On Behalf of Bridesmaids Everywhere...

They say that when you direct a play, you shouldn't be friends with the cast because by the end of the show, they'll all hate you.  I don't think the same concept should apply to brides organizing their weddings.


And that is why I am of the firm belief that bridesmaids' dresses don't have to be ugly!  They can be really, really pretty!  Bridesmaids' dresses do NOT have to look like this: 

Photo from ily den.

But there are some easy ways to avoid the typical ugly-bridesmaid-dress syndrome.  For one, you can just pick a basic color scheme and ask your bridesmaids to wear their own dresses that fit with the scheme.  That adds some great variety (but not chaos) to the wedding photos and ensures that each can pick a dress that flatters her body type in a color and cut that she likes.

Photo from 100 Layer Cake.

If you want a really super pretty lineup of bridesmaids, you can always go for a rainbow gradient.  I think this idea is incredibly adorable.  I'm the kind of person who always lines up my M&M's in rainbow order, so for the OCD guests in your audience, I have to tell you to make sure they line up in color order if they do this.

Photo from Indie Bliss.

Another great option, which I think adds a lot to the texture of the look of your bridal party, is to have a patterned bridesmaid dress.  It's not too far from the beaten path of solid color dresses, but is still fresh enough to give the standard lineup a new twist.

Photo from Green Wedding Shoes.

Of course, you can always go for the classic, matching look; that pretty much never fails, especially if you choose a pretty color.  J.Crew happens to have some gorgeous bridesmaid dresses...I don't think it's even possible for anyone to look bad in one of these.

Photo from J.Crew.

Any suggestions?  Or, even better, any horror bridesmaid stories?  We'd love to hear them!

Bridesmaid Gift That Keeps On Giving

Breast Cancer affects all of us. I don't know one person that has not been affected by breast cancer. One of my favorite local embroidery vendors (Faye Tarshes with Red Vine Creations) has designed this gorgeous scarf. Each scarf sells for $18.00 and $3.00 from each sale is donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

In talking with Faye about this fabulous gift, she reminded me that "the $18.00 price tag is symbolic as the number 18 in Hebrew is a chai and a chai means 'to life'."

The daughter of a mutual acquaintance of Faye and me being diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 27, Faye felt the need to do more than prepare a meal or make a one time donation. "By doing this, I feel that with each scarf I embroider, I am helping long term," says Faye.  

What a fantastic gift for your bridesmaids as well as the moms and grandmothers of the wedding!

To order these, call Faye at 770-241-6775 or email her at Info@RedVineCreations.com.  Tell her we sent you!

Bridesmaids Style

Bridesmaid Style by sarahhitt featuring Christian Louboutin shoes

Taffeta One Shoulder Dress, $89
One shoulder signature, 180 GBP
Gathered Drape Jersey Twisted Gown, $2,245
PREEN FRAN DRESS 012 PURPLE ELASTANE/POLYAMIDE/ACETATE KN04B04, 675 GBP
ASOS | ASOS Exaggerated One Shoulder Pencil Dress at ASOS, $81
Tiered One Shoulder Dress, 148 GBP
Grape One Shoulder Ruffle Dress, $59
Canon 140 - Nude, $1,295
Badgley Mischka 'Randall' Pump, $200
Gillian Sandal, $90
Christian Louboutin Bianca 140 patent-leather pumps, $775

Choosing bridesmaids dresses may be one of the biggest challenges a bride faces. As a bridesmaid, you should remember that this is your friends big day, support her decisions. As a bride, you should remember your friends want to be there for you, so don't go overboard with difficult demands.

Dark jewel tones are going to be hot for this fall. Pairing the dark colors with a flattering one strap and ruffles is one of the biggest upcoming trends. Want to spice up your girls a little more? Try adding a detailed shoe in a neutral color to give them a little extra sass.