BM, she liked them. i saw the size in one particular style and it was the only one and wasnt going to get anymore in so i bought it. sent a picture to BM and asked if she liked it, met up and she tried on and she said it was perfect, feels comfortable and the style perfecet. was meant to be lol.

Mine were £33 in the Debenhams sale, so I bought them. They tried them on, and liked them.

I only have two BM's though, so it's a bit easier.

I only have my sister as a 'big' bridesmaid so its fairly easy, we keep sending each other pictures that we both like, and luckily its all pretty similar.

You could pick a few different ones you like and get their opinions. Obviously its your day but i think theres nothing worse then feeling uncomfortable and like a tw*t as a BM spesh in all the photos, just because a bride has her heart set on a certain dress.

I was bridesmaid at a wedding a few years back and we had no say in the dresses. In fact we were only told about them when we had to go get measured! Hideous...

X

I had 3, a 13 year old girlie girl who wanted whatever my CBM wanted! my CBM was also girlie, 6 foot, size 16. and my third was a total tomboy and petite.

I knew that not only would they not agree but that the same style wouldn't suit themm all.

I told them I would like them all to wear purple but didnt care about the style and that i was happy for them to wear what ever!

Mum and I and the 3 bridesmaids hit the department stores but it didnt go well, the tom boy refused to comeout the dessing rooms as she felt she looked stupid!

We then all went to a wedding dress shop to look at their b.maid dresses. (this is where I accidently found my dream dress after giving up and deciding i was going to get it maid!)

my niece (the 13 year old one) tried one on that she really liked and the other 2 tried on the adult version (Alfred Angelo). It is not something that i would have chosen but they were all happy with it!!

We had each of them altered slightly so one had straps, one had strapless and one had halterneck and had it more fitted. Each of their dresses suited their personalities and shapes!

I was the same as Mrs Bass, I had my 14 year old sister and two sisters in their 30's one of which was 38 weeks pregnant when we got married. They were all different shapes and sizes so I just told them I wanted navy and they could choose the dress. As it was big sister and little sister loved the same dress and my pregnant sister had something different. Worked well, they were comfortable and they all looked gorgeous because they were happy and relaxed!

Hi All

I let my Bridesmaids choose their own dresses as they were totally different body shapes and i didn't want them to feel uncomfortable and or hideous in dresses that that did not suit them.

In the end they both choose the same dress and looked absolutley beautiful ?

I have 4 bridesmaids but they're all the same age and similar sizes which made things a bit easier. When I saw the dress I liked I emailed it to them for opinions and thankfully they all liked it. Then we went to try them on to make sure they looked good, before I eventually bought them online!

Mine were from House of Fraser so it was a bit easier getting them tried on compared to a bridal store as we obviously didn't need to make an appointment.

It would be good if you can get an idea of styles they definitely don't like first - for example a couple of my bridesmaids had worn strapless dresses at other weddings and found them really uncomfortable, so I knew it was a style to try to avoid.

Mine were pretty laid back. We exchanged a few e-mails about ideas and agreed on a few colour ideas (we hadn't chosen our colour scheme at that point) plus vague style ideas like "not too short," "not strapless" then went shopping together. We ended up on Oxford Street as it was the easiest place for us all to meet, but any big shopping centre would work. Spent most of the day looking, tried on about 5ish, and then picked one.

I didn't have any particular ideas about what I wanted, so if you do, you may want to handle it differently. I had a few colour ideas, mostly based on what would work with my sister's bright ginger hair, and had researched a few ideas on the net, but had no fixed wishes about length, style etc.

I must admit I had a nighmare. as I had 4, with two stroppy ones (including my dear sis) and it really disappointed me.

I handed it all badly from the start - tried to get them somethin they liked, something they would wear again. BIG mistake. I then wised up, after a lot of stress, found something which i thought would flatter them all, bought it, told them they were wearing it, and if anyone of them didn't want to, they could walk away and no hard feelings.

Suddenly everyone was more tolerant. I should have done it from the start!

I have five also, as u know, 2 of mine haven't tried the dress yet as they couldn't make the shop so the choice was made without them, they are trying them and getting measured a week on Monday, but the dress choice is final. I picked a selection of styles at the shop, they tried them and offered opinion but the final say was mine, luckily we all agreed. And the other 2 liked the picture so we are sorted.

I have 8 plus a junior & a flower girl!!!

I just sent them pics of stuff I liked & asked them what they thought. Most of them said they'll wear whatever I want them to! I was originally going for knee length dresses but my Sis said that they didn't go with my dress/theme. I realised she was right & they're now having full length dresses. I found one I loved & they all love it too. Only one of them isn't too happy about this as she's quite short & thinks she'll look fat n stocky. She won't, she's gorgeous. I've told them as long as they have the same colour they can all have different shoes cuz some will want big heels, others won't.

Mine are different heights and sizes and it's more important to me personally that they feel beautiful and glamourous over what the photos look like.

I've set a budget and issued them 2 websites. They're each picking 3 top dresses from each and we'll all get together at the end of the month. If there's a theme, and we can get them all the same, we will. Otherwise they can have different dresses, same material and overall style.