Bridesmaids dilemma?

I was wanting to do the same thing and had the same problem. Luckily they said David's bridal is ok. If you don't care if all their dresses are the exact same just tell them to get a dress in the color you want and specify maybe length. These days a lot of bridesmaids have different style dresses. It will be hard not to go to a salon but it can work. Maybe bridesmaid pant suits??? That might be a neat possiblity.

I just went through this same problem and I only have two bridesmaids! I think everyone is right in saying that once in a while it is okay just to put your foot down. This is your wedding and you want it done right. Definitely shop around different bridal shops, there are some with a good selection in many different price ranges. You have four girls and four colours, why not get a similar style dress in each color. I finally had to say this is the dress my bridesmaids are wearing, if you do not like it, you don't have be in the wedding. I got the dresses at Bryan's in the mall and they were $125. It turned out they both loved it and it was a style they could wear again so they were willing to pay for them. I offered to pay the alteration costs as well.

When I was planning my wedding (which was almost five years ago) Davids had several dresses in the same color. So what I did was picked the color and let the girls pick the style. I had eight bridemaids who have several different body types. This worked out great because they all felt comfortable and the colors still matched. I am sure Davids has the same thing. That way they can find something in their size and will not have to have it altered. I dont think any of my bridesmaids had their dresses altered. Just an idea.

I'm not sure what the cost would be, but it should be reasonably inexpensive to have the dresses made by a seamstress. You could pick out one or more patterns that will suit all the bridesmaids (many come in standard, petite, and plus sizes). The major pattern companies are Vogue, McCalls, Simplicity, and Butterick which all have online catalogs. You can buy the same fabric for all the dresses, so that even if you end up with different patterns, the dresses will match. Check out fabric.com and denverfabric.com (there are many others). If you pick patterns designated "Easy" and requiring less fabric, the cost will be less.

Why don't you try having a color scheme and getting different dresses for each person that look best on that person? If you feel that all your bridesmaids should match, than go ahead and get matching sashes or go to a tailor and see if he can modify the a bunch of dresses from the department store that are all the same to fit all the people in your group.

The other option is to pay for the dresses at David's Bridal by yourself or ask them each to pay a portion of the cost to have all the bridesmaids dresses made for them.

Congratulations!

Go to a bridal store that carries Alfred Angelo, and let them choose the separates. It's best if you let them pick the top that they want; this way, they'll pick a top that they like and fits well and a budget that they can handle. Have them in the same color, though. I did this, and most of my maids paid about $130 with alterations.

Don't try and find one dress in a department store that will suit them all. It won't happen. Offer to pay for their alterations if they're that concerned about it.

EDIT: One of my bridesmaids was a size 26. She could have worn one of the separates, but she felt more comfortable in a simple one-piece. Since all the maids had dresses that looked different anyway, this wasn't a problem.

I agree with everyone who said let them pick out their own dresses, four colors is plenty to pick from. Also I used to work at a fabric store, and what brides would do is come in and pick out the fabric and the pattern and also find a cheap but good seamstress. then each bridesmaid would come in and pick up the # of yards she needed and go get measured at the seamstresses. You would not believe how much cheaper this is.

My best Friend HATES being a bridesmaid, she never says anything to the girl getting married except "I can't afford it!", she does it anyway though, hating it, and going in to debt the whole time. Maybe you could offer the bridesmaids an out, that makes them not feel bad about not wanting to do it.

I had the same problem with my bridesmaids, everyone was low on funds and everyone was a completely different size. We ended up waiting for David's Bridal to have a $99 sale and finding a sale dress that looked good on everyone. We are getting them altered by a local seamstress as opposed to using David's Bridal and saving money there also.

With the price of gowns, the rule of thumb is if the dress is under $100, the bridesmaids pay. If the bride insists on something more expensive, she pays the shot.

I like your idea of getting the same colour, in a style which suits them, and having a sash the same colour. That could work. Or just do it without the sash -I've seen that, like done in jewel colours, and it looked great for pics!

You could always have them purchase different dresses that is best suited for the figure in the same color. That way they all will be in the same color scheme. Also, you can always purchase the dresses at a bridal salon but have any alterations needed done at a different seamstress/tailor that is more cost efficient.

Another solution, if you can afford it, is offer to pay the cost for any alterations if needed. Not all of them may need them or may not be as expensive depending on what needs to be done.