Wedding Blog
Here in Chile we don’t have the “bridesmaid” tradition. Instead, there’s only a Maid of Honor, called a “Madrina”. What a bummer!! One of the really cool things about mixing traditions for the wedding is that I’m having bridesmaids!! Yay!
But from the beginning, I never liked the idea of having them all dress the same. Plus, I’ve never liked to tell anyone how to dress. But because it’s our wedding, I still want them to match, somehow.
It’s becoming more and more popular to have ‘maids dressed differently—either in different dresses that are the same color, or in completely different dresses and shades that are still in the wedding palette.
I thought about how to manage that, because I don’t want my BMs to purchase a dress that they are not going to wear again. Let’s be real—not everyone is into purple like I am!! So, I thought about making my bridesmaids’ dresses.
I think this could be a really cool idea because they would get the dress they want, cheaply. They’ll be completely unique and personalized, and I could try to make them match somehow - I would really like them in different purple shades 
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So, here’s my inspiration pictures for BM dresses:
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How cute is this shoot? Check out the whole wedding here.
How are you matching your ‘maids if you’re not having them wear the same dresses?
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I’m sure all the different shades of purple will look soooo pretty together!
I love that you’re choosing to do this, it’s too much fun to pass up!
I love the weddings where the bride just says, Go get a green dress that is knee length and seeing how all the different greens work together… they always end up looking so chic and cool!
Some of my favorite pictures of mismatched BM dresses are on Miss Bearcub’s post about it. I’m not sure if you were using green or purple for your BMs, but she has some good green ones on there!
http://www.weddingbee.com/2009/06/07/letting-the-maids-dress-themselves/
What a great idea!! I really regret not letting my girls choose their own dresses!
i’m letting my girls choose their own dresses (in purple or yellow). after a few trips to the mall, they’ve got their dresses and i’m really happy with the way each complements the other.
Seriously… you are going to make their dresses??? You continue to amaze me; WOW!!!
Wow, I think it’s so awesome that you’re going to make your BM dresses! I think different shades of purple would look really cool.
I just asked my BM to get a black dress from JCrew and I was totally psyched with the results. I didn’t want them to be too “matchy-matchy” so I liked how each girl looked unique.
You are so crafty!
I love the idea of the ‘maids wearing complementary shades of one color. I really want to do the same, I am just having a hard time finding dresses that I like or that the girls like!
i think purple is a great color! I’d definitely re-wear a purple BM dress if the bride let me help pick it out!
OOO! My mom made our BM dresses! They were a really easy pattern. Keep it easy and you’re good. No zippers or nothing if you can help it! Just a tunic style tank dress (flattering on all of them…big range of sizes!) and a sash. PM me if you want some pics for what we did…they came out to $25 apiece by the way
I decided to have them wear the same color, but get whatever dress they wanted. = ) That’s so cool of you to think of making your BM dresses!
They will look great in different shades of purple! I really like the 2nd picture!
Great idea! I would love for someone to make me a dress … my mom used to do that when I was a kid. I love that the dresses in many of your photos all have different necklines but are about the same length. That’s another way to tie them together without imposing a uniform on your ‘maids!
I wish I were talented enough to make my BM dresses. My mom made or altered all the ones that I wore when I was a BM. She doesn’t do that so much any more, but is altering my dress & my MOH’s (only attendant & sister). Since she was so good at sewing, I never learned. My sister made her own BM dress for a wedding–I’ve never seen it though, so I’m not sure she inherited any talent either.
I love the fourth photo! I NEED that dress the girl to the right of the bride is wearing. Off to research it! lol
I’m digging the cream/antique/champagne look, too, Labrador! They’re from Rose and Ruby. I already stalked the ‘maids dresses….=]
my maids more or less were given my inspiration board in email form and also in the little bridesmaid book I am sending out. They have 3 main points of “approval” from me before we leave for the wedding in november. and since i am in texas and they are all in florida its been via email/photo/text but its going well! they have even been ahead of schedule in their purchases!
Timeline..
