Post # 16

Member
1141 posts
Bumble bee
There was only one wedding that I was in where I’ve worn the dress again. We bought our dresses at Ann Taylor (regular store and not any bridal collection if they even have one?) and I have worn it several times afterwards. I still own it, and wore it last summer. It was a grey silky sun dress with a flocked overlay and is gorgeous. The only time I’ve ever worn a bridesmaids dress more than once.
Post # 17

Member
552 posts
Busy bee
I was a Jr Bridesmaid or Best Man in my sisters wedding…it was the 90’s and we all wore bright fire engine red, plastic “taffeta” floor length ball gowns that were so stiff they’d stand up on their own with a sweetheart neckline and scratchy lace that cut straight across the colar bone, a butt bow 3x’s the size of my butt, big puffy lace sleeves held in place by elastic that added an extra little ruffle. She then had our hair done in the tightest french braid glued in place with hairspray so thick it formed a shell and we carried plastic lace fans with flowers so fake that a 3 year old could draw something more real looking with crayons. The marriage lasted 6 months and I’ve never been a Bridesmaid or Best Man again…. The women in our Wedding Party all wore whatever they choose and I paid for them to get their hair done in anyway they wanted.
ETA and no I never wore it again
-
This reply was modified 5 years, 7 months ago by
Goofball.
Post # 18

Member
314 posts
Helper bee
Honestly, to avoid the look of a bridesmaid dress(the horrors that come to mind), I’d let them pick any dress they like, as long as it was one of the theme colors. Hopefully they like said theme colors, otherwise I guess it wouldn’t be worn again.
I’m a fan of those convertible uh….40 way dresses? The one with the tie you can do a million things with. I think those are neat, and I’d for sure wear one of those again if it was in a flattering color!
Post # 19

Member
1244 posts
Bumble bee
- Wedding: June 2014 - San Francisco, CA
Oh man, those convertible dresses are GREAT! You can style them to fit just about any body shape, and they’re a lot more reasonably priced than most of the taffetta butt-bow junk from DB. Good choice.
Post # 20

Member
1883 posts
Buzzing bee
Not a chance! Immediately drycleaned and sent to Goodwill every time. But everyone lies to the bride to be nice and says “of course, I’ll totally wear it again!”
Post # 21

Member
2455 posts
Buzzing bee
Bridesmaid or Best Man twice. Wore the dresses again- one to a college formal and the other to another wedding.
Post # 22

Member
1654 posts
Bumble bee
I just posted the Bridesmaid or Best Man dress for my brother’s wedding on another thread. I will never be wearing it again. 

Post # 23

Member
7642 posts
Bumble Beekeeper
Amazingly, yes. It was kind of similar to this one. http://www.thegloss.com/2008/08/22/fashion/calvin-klein-removable-spaghetti-strap-twisted-pleat-dress-60/ Like the one in the link, it isn’t sold as a “bridesmaid dress”. I’ve worn it a few times since. I think that’s the key: not too bridesmaid-y.
Post # 24

Member
186 posts
Blushing bee
rachel85: I’ve asked my bms to do exactly the same thing — any dress they like in navy or dark blue. I hate the look of bridesmaids dresses — I just think they look cheesy. And they are exorbitantly priced considering the poor quality/construction in so many of them. I am much more excited the see my friends pick dresses they actually like and that suit their personalities.
Post # 25

Member
186 posts
Blushing bee
- Wedding: September 2014 - Villa Celeste
I’ve been asked to be in two wedding parties. The first was actually a white wedding, where everyone was required to wear white or black. The bride didn’t care what we wore as long as it was pure white and a “summer” style. I got an adorable white sundress that I wear occasionally. The other wedding was blue and picked out by the bride. Love her dearly but it was a prom dress through and through
Post # 26

Member
109 posts
Blushing bee
My soon-to-be SIL gave us some choices from J-Crew’s bridal line in a certain color so we could pick our own looks. I got to pick a style that I really like and would wear again. If I wasn’t so cautious about wearing it before the the wedding just in case something happens to it, I would have worn it already!
That being said, I had two junior bridesmaid dresses and one bridesmaid dress that I never wore again. The hardest part for my SIL’s wedding is that she wants us to wear gold shoes, which is a little outside what I’d wear.
Post # 27

Member
1320 posts
Bumble bee
I’ve never been a bridesmaid, but I’m hoping my Maid/Matron of Honor will be able to wear her dress again for special events. It’s a very summery dress and knee-length. I picked a similar style to what she normally wears, so I hope she can reuse it. I can understand why bridesmaids might not wear the dresses again since what you wear to a formal event is pretty noticeable, but my Maid/Matron of Honor wore her old prom dress to events in college so she seems to be okay with it. As for my bridesmaid/FSIL, she won’t pay for the dress herself anyways, so I don’t care hahaha. Both of the dresses are in the $130-150 range, and the color works well on the girls.
Oh, and I’m having them get nude colored shoes, which I believe are useful in every girls’ wardrobe! 🙂
-
This reply was modified 5 years, 7 months ago by
MKWeddingBee.
Post # 28

Member
437 posts
Helper bee

This is kinda different to what you asked but above is the dress I bought for one of my bridesmaids. I bought it for 180 then had it altered for her as she didnt like that it was strapless or full length. She didn’t end up being in the wedding and apparently hated the dress because it was green so I kept it, had it altered again and wore it on my honey moon. I love it
Post # 29

Member
92 posts
Worker bee
I have been a Bridesmaid or Best Man in 4 weddings and, no, I have never worn any of those dresses again. At the end of the day, does it really matter? Not really. I got to stand up for 4 of my best friends on their most special day 🙂
Post # 30

Member
168 posts
Blushing bee
rachel85: Nope. I went the route (almost exactly!) that your friend did and told my girls to pick a navy dress. Anything they want, as long as it is navy. One girl paid $10 and the other paid $25. Fewer things could have made me happier than the people I love being able to find something they feel comfortable in and not having to spend a bunch of money. 🙂