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Where do you Shop for a Bridemaid's Dress?
Home » Weddings » Bridesmaids' Dresses » Where do you Shop for a Bridemaid's Dress?Bridal Shop
The easiest and most traditional place to shop for a bridesmaid’s dress is at a Bridal Shop. They will typically have several dress samples, in a range of colors. You will choose the style you like and select a color based on the in-store examples, or perhaps by looking through a swatch book. Your bridesmaids will then visit the store in person, try on the samples, and place an order. Out-of-town bridesmaids can call with measurements and the salesperson can help them determine what size to order. After the order is placed, the dresses will ship either to the store or to the individual bridesmaids in anywhere from a couple of weeks to several months. Alterations are inevitable, so make sure you allow enough time.
One of the positives of ordering through a bridal shop is pure ease. It is one-stop shopping. You make your selection, and the bridal shop handles the rest. The downsides include a lack of selection and generally, a lesser quality dress. The fabrics used in these types of dresses can be thin and look inexpensive.
Department Store
Some department stores have bridal sections that sell wedding gowns and bridesmaids’ dresses. They are increasingly rare, but many smaller town department stores still provide this service.
Specialty Store or Mall Store
As bridesmaid dress styles have become more and more loosely defined, many brides are going to their local malls to shop for dresses. Given the fact that most mall stores have websites, a bride can select a dress and have her bridesmaids order it online. Examples of such stores are Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, and Talbots. The advantage of this option is the quality of dress you will receive. For the same price range as a dress from a bridal shop, you can purchase a better quality dress that definitely doesn’t “look” like a bridesmaid’s dress – because it isn’t. The downside to this is the possibility that your friends will not be able to try the dress on if their size isn’t in stock. Also, if you have any plus-sized bridesmaids, their size may not be available in these types of stores.
Handmade
If you can’t find a dress you like, you might consider having your bridesmaids’ dresses made by hand. You will select a pattern and fabric and hire a seamstress to make the dresses. They will be made exactly to your specifications, which is a plus. But, you will have to make many decisions about thread, buttons, trims, etc., which may add stress and be overwhelming to you. To make sure the dresses don’t look homemade, hire a dressmaker that is well qualified and can show you samples of their work.
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