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Wedding organization includes many aspects to be taken care of by the bride and groom, from the interior design of the restaurant to the meals planned for the guests. But the bride usually has a handful of other jobs to settle, including the attire or theme of the wedding. Braver brides like an all-white or all-black wedding, so there are no disputed considerations regarding the women’s dresses.
However, choosing the wedding guest style might be more complex for those who like to do it the old way. While women are expected to wear elegant gowns, men should opt for tuxedos. So, ensuring everyone is on the same page can be exhausting, especially if you want to have the final say for the ladies’ dresses, mainly the bridesmaids and yours and the groom’s mother. But should you do that?
On picking the bridesmaid dresses
The bridesmaids are some of the most important guests of the wedding, as their tasks include taking care of you and keeping the event in good spirits. When it comes to their dresses, some brides prefer to choose the color and design according to their preferred theme while also paying for them. This implies a lot of effort and time for tailoring the dresses and ensuring everyone is comfortable with them.
Other brides allow the bridesmaids to choose whatever dresses they like but maintain the overall theme, such as floral or soft-toned. Still, this can be challenging for them since there are many types of bridesmaid dresses to choose from. Some have V-necklines, others are made of chiffon, and the knee length might favor their bodies more than tea length, so there’s a lot of research and consideration involved.
Sometimes, finding a middle ground is best. This means the bride could collaborate with the bridesmaids and choose either a common dress design or settle on some guidelines for them to agree on.
What about the MOB and the MOG?
The mother of the bride (MOB) and the MOG (mother of the groom) are the MVPs of the wedding, and they should be treated accordingly. However, should you pick their dresses or let their imagination roam free?
It would be best to present both mothers with some options that are in accordance with the theme. Picking a color scheme or creating a mood board will help everyone be on the same page. Still, it’s crucial to communicate with both, as it may be possible for the mothers to have different styles. It’s also best to respect their decisions if they feel more comfortable in certain types of dresses, even if they’re not the most fashion-conscious person.
Some mothers are more traditional than others regarding wedding attire, so the best thing you can do is respectfully suggest a color or help them pick up a dress that will also make them feel special.
What is the perfect wedding guest style for the ladies?
If you want the ladies to be glamorous on your wedding day but also maintain a certain look for the photos to look great, you could send them a quick briefing on the theme. For example, cocktail-length dresses are some of the most affordable, approachable, and flexible garments for most body shapes, but if the wedding takes place during winter, you may want to dwell on the dress code.
The perfect winter wedding guest attire should include maxi and long-sleeve dresses. You could recommend materials like velvet, which is warm, durable, and glamorous. Satin and lace could also become options since they are soft and resistant to wrinkling. Of course, no dress is better than the one that is comfortable.
When it comes to the best color, winter weddings look best in photos when the ladies wear burgundy, emerald or purple, but black and navy blue also bring a nice contrast with the outdoors. Of course, summer weddings are the perfect occasions for soft colors like pink and baby blue.
When to take a step back
We know how stressful weddings can get, especially since you, as a bride, have so many things to solve before the big day. There might be moments where you simply can’t communicate with others, and tackling so many dresses for the bridesmaids and helping the MOB and MOG with choosing their attire can be exhausting.
However, remember that this is your day, and you should enjoy it. Don’t shy away from asking for help or delegating tasks to your best friends or even your significant other because otherwise, you risk being stressed. You could also approach a wedding planning professional to handle the guest lists, venue, and wedding invites so you can focus on yourself.
Wedding stress can also be contagious, so you could look for these signs to know when to take a break:
- Emotional symptoms: irritability, panic attacks and forgetfulness
- Physical symptoms: lightheadedness, stomach pain and muscle tension
The best thing you can do to minimize wedding stress is to plan ahead and stay organized. Of course, anticipating stressors will prepare you for the upcoming challenges, but as long as you can decide your priorities and focus on them, navigating stress can be more manageable.
At the same time, avoiding comparisons is the healthiest way to cope with stress. We know you’ve seen glorious-looking weddings on social media, but these images don’t tell the story behind the scenes. All weddings are stressful, despite the photos, the décor and the lighting, so be less harsh on yourself and show some love to you and the family.
Are you ready to have the dress talk?
Choosing your dress as a bride can be challenging, but when you handle the attire for the bridesmaids and decide to guide the MOB and MOG, things get tricky. But if you want to minimize the number of tasks, you could allow the bridesmaids some liberty to choose their own dresses according to the wedding’s theme. At the same time, your mother and the groom’s mother can shop for their dresses, but ask for your opinion to ensure everyone is on the same page.
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