When Pippa Middleton was spotted at the royal wedding wearing a white crepe bridesmaid dress, suffice it to say that people were quite surprised. I guess when you are as stunning as Kate Middleton, now Duchess Catherine, you don’t have to worry about being upstaged by another woman wearing a white dress at your wedding. It was a daring choice, nonetheless, and it will be very interesting to see if white bridesmaid dresses become the next big thing in wedding trends.
Did you know that in ancient times bridesmaids wore dresses very similar to the bridal gown? In fact, the original purpose of bridesmaids was to serve as decoys to protect brides from the evil spirits who were thought to be drawn to their happiness. So actually, dressing bridesmaids in the same color as the bride is not such as radical idea. It can actually be quite lovely, as we saw at the royal wedding. It is safe to say that as beautiful as Pippa looked in her white Sarah Burton-designed dress, she in no way distracted from the bride.
If you are considering white dresses for your own bridesmaids, there are a few things to keep in mind. One reason that it worked so well for the royal wedding is because the bridesmaid dress was clearly less grand than the bridal gown. Had they been more similar in fullness or embellishment, there would have been more chance that the two white dresses would have competed for the spotlight. Kate did it just right when she selected a white bridesmaid dress for her sister which had a slimmer silhouette and far less embellishment than her own gown.
Another way to make white bridesmaid dresses work well for your wedding would be to select shorter dresses. This would be a particularly good idea if the bridal gown will be fairly simple in cut and design. For a summer wedding, white lace shift dresses would be very pretty for bridesmaids, perhaps worn with metallic sandals. If the wedding is more formal or in the winter, white charmeuse party dresses to the knee would be a great look for attendants. Add elegant crystal wedding jewelry to complete the more formal style.
When the bridesmaids are wearing white dresses, their bouquets are another great way to set them apart from the bride. Colorful nosegays will help to distinguish attendants from bride. They will also add some vibrant color to the wedding ceremony. Let’s face it, if the bride and her attendants are all dressed completely in white and carrying all-white bouquets as well, the processional could look a bit washed out. Seasonal flowers would be a nice touch, such as yellow tulips for spring, pink peonies for summer, orange mums for fall, or red roses for winter.
Although white bridesmaid dresses may not be every bride’s taste, they can be quite elegant when chosen with care. It takes a confident bride to dress her attendants in white, and that type of confidence is always appealing. Besides, no one will really confuse a bridesmaid with the radiant bride gliding down the aisle in her fabulous bridal gown, sparkling crystal wedding jewelry, and ethereal veil – least of all the groom!
Look to Bridget for advice on planning your wedding. She has written many beautiful wedding ebooks on style, wedding jewelry, decorations, etiquette, and fashion. For a limited time, all new subscribers to the http://silverlandjewelry.com/ newsletter will receive a free ebook on a popular wedding topic!