Dresses for bridesmaids: inspirations and where to buy dresses online

Being godmother of a dear person’s wedding is undoubtedly one of the most rewarding things in life, after all, this person chose you, among so many acquaintances, to be a fundamental part of one of the most special moments of her life.

For the occasion to become even more incredible, it is important to think about every detail, especially when it comes to getting dressed. Some brides choose to standardize their dresses, but others prefer to leave the arduous task of choosing in the hands of each of the bridesmaids. If you are part of this second group, take advantage of the tips that we will give you below.

The most important thing is to know the time of the wedding and research the weather on that date, so you avoid being cold (or hot) and find out whether or not you can abuse the sparkles and stones. The AccuWeather website shows a year-round climate estimate based on average temperature calculations from previous years. Of course, this is just an estimate, since it is only possible to have a smaller margin of error with a maximum of 10 days in advance of the date and, for that, ClimaTempo provides an application with forecast, news and satellite images.

After that, it’s time to choose the ideal dress model based on the bride’s preferences, check out some tips:

• Avoid black dresses or ask the bride if she accepts;
• Avoid dresses that attract too much attention;
• If the ceremony is religious, dresses with high necklines or open backs may not be the best options;
• Avoid very light colors that resemble wedding dresses;
• Daytime weddings call for lighter fabrics without too much shine;
• Evening weddings allow a little more sparkle in the look, but nothing overdone;
• Opt for models that have a scarf as an option, in case it gets cold suddenly;
• Try to know the model of the bride’s dress, some like simplicity. So you avoid using a very similar model with just the different color.

These items are just tips to start looking for the bridesmaid dress that suits you best. The ideal is to have a conversation with the bride and find out what she has already imagined, since some are more liberal and others not so much. That way, you avoid embarrassment and embarrassing situations on such an important day as your wedding day.

Beautiful dress inspirations from bloggers

We always remember fashion bloggers when we want to put together a more elaborate look for an important occasion, so for a godmother look it would be no different. Popular parties, international events and red carpets are also great references for sophisticated, shiny and super glamorous looks. Striking colors, signature cuts, slits, shine and satin are common in this type of production.

According to the event advisor specialized in weddings, Fabiana Pinheiro, the prints have been a good bet, especially the floral ones, they were not very well seen for some time, but now they come with everything, especially when the idea is to combine the colors of the print with a smooth on the part. “The golden color is another bet for the bridesmaids, it is an elegant color and is not just for the night, it is possible to use gold in daytime weddings as well”, says the specialist who maintains a blog on the subject.

According to her, during the day it is also possible to enjoy those dresses with flowing fabrics, as they make the look lighter, less uncomfortable, especially for outdoor weddings or where the ceremony takes place in an outdoor area. A trend that is on the rise, according to Fabiana, are 3D applications such as flowers and lace.

“For the evening, the bridesmaids can bet on dresses made of more structured fabrics, very common in haute couture shows. Dark colors are also a good bet,” she concludes.

Buy or rent?

When buying or renting the bridesmaid dress, there are still many questions such as “will I wear it later?”; “What if I rent it and then want to keep it?”; “Is the first rent worth it?”, among other questions that must be carefully evaluated. If you are a person who is very close to the bride, maybe buying the dress will also help you remember the memorable moments in the future and maybe even a new photo shoot after a few years? But if you’re not a person very attached to this kind of thing, maybe renting the dress for the first time will pay off more.

That’s exactly what social media Mara Carolyne did when she was a bridesmaid in November 2014. She and the other bridesmaids, along with the bride, chose to standardize the colors and varied only on the bust part. “All the bridesmaids had the dress made at the same store, it was the first rental, that is, we didn’t keep the dress standing at home”, she explains. She says that the value of each one was around R$ 150.00, a relatively low price for being the first to use the pieces.

Saleswoman Mirela Pinheiro says that she was too quick to decide to have the dress made and keep it. Six months before the wedding, which took place in October 2015, she had everything ready. “I paid R$ 450.00 to make mine and it wasn’t until close to the date that I discovered that the other bridesmaids spent around R$ 100.00 on their respective dresses”, she says. She explains that the model she chose is difficult to wear on other occasions, and that’s why she’s thinking about making it short to try. “I believe that having it done doesn’t pay off, because as it’s not usually a model for everyday life, it’s going to be stuck in the wardrobe”, she explains.

That’s why it’s important not to be anxious or terrified by the responsibility that a godmother has. Talk to the bride and the other bridesmaids before making a decision, so that everyone can come to a consensus and, in addition to looking beautiful in the photos, they will have no regrets in the choice.

According to Thais Rodrigues, who is a stylist and owner of the brand that bears his name, he says that the two options mentioned in the examples above are the best to consider. “The purchase allows changes and requests in the model that the rent does not allow. Because of the dress layout change. Therefore, the suggestion is always to buy, or if you are going to rent, ask for rent first”. But regardless of the choice, she suggests avoiding short dresses and not so noble fabrics, such as knit and viscose, as they are very common and make the production not so special.

Beautiful dresses that you can buy online

An option that is still not very popular, but which allows for greater choice and better prices in some cases, is to buy from online stores. Here are some options:

• BonPrix ($): Charming dresses, with a defined waist and lots of movement.
• C&A ($): Beautiful prints and various models at good prices.
• Kanui ($): Templates for all types of weddings, whether during the day or night.
• Posthaus ($): Dresses that suit both day and night, depending on the accessories. It also has plus size options.
• Best Size ($$) Basic plus size pieces, perfect for daytime weddings.
• Dafiti ($$): It has basic models that are great for daytime weddings.
• Catwalk ($$): It has more basic models and no prints.
• Zattini ($$): Lots of prints and different bust options.
• OQDress ($$$): Goes from the basics to the most sophisticated with a very clean and vibrant color palette. For all pockets.
• Shop2Gether ($$$): With prices ranging between R$150.00 and R$5,000.00, it has exclusive models from major brands.
• Farfetch ($$$$$): It brings together about 400 brands on the site.

In the gallery below you can see some models of dresses from Brazilian online stores:

If the event is in a few months, it means you have plenty of time to make your choice. Perhaps international sites that ship to Brazil are a good option for a low-cost purchase, but know that the dress may take some time to arrive, so make sure you have plenty of time before making the purchase.

• AliExpress: It is the most famous of the sites that ship worldwide, usually with free shipping;
• Zaful: With dollar values, but still cheap and always with discounts on several pieces;
• Choies: It has a wide variety of models and fabrics;
• SheIn: Dresses a little more expensive and in dollars, but shipping is free and express on purchases over U$ 99.00.

Despite the wide variety of dresses and ease of purchase, the products on these sites can be taxed upon arrival in Brazil. Therefore, it is worth accessing the website of the Federal Revenue Service to understand the process of taxation of imported products.

Climate, colors, model, value, buy or rent, the bride’s taste… Even with so much care to be taken before making the decision, being a maid of honor to someone important to you is something extremely rewarding and honorable. It means the bride wants you to be a part of one of the most magical moments in her life. Therefore, all the sacrifice of research, anxiety and doubts are worth it, not to mention the photos that will forever record every detail of this moment so awaited by everyone.