Wedding Blog
Back in May, I brought three of my lovely bridesmaids (the other three are out-of-towners) and my wonderful mom to Renee Strauss to try on as many dresses as possible with the hopes of finding what they’ll all be wearing come December–okay, not the whole month, but just one of the most important days of the month!
When I first started thinking about my wedding and what I wanted, I settled on the idea of all-matching bridesmaid dresses. Now, if you’ve been reading wedding magazines and recent books, you would notice a shift away from this trend. More and more brides are opting to dress their maids in the same shade, but letting them pick the dress (or sometimes not even confining them to a single color!). I considered this option, but favored a more uniform look. After all, what if their dresses are just slightly off? What if they each interpret the color differently? I didn’t want surprises (read: control freak). And yes, I suppose I’m a bit traditional, too. After all, my mom had the matchy-match bridesmaids and that’s always what I envisioned for my big day.
Of course as dresses were being modeled and my friends were sharing their thoughts, I kept thinking how easy it would be to throw my hands up and let them pick individual dresses of the same color (though it would be easier if they all liked different dresses within the same line of a given designer). Fortunately as the final dresses got modeled, we were able to narrow it down to about five. That five then became four. Four to three. And then there were two.
Okay, there still are two: when faced with the decision, I decided to wait. I know–I really wanted it to be done and ready to order, but I simply couldn’t do it. I considered the possibility of emailing the missing bridesmaids for advice (but at the same time, it is my choice and I didn’t want to feel pressured by everyone–which I was already starting to feel by no fault of theirs). But, what ultimately is making me wait is that we need a new swatch for one of the dresses because online they show more colors than at the store. It might be an error on the web page, so they’re ordering the updated swatch.
Here are the two finalists….the Jim Hjelm dress (pictured in “eggplant”–don’t you just love the names they choose?) would be in “blush” (a soft, feminine pink) . The Vera Wang dress (pictured in the website’s concoction of “carnation”) would either be in “petal” or “carnation” depending on the swatches…
Which one do you like better?
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I like the first one - it’s a little more form fitting and seems to be more flattering than the 2nd - but maybe it’s just the models?? Good luck finding one - I am on the hunt as well!!
I like the top one.
I agree with Sara. If I were your bridesmaid, I’d love you for choosing the first one. 
But I confess that’s partly because I have hips and I don’t think my hips would be as uhm, flattered in the Vera Wang dress.
I’m actually wearing a dress with a similar cut to my FSIL’s wedding and can hardly wait until October to wear it.
I agree, the first one seems to be much more flattering… Good luck with your choice!
The first one!! I was opting between this exact dress and one from Bill Levkoff. I loved this dress!
But, I ended up going with the Bill Levkoff dress only because of the color. **euro wine**
Go with whichever one has better swatches!
I think it depends on your bridesmaids’ figures and the style of your dress. The Hjelm would be a problem for my bridesmaids because of the lack of support in the chest region. Seems quite flattering beyond that though. Very pretty, and one I seriously considered. The Vera Wang is lovely, and seems like it might offer more forgiveness (and support) for more figure types.
Both are very pretty though.
Also the first one. It has a defined waist, and the ruching looks forgiving if any of your bridesmaids have anything to hide in the stomach area. The Vera Wang, on the other hand, would make any bridesmaids with curves look pregnant.
Even though I’m (ahem), blessed in the chest region, I would opt for the first one. Why? Because the ‘forgiveness’ in the uber-cute second dress can easily become pseudo-pregnancy for anyone who has breasts, even skinny people.
1st one better
Wow, they are both so different. I think it depends more on the type of look you’re going for.
To me, the first one is more classic and traditional. While the second one is so modern looking, while at the same time having a hint of that vintage quality. It seems very Palm Springs to me.
That being said, I like the second better.
Good luck…they are both beautiful!
I like the first one a lot.
Jim Hjelm by FAR!
My first thought when I looked at the Vera Wang dress was - very nice, on that stick thin model. It seems like if you put anyone with a figure in that dress it would be sort of unflattering.
That said, you did see real people in both dresses, so perhaps my initial reaction is wrong.
But the Jim Hjelm seems like it has more shape and would be more flattering on many bodies, and therefore maybe they would be likely to wear it again?
The first one is gorgeous. I’d wear that one again for sure.
wow! we have the same taste! Unfortunately, I had my MOH try on the Jim Hjelm and there was too much cleavage. I also had another bridesmaid try on the vera wang and even though she is skinny, it still looked maternity. I think they would work though on the right body types. You can see a pick of bm trying it on here:
http://www.xanga.com/EDGNY/598288247/cold-feet-on-bridesmaid-dresses.html
I like the first one because it is more feminine and flattering. The second one would make all your bridesmaids look flat.
