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With a black and white color scheme it was a no-brainer that I was going to pick out black and white dresses for the girls. Fresh, fun, and high contrast. Fortunately, there’s a store that caters exactly to our color scheme - White House Black Market. Their dresses are fun, flirty, and always incorporate a great twist on black and white, since that’s all they do. On top of that, they always have sales and send me coupons! Love it.
Source: White House Black Market
When I saw this silk houndstooth dress on White House Black Market last fall, I knew that I loved it. When I saw it on sale a couple of weeks later, I knew that my bridesmaids had to buy it. For around $100, this dress has a great black and white print and is in a silhouette that is flattering to almost anyone (no tugging on strapless dresses for my bridesmaids!). It even has pockets!
I immediately emailed everyone and asked that they order the dress that day. We were not going to lose out on this deal. Even though it was about a year out from the wedding, and this was the first dress I had really considered, I made the decision - seeing my bridesmaids lined up in this dress was exactly how I’d envisioned they’d look.
But what about their feet, you ask? A classic black pump would be cute. But since we wanted “pops” of green throughout the wedding, what better way to add an element of fun than with vintage-inspired green peep toe pumps?! I found a picture of these online and knew that this was the look I wanted.
Through so much searching, however, I couldn’t find these shoes (or anything like them) anywhere! However, I was reading through A Windy City Wedding and found her post on these shoes (she was looking at a different shade of green for her girls). There were THE shoes!! The shoes I had been searching high and low for. And for only $25! Score.
Source: Newport News
Peep toe Mary Jane pump in green: $25
Knowing it couldn’t get any better than this, from price, to style, to color, I had my bridesmaids order these last week. I know some of them aren’t exactly dying to own green shoes (like I am - I bought a pair for myself!), I figured that $30 after shipping is a pretty fair compromise.
So we’re all set, right? Cute black and white cocktail dresses, fun green pumps, and some great jewelry (to be blogged later) to complement everything. I really thought I’d hit a home run here. I hoped everyone would be happy and maybe even come out of the wedding with something they might wear again.
Wrong. There’s been a little pushback. I think my mom was totally caught off guard with the green shoes. She wanted to make sure I was sure about the green shoes. Me sure? I wish I could wear the green shoes at my wedding. And the dress. This is definitely one wedding I’d want to be in if I wasn’t, well, the bride. I think there’s also a little unhappiness with a couple girls in the bridal party.
I’m trying not to focus on the negative, because again, as much as I try, I will never fully win. Some will love everything, and others will hide the dress or shoes away in a closet, never to be seen again.
How did you handle bridesmaids that didn’t love the bridesmaid’s dress? Did you try and accommodate everyone’s likes and requests?
I love the idea of bright, fun shoes. I wish there were more strappy purple sandal options, because then, I’d go that route with my BMs!
Can I be one of your bridesmaids? I even have shoes that would match!! LOVE the look!
Um…so I think your outfits are awesome. Can I be one of your bridesmaids? (Just kidding! But seriously, I’d be thrilled if I could wear that in a wedding party!) And I think your idea of trying to keep things affordable is great. What a thoughtful bride!
This is why I’m going for going to a store that has decent affordable dresses, picking a color and fabric, then picking out three dresses I like that all have a similar style that flows together — then the girls can pick out which they want. Unfortunately my size 2 and size 14 friend don’t both look as good in the same dress!
Oh and I meant to say the same — I would be THRILLED to pieces to be one of your bridesmaids. Love that dress — I could wear it to church, a party, the possibilities are endless. Who doesn’t want a dress they can wear again??
i LOOOOVE the outfit…i keep trying to find an off-the-rack dress, but WHBM doesn’t have plus-sizes, and with one plus-size bridesmaid…the search continues.
and i think you’re doing a great job being accomodating….and you have to temper in some of what you want, it is your wedding =)
I’d love to own that outfit…actually I almost bought those green shoes myself.
