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My bridesmaids are on the hunt for dresses! Early on I decided to have my ’maids choose their own dresses in various shades of the same color after seeing this image (above). I did this for many reasons, but most importantly I wanted them to wear a dress they loved, at a price they were comfortable with. Putting the swatch pile to good use, I sent snips of my favorite reds to them along with a few style guidelines using a Martha Stewart template. I also sent an email with a few suggestions to get them started.
(horrible tiny pic, sorry!)
Sure this is a bit of a gamble letting girls loose with a few swatches in hand to find whatever they please, but I’m not very picky and if they love their dresses, I’ll be that much happier. If they wear them again, I’ll be ecstatic. At first the hunt was slow going. I started to worry that I’d have to crack the friendly whip at them. Then, all of a sudden girls were finding dresses right and left! Hallelujah!
Most of the dresses I’ve really liked. Luckily, they email me their finds before making a purchase, so I can gently steer them clear of anything that might be inappropriate. Here are some dresses that my lovely bridesmaids have purchased or considered so far.
This number is from Dessy, found by FSIL Sunbeam - fear not; it is not hot pink in real life! She checked it out with my swatch samples first hand. I was actually surprised to hear the other ’maids had gone shopping with the swatches in hand as well; gold starts to you girls!
Spotted on Being Erica with my MOH’s eagle eyes. I’m not sure who the maker is or exactly how she found it, but it’s oh so pretty. It reminds me of my faaavorite dress, one that I’m trying to find a reason to buy myself…
A Melissa Sweet dress via Priscilla of Boston. The back is a deep V and the fabric looks so swishy. Swoooon. Another ’maid found this Betsey Johnson dress at an outlet!
We are two months away and 3 of my five ladies have dresses, while the other two have a few in mind. Not bad, but I might start getting nervous in a few weeks if the last two don’t have dresses. They all *seem* to be enjoying picking their own dresses, though I know it would have been easier on everyone just to say, “buy this!”
I really can’t wait to see them all together on the big day! I hope it all looks brilliant - I guess we’ll find out!
Did you give your ’maids leeway on their dresses? If so, do you think they enjoyed choosing their own or wished you would have just picked one for them instead?
Oh, I think those dresses are going to look SO FABULOUS all together! I bet it is a bit more work for them to find their own, but I think they’ll agree that it’s worth it in the end.
the templates idea is so cute!!! I’m dealing with the same situation now, I think I’ll just ask them if they want to buy one or if they rather having me sewing one for them 
just for the fun of it
I love the second and third dresses! Red is a hard color to match, but going for the “shades of red” look will turn out very classy! Speaking of red dresses, did anyone see the one Kelly Choi wore on Top Chef Masters this week? It was perfection!
I’m doing the exact same thing-red dress, variety of reds, whatever they want-No one has bought anything though. I even picked up two dresses at a Priscella of Boston sample sale, and two girls said they wanted them-but now have decided against it. If any of your girls wants a red priscella of boston size 6 for $50 let me know!
I’m having my bridesmaids pick any cocktail length dress they want in the David’s color Watermelon. It’s actually creating a few more issues than I imagined (a group of bridesmaids are conspiring to all wear the same dress) but hopefully it will all work out in the end.
Wow, what good bridesmaids! Let’s see if mine can pull this off… I think so, their pretty stylish ladies 
Oooh… I LOVE the second one. If you get any more info on it, could you pass it on? It actually looks like a shorter red version of a beautiful Romona Keveza wedding dress that I tried on. I ultimately didn’t buy the wedding dress b/c of cost, and also it would have been a bit modern and over-the-top for my wedding venue, but I would love to get this awesome red version as a cocktail dress
ohmaga i am in love with the dessy dress.. i must have it
i love the one shoulder dress. would love to know where she found that one. can’t wait to see how all the reds come together!
no wait i meant the second shoulder dress- damn.. i wanted to buy it too- tell us if you find out any more info!
I love the 1st and 2nd dress! Very nice.
I chose two styles for my BMs and then we went so they could all try them all. Both looked great on all of them but now we are having a hard time choosing between the two. LOL I would like them all to wear the same dress for uniformity. That’s just me. I did consider havign both dresses and letting them choose, but decided against it.
I think giving them the swatches and everything was a great idea! I am also going to let my bridesmaids pick their own dresses, but I will probably end up helping my three sisters pick their dresses out anyway!
The 2nd dress is made by Fashion Crimes I think, based on this blog entry: http://fashioncrimestoronto.blogspot.com/2009/01/erica-loves-fc-dresses.html) but I’m having a hard time finding it on the website! TONS of fun dress here!
i don’t know if it’s the EXACT same dress as the one you show but there’s a Jessica McClintock dress that i just saw in Macy*s that looks very similar to that one shoulder one you showed hanging.
Can’t wait to see how this looks all pulled together — fab, I’m sure!
This is such a great idea! I’ve been debating letting them pick their own dresses or picking one for all of them. My biggest fear was that they’d pick different shades of the same color that wouldn’t look right together. Send them swatches! Brilliant!
i love betsey johnson, and adore this dress. where did your get your color swatches?
Gahhhh the one strap dress…I am so in love with that! I want…NOW!
OK here is the scoop on the second dress! With the single strap and the roses. So she ended up finding it at Macy’s (I guess she found it at another store in Toronto, but they wouldn’t tell her who made it! And she stumbled upon it at Macy’s later). She said it came in black and red. It was in the* Junior* section and the maker is Teeze Me, style X263615, only $80! Nice price!
PS - I know she found it in the JR section but she is something like an adult size 6/8. So don’t be turned away by size!
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Mrs. Sunbeam, San Francisco/Grove City, PA Age and Occupation: 26, Grad Student & Office Manager Fiance's Age and Occupation: 27, Motion Designer Engagement Date: May 10, 2008 Wedding Date: September 2009 Venue: Harbison Chapel & The Maple Lane Farm About Me: Mr. Sunbeam and I are high school sweethearts. We both come from a small town in PA but are growing to love the California lifestyle. He loves wine and I love cheese... the perfect combination! When I'm not drooling over wedding blogs, I'm attending grad school, out being a foodie, or attempting to "walk" our cat at the park. Two things guaranteed to excite me are wedding cakes and breaking out my suitcase to travel. Mr. Sunbeam and I are personalizing our hometown wedding to celebrate our high school sweetheart status and PA roots with a few CA touches. After ten years of dating we couldn't be more excited to call each other husband and wife!
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