Off-the-rack bridesmaid dresses
BY DORIS A. BLACK

Once you've chosen your wedding gown, it's time to look for bridesmaid gowns. The most common complaint of bridesmaids is that the bride selects a costly dress inappropriate for any other occasion, thereby dooming it to spend the rest of eternity in the back of a closet or sold for pennies at a garage sale. The wise bride pursues bridesmaid gowns from the perspective of the women she has chosen to stand by her side- after all, it is the bridesmaids who typically pay for the gowns.

In Julius Caesar's time, it was customary for everyone in the wedding party to dress the same. It was believed that demons would descend upon the bridal couple, causing mayhem, so by dressing alike, the demon wouldn't find the bridal couple. Worrying about demons is no longer a problem, but until recent years the trend has continued. Bridesmaid dresses do not have to be identical; as a matter of fact, very few dress designs fit all women equally. Because everyone's financial situation is different, it is now appropriate for each bridesmaid to select their own gown, following guidelines set by the bride. This allows the bridesmaid to spend within her budget.

As the bride, your main concern is the overall appearance and tone of the bridal party. You'll want coordinated styles and colors, not a mishmash of designs that look more like pieces to a jigsaw puzzle. Start by considering color. You'll want the women in your party to be comfortable wearing their gown and looking their loveliest, so choose a color or a combination of colors or tones that will flatter them. Consider the setting of the wedding when choosing color. For an indoor wedding, note the colors of the walls or room decorations. For an outdoor wedding, know what, if any, plants will be blooming at the time of your wedding, so you can plan to coordinate with your surroundings. You might even consider the little black dress which is flattering and formal.

Once you have chosen a color or range of colors, decide on dress length. Floor-length dresses are appropriate for the most formal weddings, but they don't offer many opportunities to be worn again. Mid-length dresses offer bridesmaids more versatility and can be equally elegant.

Style is the next factor to consider. Do you want clean, simple lines or frilly lace and sequins? What type of fabric would you prefer? Sleeve length is important, too. All dresses should have sleeves of similar length. Short, long, spaghetti straps- it is up to you to decide.

Once all the decisions are made, make a list of the characteristics you'd like the bridesmaids to look for when choosing a gown. Find an example of the dress style you like in a magazine or book to give the ladies some idea of what to look for. Try to provide small color and fabric swatches that the bridesmaids can take with them when selecting a gown. Give the bridesmaids tips on where to look for the best deals. Once they've selected a dress, they'll need to show it to you for approval, so be sure to tell them to ask if the gown is returnable before purchasing it.

If you must have matching dresses, purchase them from shops that will give you a group discount of 20% or more. Consignment shops are another alternative for locating matching gowns, but it may be difficult to find the color and sizes you need. Check with rental stores for gowns. Some carry a nice selection at a fraction of the cost of purchasing dresses.