I took the pick out a fabric and let each BM tell the seamstress how to make their dress hoping they’d get something they’d actually like and wear again (but with a few guidelines on length) approach. However, that has even been an issue since there is nothing for one BM to “try on”. Shoes are an issue I’m not even ready to talk about. I finally reached the point (after my FI had a nice chat with me) that I couldn’t make everyone happy….that I had worn the things they had picked out for their weddings without complaint so I needed to just ignore the rumblings. Now I’m ok just saying these are the dress choices, these are the shoe choices, and best of all it’s all fairly cheap so pick one by this date.
PS…my mom HATES my blue shoes. She’s attempting to rally the traditional BM’s in her favor to help her try to talk me out of it 
Its not so traditional, and thats why I love it. I’m sure any resistance is only because print dresses and bright shoes are a newer trend and they can’t picture it working right. Show them pictures of other bridesmaids in print dresses or fun shoes, then they may warm up.
i would be all over that dress and those shoes — and both at such a great price. score! it’s impossible to please every one. one of my three bridesmaid’s liked the dress (and i’m not sure she’s even worn it since). the others said “we love you and would wear whatever you wanted us to…but we won’t wear it again). so we got the dresses for just under $100. don’t worry about it — it’s not possible.
I tried to please everyone, but it was too hard. In the end there were one or two complaints, but overall the day of, everyone looked and felt gorgeous.
I’m totally loving the look! I can understand why there might be a little bit of a pushback, though. $100 is a bit steep to ask for all at once if there wasn’t a good couple months notice. I know if someone asked me to pay for a $100 dress immediately, I wouldn’t be able to financially. I certainly wouldn’t ask my bridesmaids to buy a very specific dress at a set price (w/o asking for their opinion first), and expect them to be OK with it. Unless, of course, I was helping to pay for it.
I only have two bridesmaids and one junior, so I thought I would be all cool and let them choose their dress. As long as they were the same color…that was all I asked! BIG Mistake!!! One wants long the other wants short and no one can decide.
I love the black and white and the green shoes are awesome! Seriously. Everything was a great price and will look so cute. when all else fails, go with your gut!
Love those green shoes! I almost bought them for myself a little bit ago and decided to wait.
I definitely have tried to please everyone and found that it actually made things much more complicated. I finally had a breakdown! It was just too much. Now, everyone seems happy, but I went through hell to make it happen!
@Claudia:
Actually there was no push back on the dress price…more the green shoes 
I wore that dress to my brother’s wedding, and I love, love, love it. The pockets are the best And it will look totally adorable with the green shoes.
I’d wear a dress like that all the time. And the shoes can be used for work and dressy events! I especially love that it’s not a solid colour. I think the solid colours is what makes BM dresses look so bridesmaid-y.
Your never going to please everyone. Sometimes even if you tell BMs to wear whatever the heck they want some are unhappy! What is with people?
GORGEOUS look. Love love love it, can’t wait to see it in action.
As someone who has worn horrible bridesmaid dresses in the past, I think that yes, the bridesmaid’s opinions matter, but ultimately its your day, your choice! Maybe let them choose their own black & white dress from WHBM and if they’re having a problem with the shoes and you really want them to have them, buy them for the girls! A gift of Green Shoes!
My girls are rocking Red Patent shoes with their Strawberry Pink Dresses, but I had no complaints and in fact a few have praised me b/c secretly they all wanted a reason to buy red heels!
@Miss Stiletto: ah! Well I think those shoes are hot! I bet you if they tried to sell them after the wedding they would have no trouble.
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Mrs. Stiletto, Chicago Age and Occupation: 26, Non-Profit/Fundraising Fiance's Age and Occupation: 26, Engineer and Photographer Engagement Date: March 2, 2008 Wedding Date: September 2009 Venue: The 19th Century Club About Me: My fiance and I love living in the city of Chicago with our cats Basil and Linus, and vow to never move to the suburbs if we can possibly avoid it! We’ve poured ourselves into planning a wedding that reflects our personal style - modern and high contrast with a vintage twist. Blogging keeps me creative, baking keeps me happy, and grande nonfat no foam sugar free vanilla lattes keep me sane.
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