I have seven beautiful bridesmaids!
We will call them Bridesmaid A, Maid Of Honor (MOH) T, Bridesmaid S, Bridesmaid E, Bridesmaid M, Bridesmaid H, and Bridesmaid N.
Most of them I met in college, with the exception of Bridesmaid S, whom I met in high school, and Bridesmaid M, who is Mr. Unicorn’s sister.
I’ve heard that some people have difficulty choosing their bridesmaids, but I knew exactly who I wanted to stand by my side on one of the happiest days of my life. So I popped the question…and they all said yes!
Now we’ve all heard horror stories of the dreaded “bridesmaids’ dress.” The dress is typically expensive, unflattering, and just all-around evil. I vowed I wouldn’t do that to my bridesmaids. I picked a color and a fabric, and I’m leaving the rest up to them. This way, each girl can pick a dress that is comfortable and flatters her body type.
My only requirements were as follows:
Easy peasy lemon squeezy. So far, I know MOH T has purchased her dress. She sent me a picture, and it was EXACTLY what I was picturing. I think they’ll look gorgeous in their mismatched, yet cohesive, dresses. And the navy dresses will look great with their peachy-orange bouquets.
And how did I ask these lovely ladies to be my bridesmaids?
Well I found adorable kraft paper cards with matching envelopes. And I found some cute, polka-dotted silk flowers. With a little creativity and some glue dots, I made these:
 |
Personal photo
I made one for each girl, and each card is unique. Aren’t they cuuuute? Even if I do say so myself?
How did you ask your bridesmaids? Did you let them choose their own dresses?
I simply asked and like you told her the color and that’s it. She found a dress and we looked on the website together and I LOVE IT, it actually comes in her favorite color and I told her to get it in raspberry (my colors are only in the flowers & FI’s tie) so incorporating it would not be a problem, she said no and she order it in my color. BEST BFF/MOH one could ever have.
I told them to choose their dresses, they said no and told me to choose them myself, it’s so hard to coordinate them.
My MOH went with a different dress than the bridesmaids who are all my sisters/cousins. It worked out well. I didn’t get to ask them in a cute way. They all kind of knew it was coming.
I’m surprised you allowed your mother to have a say on what your bridesmaids were allowed to wear. Did any of them balk at this?
You’re so creative! I was pretty flexible with dresses — just yellow, please, not short and not long.
Everyone makes me feel some what rude in picking out the dresses. I would have a hard time with them not matching…I am a bit OCD about matching so I knew I had to pick just one dress. So I picked one that they all felt comfortable in and looked good in.
@MsBrooklynA: Turns out nobody wanted a strapless dress anyway, so it worked out fine. My mother is a taaaad on the old-fashioned side, and she considers strapless dresses to be uber scandalous. I still remember my first ever Homecoming Dance. My dad let me go shopping for my dress alone, and I came back with a slinky, strapless red number. My mother’s words: “You look like a tramp. Where’s the receipt?” -gigglesnort-
As a bridesmaid in a wedding right now where we have to pick our own dresses, I would tell any brides not to go this route. It is nerve wrecking trying to pick a dress that the bride is going to like. It’s your wedding, pick a dress you like. They agreed to be your bridesmaids knowing that they may have to pay to wear an ugly dress.
@Stellahh: The fact of the matter is that my particular group of friends is VERY diverse. They range in size, ethnicity, and shape. What would look fabulous on BM A would probably make another bridesmaid look like something out of a horror movie. The most I felt comfortable picking was the color and the fabric. I figure navy looks good on MOST skin tones, and chiffon is a flowy fabric that will float away from the body in a flattering way regardless of shape. All they had to choose was waistline, neckline, and sleeves, really. But I can totally see why it might work better for some brides to pick ONE dress for all the ladies.
These cards are so cute, love them! I would LOVE to be able pick out my dress as a bridesmaid, my friends always seem to pick dresses I would never wear again, good thing I like them 
Love those cards Uni, they are adorable!! I kinda went the same route – I just wanted a little bit more control. 
I chose the length, fabric, color and designer, but I made sure to pick a designer that had at least 10 or more options for them to chose from. It worked out great for my group and they all found a dress they loved!
Those cards are adorable! I was too excited to wait and I asked mine all on the phone when I told them we were engaged. I may try to send something later one once things are more finalized, just a ‘thanks!’ kind of thing.
I personally love how mismatched dresses look. It makes life easier on bridesmaids and it looks so fresh in the pictures I’ve seen. Navy is one of my favorite colors and chiffon is one of my favorite fabrics. So, I can’t wait to see what your ladies come up with!
@Coyote and Steph: Thanks! They were fun to make and super easy.
@Priya: Two of them have already sent me pics and video of their dresses, and they look SOOO good. Can’t wait to see ‘em all in a row! I’ll definitely be posting an update once I get pics from all of them.
Mrs. Unicorn, Atlanta, Georgia Age and Occupation: 22, Retail Sales Consultant Fiance's Age and Occupation: 22, Graphic Designer Engagement Date: November 27, 2011 Wedding Date: September 2012 Venue: The Farm About Me: I’m an impatient, impulsive person with a creative side and a flair for the dramatic. I’m very much a DIY sort of girl, and I have the messy craft table to prove it. I worked at a veterinary clinic for the better part of seven years before diving headfirst into the totally different world of sales. I must say, the change has been one for the better; I no longer have clients that bite or scratch, nor does my workplace smell of kitty litter. My true passion, however, is aerial acrobatics and dance, and I hope to open my own studio one day. Mr. Unicorn doesn’t bat an eye when he comes home from work to find his fiancée hanging upside down from a pole. Together, we enjoy shooting things (with a camera), playing Xbox games (my strategy consists primarily of button-mashing), and enjoying the company of our spoiled pit bull named Leeloo. We are planning a fall wedding with lots of DIY details and a rustic-chic vibe. Our budget is tight, but we know we can work around it to plan the wedding we want.
Latest Gallery Pics