1. 3 ideas of dresses Aug 15
2. The dress they ended up buying Sept 15
3. Accessories/shoes/whole outfit Oct15
Great idea-you are a talented seamstress (and you sure love inspiration boards–they overwhelm me)!
I’m loving the photo with the bridesmaids wearing the light-colored, flowy dresses.
@honeymyheart: That’s such a cute combination!
@BeachyBride2010: I’m going to try to, maybe I’ll just made purple cones for them lol
@mary-alice-me: I was thinking on that, maybe having all the dresses at the same length 
@Miss Labrador, @ejs4y8: I loved those dresses too! I want something like that for myself too!!
@Miss Disney: That really organized of you to set dates I need to be more organized hehe
Another great thing about the mismatch trend is that it stops the subconscious (or not-so-subconscious…or quiet) tendency to pick out which bridesmaid looks worst in the matched dresses.
I think shades of purple would be nice. My wedding party is all wearing the same dress but my MOH will be a darker purple than the BMs.
Geez - Is there anything you CAN’T do?? I never thought a bride existed with enough ambition and know-how to make not only her own dress, but her bridesmaids’, as well! I bow down to your crafty prowess.
I’m having all of my girls pick their own black knee- or tea-length dresses, with absolutely no further instructions. But that picture of the bride with all of her ivory/cream/beige-wearing bridesmaids makes me want to tell all of my bridesmaids to go exchange their dresses. SO beautiful!
Ooh cool I have a Madrina!!! I opted to have only my sister stand with me as the MOH and no bridesmaids!
I wish I could have worked out the coordinated instead of completely matching dresses thing, but honestly, I think it’s more work. And with my brides living in London, Seattle and San Antonio and me in LA, it was a bit difficult. Good luck though.
I’m having 3 different dresses… my MOH has her own gray knee length dress, two BMs bought theirs at WhiteHouse/BlackMarket and two others bought ones at Banana Republic. They will all have matching shoes and the dresses are all made of charcoal silk.
I can’t wait to see it all out together.
You’re making your own dress, your own flowers and now your bridesmaid dresses. That is a lot of sewing. Of course, they will come out amazing. You never cease to impress me.
For my wedding, I think we settled on “berry” colors. In which case our bridesmaids could pick any dress that is a berry color.
I love the idea of non-matching, but matching maids. Go for it!
When do you sleep, btw?
Great idea! and I am in LOVE w/ the girls in the cream dresses
I LOVE this! Especially because I had told my sisters/BMs to just choose something not too formal (few if any sparkles, lacy things, etc.) , knee length, something they loved and would wear again, and in aqua/tiffany blue, chocolate brown, or silver/pewter. No one thinks it’ll work, and they seem anxious, but really I’ll be happy no matter what. I’m SO GLAD to see that last photo (and the other one from that wedding)– the colors are this.close to being mine and HOW BEAUTIFUL it works!
I’m having mine pick whichever style dress they want from the Jcrew line, but in the shade that I pick so that there is some cohesiveness!
[...] when I showed you all the inspiration dresses I found to show my girls, the trend I said I loved SO much, and the cards I made to re-ask them to be in my party? Well, in the cards, I sent them [...]
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Miss Poodle, Santiago, Chile/San Bernardino, CA
Age and Occupation: 27, Industrial & Web Designer
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 24, Firefighter & Mountain Patrol
Engagement Date: February 25, 2009
Wedding Date: January 2010
Venue: Mr. P's Grandparents’ Ranch
About Me: I’m a Chilean girl who's crazy about nature and swimming. I enjoy carving, drawing, reading and sewing; I drool over computers, fabric, pretty paper, purple and patterns. To me, chocolate should be one of the seven wonders, right next to lemon pie. I never thought an exchange work experience program was going to change my life forever, but while working in California, I met Mr. Poodle, and ever since my days are better and brighter. We are two goofy souls that, after finding each other, couldn’t help but want to be together forever. It has being a long and sometimes hard road, since we have to deal with such a long distance between us, but we are now facing the last stage of our Fiancé Visa, and soon we will be together. You know the best part? We will be married! So I’ll be blogging from Chile until just a few months before our “green and purple” wedding.
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