After the wedding gown, the next most important outfits to get for a wedding are the bridesmaid dresses. While men’s tuxedos and suits are fairly limited in color options and style choices, dresses for bridesmaids run the gamut from short and bright too long and sophisticated, with plenty of choices in between as well. It is important that a cohesive theme is chosen in order to follow the color scheme of the wedding and make the ladies in the bridal party appear to be a planned group with easily identified members instead of a random assortment of women. It is also challenging to pick purple bridesmaid dresses and color that is flattering to several different women and available in a wide range of sizes if necessary.
Color is often the unifying theme in a bridal party. Most often, the women who stand up with the bride wear identical dresses in identical colors. A more creative route is to allow all of the women to select the same exact purple bridesmaid dresses but in different style. Full-length purple bridesmaid dresses with a skirt that reaches the floor is a common option for bridesmaids, especially in more formal environments where the bride’s dress is also long. Another option is the tea-length purple bridesmaid dresses, which has a skirt that falls anywhere from just above the ankle to just below the knee. Cocktail-length purple bridesmaid dresses are a viable third option, which have skirts that rise above the knees. In general, a skirt that falls below the knees is flattering to more body types than cocktail length purple bridesmaid dresses. In addition, consider the venue for the wedding. A short skirt would be out of place in a church or even a cathedral, while for an outdoor spring or fall weddings, the short length purple bridesmaid dresses may not be warm enough. However, the purple bridesmaid dresses should all be of the same length for the entire party.
Plan to buy purple bridesmaid dresses in advance, and arrange for them to be shipped to the bridesmaids directly if possible. A typical rule of thumb is to order the purple bridesmaid dresses about six months before the wedding to account for any special orders and alterations. Before ordering, though, each bridesmaid should be measured to ensure the proper dress size, as size charts can vary by designer.