D’oh sorry just read back that they already tried them on…In that case, I love the fabric of the Vera better so get that one! I also have the petal swatch it is lighter in person than on the website.
I like the first one . . . it looks just like the jasmine bridesmaids dress my bridesmaids chose . . . it definetly flattered all of them, even the big chested girls
FIRST ONE!!!
I would go for the spaghetti-strapped, V-necked dress. I think the looser fit of the second dress would look baggy and shapeless. But it’s hard to say for sure without seeing them both on real women, not models.
I actually think you should let your bridesmaids choose. I guess ultimately it is your wedding, and your choice, however since you have picked 2 options that you like, why don’t you let them pick which one they like better?
(btw, against the common consensus here, I like the Vera one better… but maybe that’s because I have a small chest :/ )
I love the first one. it just seems more classic, a dress they could wear again. the vera wang is nice but i can see how it can easily make someone look preggers and looks a bit more trendy.
I LOVE the first one. So elegant and much more December than the second.
I love the first one!!
I’m with the others. I think the Jim Hjelm is prettier and would be more flattering on all body types.
I love the second one–but if your girls have hips–it would look horrible.
I like both but definitely prefer the second one. Not everyone wants a super form fitting dress and the second one just seems so pretty and possibly a bit more forgiving if the bridesmaids want to indulge in wedding food. But either way I think you’ve narrowed it down to a great choice.
I like the first one more only because I think it’s a much easier dress to wear for girls. I love the second one but let me tell you if you’re short and big chested like I am, you’ll be lookign like your wearing a nightgown to the wedding.
the jim hjelm! the bridesmaids could definitely wear it again whereas the second one looks just a tad maternity, although I know it’s a super popular style right now.
if you’re asking for our opinions, maybe you should ask for theres too?
Very much ditto Cindy–the second one looks maternity-esque. And if you care what we think, don’t you care what they think? What about the three poor OOT ones who didn’t get to try either on?
My bridesmaids are absolutely in love with that exact Jim Hjelm dress in eggplant. My color scheme is purple and yellow and so far this is the only purple dress I really loved and didn’t think looks tacky.
The only two things I am worried about are the price and the quality. Another bee on here actually ordered that dress in a blue-green and the quality didn’t look quite as awesome as on the website. Also the only price quote I have seen was 200$ per dress which I find just a little bit too much. Has anybody seen a cheaper quote on dress number one?
i concur with most everyone on the 1st dress. my fiance hates empire waisted dresses precisely because it makes most everyone, even those with great figures, look like they’re pregnant.
#1!
The majority seems to prefer the first one, but I love the Vera Wang dress. I remember looking on the Vera Wang web site a few weeks ago for BM dresses and that’s the one that really stuck in my mind. It’s lovely.
I like both of them. I actually considered the first one for my own bridesmaids. At first, the second one jumped out at me but really only because I liked the color. Either dress would be nice!
I’m in the minority with Suz & AKS in a preference for #2, mainly for Suz’s reasons. And generally it feels less bridesmaid-ish to me — stylish, but not too form-fitting, which wouldn’t suit everyone. A well-made empire style is so forgiving of most figure flaws. But again, either choice would be great.
Love the first one.
I not only prefer the first one, I kind of want to own it. In five colors.
Definitely the Jim Hjelm - I was looking at that for my bridesmaids, too!
The Jim Hjelm dresses would definitely be my choice- more universally flattering.
I love the first one (Like most every other comment). I am going to look into that dress for a wedding I am attending at the end of the month, it is exactly what I’ve been looking for.
[...] Bridesmaid Dresses - Part 1, The Journey Begins by Miss Peppermint [...]
[...] may remember from a while back that I had a bit of a Bridesmaids’ Dress Dilemma. Well, the dilemma dissolved and we now have picked our dress. Thanks so much to everyone who [...]
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Miss Peppermint, LA/Palm Springs
Age and Occupation: 23, Actress
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 24, Web Producer
Engagement Date: October 21, 2006
Wedding Date: December 2007
Blogging Since: July 2, 2007
Venue: historic estate overlooking the heart of Palm Springs
About Me: I am a Southern California native who enjoys cooking, writing, travel and all things in the arts. Mr. Peppermint and I met in college and he proposed on our four year anniversary in one of our most special places, Joshua Tree National Park. We're having a destination wedding in Palms Springs that will incorporate tradition as well as reflect our personalities!
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