- Blog
- Bios
- Boards
- Classifieds
- DIY
- Gallery
- Vendor Reviews
- Shop Weddingbee
Weddingbee Blog
What you see here is not an old picture from a ’70s wedding. No, it’s a quality camera phone photo of one of my BM dresses. I think my bridesmaids are going to hate me. I hate me. I had good intentions with their dresses. As you may recall, I’m having my mother make the BM dresses using this pattern, and even found (what I thought was) the perfect fabric:
Well, it’s not so perfect. My mother finished one of the gowns last weekend. Of course with my sister in New York, my cousin in California, and BM “A” on official work hibernation, I had to try it on. Oh boy. It’s everything a bridesmaid fears: big, unflattering, and seafoam. Mind you, it was more the design of the dress than any lack of skill on my mother’s part.
I didn’t like the fullness at the top so I had her pin knots midway down the straps. And it looked a little better, but I kept thinking that the dress looked so much like some horrid seafoam cliche. And I’m forcing the girls to wear them.
My mother said the gathering at the waist creates fullness… and large hips. So she’s going to adjust them and turn them into flat pleats. I’m still uncertain if I like the top. I was thinking spaghetti straps, like this J.Crew gown (which has the same skirt and waist).
It requires some balancing out, I think. It can’t have a full top and full bottom or else the girls will look…full! So, I’m going to have my mother work on the top a bit more. To be continued…
Did your dream bridesmaid dress look a little off once you or your BMs tried it on?
i dont think it looks that bad. the skirt is just a little full. What type of material did you use? I think chiffon is the way to go for a dress like this. But it looks like you used satin, which would make it look heavier and fuller.
Yea - I don’t think it looks bad. I did have the girls try on dresses from a boutique that I adored online… but they hated 
So we’re still on the search. Good luck on the dress!
I don’t think it looks bad at all!
I think spaghetti straps would definitely help balance out the fullness and flowy-ness (yup, made that one up!) of the rest of the dress.
I don’t think they look bad at all…Just a little tweking maybe to complement each girls figure. I would thin the straps out a little but I would wear it!
I actually think it’s pretty nice. A bit vintage-y but that’s in right now. I feel like it’s very flowy and if that’s the color you like, then go for it. I also agree that chiffon or another light fabric would be best. Even a nice cotton could be pretty.
I actually like the color! I would wear that color! I just think the bottom is to pouffy (that’s a technical term). Spaghetti straps may balance a bit, but changing the fabric for the skirt would be better…
My sister made my going-away dress with a similar pattern from the vintage Vogue collection. I too had the fullness in the skirt problem. It made me look like I had gained 30 pounds. We adjusted it by removing much of the fabric from the skirts, thus diminishing the amount of gathers. All told the amount of fabric we ultimately used in the skirt was half that that was suggested. You could try this and see what happens. But I love the bodice of the dress and the color.
still, your mom is really talented! I hope the dresses get altered to your preference, but I really like the color and style!
what type of fabric did you choose? I had that dress made for me, but I chose a crepe that hung nicely.
Personally, I really like the dress, but you definitely need to love them as well! I notice all your inspirations are long dresses, but have you thought about just making the dress your mom made knee-length? It might make the color a little less intense, as there will be less of it, and it looks like it might already have an A-line type skirt, which is almost universally flattering on all shapes and sizes.
I looooove that color. Call it turquoise & perhaps it will make you feel better? 
As for my first impression when I saw it, I immediately thought “Wow - it looks like that JCrew dress”, then scrolled down & realized “that” JCrew dress in my head is the same one you pictured. I think balancing it out with spaghetti straps would look great! It will give it a more feminine feel.
Keep us posted!!
It really doesn’t look that bad. If your mom can make a dress that beautiful, I’m sure she’s going to perfect it so it turns out just how you envisioned it.
I also love the color (very similar to one of my colors). Spaghetti straps and a little less fullness in the skirt should really help take the weight out of this dress. I think they will look beautiful and props to your mom for being able to sew these.
I actually really like it, and totally would wear it as-is! Well, if I were in the market for sea foam 
But it looks comfortable with the wider strap, whereas I always feel like spaghetti straps are sort of awkward and lingerie-ish if you’re bigger than an A-cup or have broad shoulders :/ Maybe just doing like chelseamorning recommends, and halving the amount of fabric in the skirt?
I actually like it too! What about making the design but in a different fabric, like chiffon or jersey?
@Andie: @Mary: @MightySapphire: @MissStellar: @Miss Hot Cocoa: Ha, actually, that’s interesting that you guys should mention the fabric! It’s a crepe. BUT my mother lined it in this shiney lining material! So, maybe I’ll have her use the lining that I ACTUALLY purchased for the dress, which is crepe-y. Hopefully that will solve part of the problem.
@MagPie518: @markyK: @MightySapphire: @Miss Quiche: @Shanna: @KS: Thanks for the support, I think spaghetti straps would also help the situation (good thing none of the BMs is naturally full up top!).
I’m also going to check out how it looks shorter. But I’m really wanting long-flowyness.
And thanks to all for giving my mom props. She’s been so patient and she is really talented.
@jkoala: Really?! Seriously, are you guys just yanking my chain?
I sway between redoing it all together and making adjustments here and there… Maybe it’s not so much the dress but my linebacker shoulders that I hate IN the dress….
I love seafoam, the colour looks great! I think the dress would look really cute if it was knee length.
| Visit our sister sites | eHarmony Online Dating |
eHarmony Advice Dating Advice |
Project Wedding Wedding Songs |
JustMommies Pregnancy Calendar |
Mrs. Perfume, DC Age and Occupation: 36, Consultant (and Part-Time Professor) Fiance's Age and Occupation: 41, Consultant Engagement Date: May 13, 2008 Wedding Date: May, 2009 Venue: The Homestead, Hot Springs, Virginia About Me: I'd like to think that I'm a modern day Little Edie Beale. Only not as..."talented". More realistically, I'm a foodie who can't bake; a dancer and dilettente; an art collector with a penchant for the whimsical and subversive. I live in the city and adore the country, but not much in between. I like smart design, great craftmanship and good value. Most of all, I love the new vintage aesthetic: classic, sweet, delicate, bespoke. If I had to do it all over again, I'd go for a culinary arts degree rather than a PhD; but wouldn't trade Mr. P for the world.
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 | 30 | 31 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
| 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
| 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
| 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 |
Latest Gallery Pics