The Knot Chicago Weddings Spring Summer 2020_downmagaz.com
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FASHION + BEAUTY<br />
THE BASICS<br />
BEGIN BY BROWSING Start off by doing some research. In our<br />
(ahem) unbiased opinion, <strong>The</strong><strong>Knot</strong>.<strong>com</strong> is a great place to start—<br />
you can search thousands of dresses by color, fabric and style<br />
and find stores in your area that carry your faves. If you’re flipping<br />
through magazines or browsing Pinterest or Instagram, tear out<br />
pages and save or pin images to help zero in on what you like.<br />
Top Tip<br />
ORDER THE<br />
DRESSES AT THE<br />
SAME TIME SO<br />
THEY COME FROM<br />
THE SAME DYE<br />
LOT. THEN, SEND<br />
AN EMAIL TO YOUR<br />
GIRLS DETAILING<br />
THE TIMELINE<br />
AND THEIR<br />
RESPONSIBILITIES.<br />
FOLLOW UP WITH<br />
THEM ABOUT A<br />
WEEK BEFORE THE<br />
DRESSES ARE<br />
DUE TO ARRIVE.<br />
206<br />
KEEP COSTS IN MIND If any of your friends have been in a<br />
wedding party before, they’ll know that bridesmaids pay<br />
for their own dresses. But a gentle reminder is never a bad<br />
idea. When it <strong>com</strong>es to price, try to be considerate of your<br />
friends’ lifestyles. If you’re concerned your wedding and the<br />
events surrounding it might be a financial burden for one<br />
or more of your bridesmaids, focus your search on more<br />
affordable dresses or select a color you like and let them<br />
pick their own style and price point.<br />
SHOP ACCORDINGLY Consider what kind of shopping experience<br />
will suit your personality best. If you tend to have strong<br />
opinions, it’s probably better to shop alone (or with just one<br />
friend or family member). If you prefer more input, take the<br />
whole gang and give them guidelines, like color or fabric.<br />
<strong>The</strong>n have them try on options and make a group decision.<br />
STICK TO A SCHEDULE To ensure your bridesmaid dresses<br />
match your style, order your gown before making any decisions<br />
about them. Keep in mind: It takes two to three months for<br />
custom orders to arrive and an additional four to six weeks for<br />
alterations. A six-month cushion will give you and your friends<br />
ample time to find, order and tailor the dresses.<br />
FIND THE RIGHT FIT A bridesmaid dress is typically ordered<br />
using a person’s biggest measurements, so your friends will<br />
likely buy dresses at least a size or two larger than they<br />
normally wear. If a friend wants to buy a size smaller, let her<br />
know it’s easier to alter a bigger dress. In the same vein,<br />
don’t choose dresses from brands that don’t carry plus if<br />
your bridesmaids are not all straight size (0 to 14). ››<br />
REAL TALK<br />
Your bridal party vision doesn’t have to<br />
be super rigid. For example, your<br />
bridesmaids don’t need to all wear the<br />
exact same dress for your wedding<br />
photos to turn out awesome. Your day is<br />
about celebrating and spending time<br />
with the people you love, so don’t get<br />
hung up on little details like forcing<br />
your friends to look matchy-matchy if<br />
it’s just not working for everyone.<br />
FROM TOP: CARE STUDIOS; CHRISTINA KARST PHOTOGRAPHY
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