Bridesmaids dresses - do they have to be silk/satin?

RainbowDrops

It depends how formal you want them to be - wrap around dresses are quite casual especially in jersey material, as are the long sleves, and personaly I find wrap around dresses tend to tug at the tum & risk random bra appearances.

However you don't have to go for satin / slik.
My bridesmaids were in non traditional dresses. I had realy nice floral dresses from Oasis - they were cotton but the material was woven in such a way that it was very high quality & expensive looking.

Gemmzie

Mine aren't satin/silk - they are these : http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Womens-Jane-Norman-Bridesmaids-Prom-Dress-Purple-/290594450305?pt=UK_Wedding_Clothing&hash=item43a8c76b81 and they look gorgeous on!

SUESMITH_2

its a lovely dress but for me it would be too casual. but if you love it, its your wedding and i'm sure they would look good

emz118

BHS have got their teal collection in the sale atm, could be worth a look.
Tbh, I think that dress is too casual, I wouldn't wear it as a guest, let alone a bridesmaid.

TheSeventh

I think you're right in that it's a bit too casual, but like I said, i'm terrified of not finding a better alternative!

I've got 4 bridesmaids, a size 10, 12, 14 and 22 and it's just so hard to find matching preloved or sale dresses in all of those sizes!

We've conferred, and the general consensus is that we're going to buy one dress and have a look at it. it could be really lovely, or it could be totally unsuitable, we need to see it in the flesh.

Thank you all so so much for all your thoughts and suggestions, I've bookmarked quite a few of them.

Need to remember: it's MY wedding... it's MY wedding... it's MY wedding....

Scotsbride

TheSeventh wrote: »

That's the problem, I think I'm just so relieved to find something that'll do, that I'm 'liking' it more than it deserves! (hope that makes sense).

Need to think more clearly about pros and cons! I'm just so terrified I'll never find anything!

I'd ask your girls whether they like it or not. I think they need to try it on first. then you'll know whether it's I'm 'liling it more thanit deserves' or not

aliasojo

TheSeventh wrote: »

We've conferred, and the general consensus is that we're going to buy one dress and have a look at it. it could be really lovely, or it could be totally unsuitable, we need to see it in the flesh.

Hope you don't mind me saying but if you are going to buy one, buy the larger size one. I don't think the shape or the clingy material would be particularly flattering to the larger lady in your group so it makes sense to try that one first. (I speak as a larger lady myself. Unfortunately. )

curlylou1986

We had black jersey material dresses that were a simular price to yours. ideally i would have loved the girls to have had silk 50's style swing dresses but didnt have the money for that.
there isnt a right and a wrong for dresses....if you wanted them all dressed in trousers or as disney characters (my husbands idea! lol) then its up to you.....it doesnt change the feel of the wedding at all.
my BM's could all wear their dress again if they wanted and it could look casual - but imagine them in the dress with heels, a pretty necklace, hair done make up done flowers and a shawl etc and will look lovely!
heres pic of my bms, couldnt find standing one but dresses were below the knee.
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its your wedding - if it ticks all the boxes on your list and makes you happy then why not?

trying_2_b_good

One of the first things I wanted to get sorted when I booked the date was the bridesmaid dresses. I panicked about them even more than my wedding dress. I searched high and low for something that was suitable. Not too expensive, but would suit 2 completely different body shapes and personalities. In the end, I bought 2 lovely dresses from Phase Eight which are not floor length or silk. They are lovely dresses - but if I wasn't restricted to budget/time/panic, I wouldn't have chosen them. And I've since spent 4 months still looking at dresses to see whether or not I can get better ones. Thankfully, I haven't seen any (within the budget anyway!)

You have got a year to sort this. If you're going to buy from the high street, then maybe you should try to relax and await the perfect dress - with hopes that teal comes back into fashion. Actually, it is quite an autumn/winter colour - so maybe it is worth waiting to see???

Search John Lewis - they have a never-ending returns policy. So if you find something there you can take it back if something better comes along!!

Minimoo24

i think they would look nice, with a real bling button think on the corner ! xxx