When it comes to picking bridesmaid dresses, popular culture says there’s a lot of baggage entailed (picture the wardrobe in 27 Dresses, bursting with tulle and ruffles). But despite all the gags, you don’t have to let this decision become stressful—or worse: argumentative. With a little understanding and good sense, this seemingly big decision can go off without a hitch. One of the biggest considerations is dress cost. The average price of a bridesmaid dress is between $150 and $300, but this number doesn’t even include other bridesmaid responsibilities: alterations, shoes, nails, hair & make-up, and travel, really up the bill. Some brides choose to offset the package cost with their own money. Your budget may take a knock, but your bridesmaids will appreciate the support! Color is another big consideration. Brides want to stick with their color scheme, but that can mean different things: different shades of your colors or even complimenting colors are definitely acceptable. You’ll also want to consider the season or tone of your wedding: more formal weddings or nighttime weddings suggest longer or darker dresses. And when it comes to shoes, using metallic or neutral shoes can ensure that bridesmaids get some mileage out of their wedding look. More and more brides decide just to give guidelines in color and style and then have each bridesmaid pick her own dress!  This idea is the accepted rule of thumb for jewelry, especially: suggest style, type, color, tone so the accessories look cohesive, but so the bridesmaids can draw from their own collection. Your bridesmaids may appreciate these opportunities to really feel good in what they’re wearing and to be an even bigger part of your day.

Image 1 courtesy of Lynn Brubaker, Image 2, 3, and 5 courtesy of Jen Fariello, Image 4 courtesy of Paul Morse, Image 6 courtesy of Patrica Lyons.