DRESSING THE BRIDAL PARTY 77 Top TIPS! Local suppliers share expert advice to help with the planning process BEAUTIFUL BRIDESMAIDS Choosing bridesmaid dresses that complement the bride can be a tough task, but here’s some advice that will help! Unless your bridesmaids are all models, trying to find a single dress style in a colour that flatters all can be stressful. Our tip is the mismatch option trend. Allowing them to choose dresses that flatter their shapes and suit their individual preferences is a win-win for everyone! Do choose bridesmaid dresses with your wedding dress style in mind. For example, if your wedding is vintage-inspired, it would be awkward for your bridesmaids to be dressed in trendy gowns with modern silhouettes. Are you wearing a wedding dress in a colour other than white? If so, be sure to choose shades for the bridesmaids’ dresses that complement your coloured wedding gown for a photo-worthy look. Don’t choose bridesmaids’ dresses that match the details of your wedding dress too closely. If your wedding dress features a sexy, plunging neckline, pick a different option for your girls. You don’t want to take away the one thing that makes your dress stand out! Ellie Harrington | Oliver’s Bridal and Formalwear www.oliversbridalandformalwear.co.uk FORMAL LADIESWEAR Stock arrives in the store a lot earlier than people think! Our industry works differently from the high street, with the spring/summer collections starting to come into the store as early as December. The collections will continue to arrive until the end of February. Like many stockists, we will just have one of a size available and are rarely able to reorder, so starting to look early will mean you have the widest selection of choice. Be open-minded! Dresses look so different on the hanger than on a body, so we encourage ladies to try different styles and colours to find what suits them best. You wouldn’t believe the number of ladies who come into the shop with one idea and leave with the complete opposite. We recommend mother-of-the-brides/grooms converse with the nearlyweds before the appointment to discuss any qualities they want the outfit to have – this can be highly beneficial. Do they want you to avoid the bridesmaid colours, tone in or match them? Perhaps they’re happy with whatever you choose? The same goes for the other mother. If everyone is on good terms and she has already bought her outfit, then discuss whether you want to avoid wearing the same colour or pick an outfit that features it. Every wedding party will have different preferences, and having these conversations before your appointment is vital to avoid any miscommunication or mishaps after purchasing. Enjoy the experience! Finding the outfit isn’t as daunting as you first believe, and your experience should be fun. By going to a specialist boutique, you’ll have a one-on-one appointment with an expert in the industry, which helps many ladies feel more comfortable trying different styles. It also means you reduce the chance of someone else attending the wedding in the same dress. At Mary’s of Enfield, we keep a wedding diary so that we never sell the same dress or colour to two attendees of the same wedding. India Dods | Mary’s of Enfield | www.marysofenfield.co.uk https://uk.dessy.com https://uk.dessy.com www.veni-infantino.com www.veni-infantino.com www.veni-infantino.com
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