- Blog
- Bios
- Boards
- Classifieds
- DIY
- Gallery
- Vendor Reviews
- Shop Weddingbee
Weddingbee Blog
Over the Christmas holidays, my little sis came up to stay with me and the mister. I bought her lots of presents and fed her food and stuff, and in return she went and tried on approximately one million bridesmaids’ dresses. OK, in actuality it was, like, twenty-five.
To try on these dresses, we went to discount bridal heaven, also known as Bridal Mart (and formerly known as the Bridal Barn…awesome, no?).
Image via Bridal Mart
It might not look like much, but they carry a wide variety of brands at discount prices! And no, I am not paid to advertise. I just really, really, really like a good bargain.
Screenshot via Bridal Mart
It’s the Jim Hjelm Occasions that really sucked me in, as I am a total label whore! Surprisingly, their dresses were not as awesome as I expected. Sad.
Because my lil’ sis is nineteen years old, five-foot-nine inches tall, and a size two, every single dress looked amazing on her. This made her both the best and worst model ever. She is the best model because if something only looked “meh” on her, it sure as hell wasn’t going to look good on anyone else either.
Kind of blah, and what is up with the funky length?
But on the other hand, she is the worst model because even if a dress looked good on her, it did not mean the dress would look good on anyone else. I mean, don’t get me wrong, all my bridesmaids are gorgeous and beautiful and lovely and stunning, but they are not 19 frickin’ years old with no hips and no butt.
See? Nineteen with no hips and no butt. WToo Style 826
I love this dress, but I think it is a little slim fitting.
Here are the top contenders!
Oh, lace keyhole back, how I love you, how I adore you, how I am putting you away because your price tag reads over $200 at Bridal Barn, and that is insane!!!
Red dress. You are fine but mostly boring, and I don’t even remember where you came from. Yawn.
This dress was cute and flattering, and it came in a cute color. Plus, this dress keeps good company…see?
This is the above dress’s friend…
Bari Jay 206—It has pockets! Yay!
I love this dress. LOVE it. I think it is the pockets. The dress is just so sassy to me!
Looking back on the twenty-some pics we took, we realized a few things. One, these bridesmaids’ dresses kinda all look the same after a while. Almost all the dresses are strapless. A little variety, please, bridal designers? Two, pockets are rad. Three, shiny fabric might not go with cardigan sweaters like my original inspiration.
Photo by Cameron Ingalls via Homegrown Wedding
Four, we needed sustenance. Enter Cook Out. Because nothing says “Thank you for trying on a bazillion dresses” like a burger, fries, and milkshake from Cook Out!
Image via About.com
Image via Greensboring
Do you think shiny fabric (yes, that is a technical term) is too, um, shiny to pair with a cardigan sweater? How was your bridesmaids’ dress shopping experience?
I think you may be right the shiny fabric and the sweaters aren’t really a good fit but I do love the pockets on the dress.
I got my dress and my BMs dresses at the Bridal Mart!! They are wonderful and so are their prices!
Mmmmm burger… I took my sister BM dress shopping, that was pretty much my only option since the rest of the girls are all over the world.
My bridesmaids’ dresses have pockets! My girls were super excited about it. They are Alfred Angelo and they were super cheap at the shop where I got my dress.
I’m in Winston-Salem and I always meant to go to Bridal Mart but just never made it! Is this the one in Greensboro or is there another one? I LOVE the pockets and personally don’t think it would look too bad with cardigans. I guess “shiny” isn’t ideal but I think it’s still cute!
Mmmmmm….BURGER. 
I’m the biggest fan of dresses w pockets. A silk Georgette or crepe would look great with the cardis. Good luck miss m!
I’m sad that the lace keyhole back dress is $200 because it is gorgeous! I totally want one for myself, just to have!
uh dying for some cook out! love their milkshakes you eat with a spoon and cheesefries - yes random. I know.
Also my wedding dress as well as bridesmaid dresses had pockets (from JCrew) and we all loved it! I even had my iphone in my pocket (off) the entire wedding ceremony - nobody could tell!
It’s possible I’m going to say this on like every other post of yours, so let’s just get it out of the way: oh my god, I am so so so glad one of y’all bloggers is in NC and likes for things to be cheap like I do.
So yeah, I’ll be in Bridal Mart at some point, no question. It’s right between me in Greensboro and my mom near Hillsborough, and yeah. Basically, awesome.
OMG COOKOUT. I used to live in Durham, and miss Cookout SO MUCH!
Oh. MY. Goodness. I could sing the praises of Bridal Mart all day long! After shopping at all the “recommended” stores in Raleigh, I went to Greensboro with my parents, and the second dress I tried on at Bridal Mart was THE DRESS
Was your sister weirded out by their “dressing room?”
I love the dress and it will go great with the cardigan!
Love pockets in dresses! I happened to luck out and not only do my bm’s dresses have pockets but my wedding dress also has them!
I get ridiculously excited about dresses with pockets, and I love the tulip skirt style! I think the dress will look great paired with a cardigan.
I lOVE the Bari Jay dresses! I am so glad you posted these pictures because I’ve been wondering what they really look like on….
Love the dress with pockets. Both dresses my girls picked out have pockets and can not begin to tell you how excited they are over this. Two of them are moms of small children and apparently pockets would make their lives swimmingly easier.
My girls have Bari Jay dresses too! I love love love them! We picked #103 (google it! It’s so pretty you’ll fall over- for sure!:) I think your “shiny” fabric will look fine with a cardigan- and if it doesn’t then I’ve been a fashion victim at at least 4 events!!
I think any dress (regardless of the fabric) will look awesome paired with a fabulous cardy. I say go for it.
| Visit our sister sites | eHarmony Online Dating |
eHarmony Advice Dating Advice |
Project Wedding Wedding Songs |
JustMommies Pregnancy Calendar |
Mrs. Magic, Chapel Hill, NC Age and Occupation: 30, Licensed Clinical Social Worker Fiance's Age and Occupation: 30, Researcher Engagement Date: December 1, 2009 Wedding Date: October 2011 Venue: Barn at Valhalla About Me: I’m a tall drink of water (5’10”!) and a Southern bride with an enormous appetite for Mexican food, good deals, anything French, and all things wedding! By day I am lucky enough to work with individuals with autism and their families. By night, I’m even luckier to be able to spend time hanging out with awesome friends, crafting, shopping, thinking about exercising, and kicking it with Mr. Magic and our two cats. I tend to have sudden, intense cravings that will not be denied (seafood enchiladas! new jeans!) and I’m prone to being a disorganized mess of anxiety and stress. After waiting (and waiting!) to get engaged, I am finally planning the colorful, fun, fabulously awesome Fall wedding of our dreams. In an effort to share the fun and craziness that is wedding planning, I’m gonna blog about it for y’all---the good, the bad, and the pretty!
| 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