These Fashion Designers Share Helpful Tips on How to Dress Your Bridesmaids!

March 8, 2021 / Posted by in Fashion, Ideas and Tips

One of the most important items on your wedding checklist would be dresses for your bridesmaids! Of course you want nothing but the best for your best girls who have been there for your through your relationship’s ups and downs as well as all the wedding planning stress. You want to make sure that your bride tribe is comfortable with what they’re wearing, while also staying true to the look and feel you envisioned for your wedding. With so many choices when it comes to fabrics and designs, where do you even begin? To help you out, we asked fashion designers Julianne Syjuco, Caca Siapno, and Teena Sabrina Tan to share some expert tips for dressing your bridesmaids. Keep reading to find out how you can make sure your girls are dressed to impress and ready to dance the night away!

These Fashion Designers Share Helpful Tips on How to Dress Your Bridesmaids!

Bear in Mind Your Color Palette and Overall Theme

Cohesion is key! Designers will first and foremost ask what your vision is and suggest designs that will go well with the overarching look of your wedding. Based on the finer details of your big day, designers can draw up sketches for you and your girls to choose from.

The first things I usually ask the bride are basic and technical questions, like the wedding’s theme, color palette, if they have a fabric preference and their overall vision for the entourage dresses. At the studio, we try to make the design process of making bridesmaid dresses a collaborative approach between me, the bride and her bridesmaids. That way, all the bridesmaid dresses have a personal touch to them. On our part, having them involved in the design process lets us understand their tastes and aesthetic better.

Photographer: ProudRad | Bridesmaid Dresses: Teena Sabrina Tan

The first thing I tell my brides is to collate a powerpoint or file with her bridesmaids’ photos and preferred pegs or looks. That way, I know each body type when I sketch. I also ask the bride if she has a certain look or idea she envisions for her girls. Be Creative and Go for Unconventional and Colorful Looks

There are so many ways you can express your aesthetic and personal style. Don’t be limited by the classic and traditional looks. Ask your designer for recommendations on how you can jazz up your bridesmaids’ dresses and make them even more memorable.

I would recommend different silhouettes using the same fabric, monochromatic hues in gradient colors, playful lengths, and elegant prints.

Photographer: Benjie Tiongco | Bridesmaid Dresses: Atelier Julianne Syjuco

Play with different fabric options. Don’t be limited to using just one fabric. Add small elements like frills, feathers, or even 3D appliqués. A minimalist look, for example, can be so classy and timeless, but at the same time, adding small details can also enhance the overall look of your girls.

Fabric Is Crucial

It’s important to carefully consider what fabric you’ll be using for your bridesmaids’ dresses. Your designers will recommend appropriate types of fabric that will suit the design of the dresses, the venue, season, and theme. Can’t decide on just one? You can also mix and match fabric, if you like!

Bear in mind the external factors to consider when choosing bridesmaid dresses, like the wedding’s location, season, theme and even church restrictions. While these factors are more practical than creative, they should still be addressed. For example, flowy or softer fabrics on bridesmaid dresses would be more appropriate for a garden themed wedding than structured and stiff fabrics. The fabric must also complement the design. A modern Filipiniana wedding would require a fabric that can hold structure and form, while beach weddings need more airy and flowy fabrics.

Photo: Mayad Studios | Bridesmaid Dresses by: Caca Siapno

For fabric, some of the options I recommend would be Gazar because this is perfect for structured designs. It's regal and exquisite. Silk, on the other hand, is sleek and sexy. Meanwhile, Tulle is so dreamy and ethereal. You can't go wrong with Tulle. Consider Your Bridesmaids' Personal Preferences

A good tip is to find a balance between what your bridesmaids would feel confident wearing the entire day and your vision for your wedding. Allow them to talk to you about their personal style and opinions and listen to their preferences. Some might prefer higher necklines or silhouettes that are more flattering for them. You can discuss these differences with your designer to find an acceptable compromise.

Give them the freedom to say which necklines or silhouettes they are comfortable with, but you can also inform them if you have certain ideas you already envisioned. Always keep in mind that each person’s body is different. Consider your bridesmaids’ body types so they’ll feel confident and beautiful, too. Have options that complement both your bridesmaids’ skin tones and your chosen color theme as well. Also, it’s always nice to see them rewear the gowns they wore to your wedding! It means they really loved their look.

Photographer: Pearl Studio | Bridesmaid Dresses: Caca Siapno

I am a big believer of collaboration in all the custom made dresses we work on at our studio, and that goes with every bridesmaid dress as well. While the bride can lay down the design foundations for the dresses, each bridesmaid dress should represent their personal style. Think about Budget, Time, and Convenience When Deciding between Custom and RTW

Custom and off-the-rack dresses are both beautiful choices! Practical considerations like your personal style, your budget, and the amount of time you have in your wedding planning will decide whether custom or ready-to-wear is more suitable. If you have a shorter lead time or if you have bridesmaids who are based abroad, then going for RTW dresses might be a better and more convenient option. If you’re willing to spend a little more, custom is a better option. You’ll have more choices for fabric, color, have the freedom to create your own designs, and of course, have the gown tailored to your girls’ bodies. For RTW, it’s more accessible. You can have a day bonding over dress fittings and deciding together which styles and cut to get. You can easily check this off your list in a matter of days or weeks!

Photo by: Mayad Studios | Bridesmaid Dresses: Teena Sabrina Tan

Brides should never lose sight of the fact that dressing their bridesmaids should be a fun, memorable, and beautiful experience. Cliche as it may sound, brides should put that as one of their main goals during wedding planning. Secondly, have enough time to properly research on pegs and design inspirations, create ample-spaced fitting dates and room for last minute alternations. Lastly, do not be afraid to ask for help or input from the bridesmaids or designer. Consider their advice, ask for constructive feedback, and collaborate on design ideas with them.

Beyond the designs and fabric choices, this is also a fun and meaningful moment for you and the ones who love you! You chose them to be a part of your entourage for a special reason, so enjoy every minute of your wedding planning journey with them. Disagreements may seem like the end of the world at first, but don’t worry, they will only give you more memories to laugh about in ten years or so! Brides who are on a budget or would rather spend on other aspects of the wedding will prefer the RTW route. There is nothing wrong with choosing to have RTW bridesmaid dresses for your wedding. There are, in fact, a lot of great options to choose from nowadays. On the other hand, having your bridesmaid dresses customized will also be a beautiful, enjoyable and fulfilling experience for you. I’ve seen how the entire process of designing and fitting bridesmaid dresses also become a bonding experience for the bride and her bridesmaids.

Photographer: Benjie Tiongco | Bridesmaid Dresses: Atelier Julianne Syjuco

Brides should never lose sight of the fact that dressing their bridesmaids should be a fun, memorable, and beautiful experience. Cliche as it may sound, brides should put that as one of their main goals during wedding planning. Secondly, have enough time to properly research on pegs and design inspirations, create ample-spaced fitting dates and room for last minute alternations. Lastly, do not be afraid to ask for help or input from the bridesmaids or designer. Consider their advice, ask for constructive feedback, and collaborate on design ideas with them.

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