People's Real Life Weddings

Lia | Jun 7, 2007 2:11:12 PM

I did this, I confess....

My sister-in-law is DEVASTATINGLY beautiful. Everywhere we go, people ask her if she is a model. The last straw was when I took her to bridal salons to help me try on wedding gowns, and choose bridesmaid dresses. EVERY salesperson we saw came running right up to her, eager to dress "the beautiful bride to be." Their disappointment at discovering *I* was the actual bride was so obvious....

EVERY bridesmaid gown she tried on looked AMAZING on her. She's like 5'6" and weighs 115 toned, gym-sculpted pounds. So, I let my other girls choose a flattering gown (without including my supermodel-hot sis-in-law) and I asked my sister in law to wear.....

....my MOM's bridesmaid dress from HER brother's wedding....in 1982. I told her it would be sentimental and it's a tradition in my family (lies, but who cares?).

I thought it would keep her from upstaging me. Sad but true: it was a hideous, leg-of-mutton sleeved monstrosity made for a woman much heavier than my sis-in-law.

The WORST part? She was gracious and sweet and nothing could bring down her happiness on her brother's big day. Her sweetness shined right through, and she had all my guests flocking to her -- for dances, to chat, etc. All i heard all night long from my guests were comments on my lovely, gracious sister in law! GRRRR!

I learned my lesson the hard way: that dress didn't make HER look like crap....but it RUINED my expensive wedding photos!

Laurie | May 18, 2007 3:03:28 AM

I think I was a very accommodating bride. We all went to look for dresses one day (my dress included)and I pretty much told them my only requirement was that it had to be Burgundy. I didn't care if they were the same style, length, or material....what flatters one person can make someone else look ridiculous. They were the ones who had to wear them and pay for them.....so they should at least get what they want.

Kaillee | May 15, 2007 11:44:35 PM

My bridesmaids came in all different shapes and sizes. Since I was getting married on Halloween, I saved myself A LOT of head with the girls all fighting of the gowns and just had them all come in costume. Any costume they wanted - their choice. They only stipulation was that they wore one. The same for the groom's party. It turned out really well ! We had an Evil Queen, a Queen of England, Tigger, Phantom of the Opera, a Bride (my brother in drag...oh he is not a pretty woman- he was my MAID OF HORROR), a vampire, a school girl, a she-devil..... Everyone was comfortable as they chose their own costumes and we all had a really great time !

Cory | May 15, 2007 6:17:41 PM

I got married 5 years ago, I had bridesmaids ranging in age from 30 to 11. I took the 2 oldest with me to look for gowns and they hated everything out there because all though they were thin, they were uncomfortable with having bare arms. My 2 future step daughters, the heavier ones of the party, almost insisted on spaghetti straps at most. I tried to compromise - I found a pattern that had spaghetti straps, but also long, wispy sleeves that looked like they had taken the stitching out of the sleeve seam around the top and let the fabric drape nicely. Of the 5 maids, the 2 step daughters are still the only ones who hated the dresses...oh well - this is where the bridezilla in me took over!

Angel | May 14, 2007 11:46:21 PM

In my wedding my bridesmaids went with me to pick out their gowns. I put myself in their position and chose a dress that would flatter ALL sizes. My bridesmaids ranged from a small 11 year old child to a size 20 full figured woman. The dress I chose looked wonderful on them all and they each felt beautiful. It took me a long time to find that perfect design and I even had it custom made for them thanks to a close friend of mine who is a master at the sewing machine! I chose a timeless design that was very elegant. I tried to make my bridesmaids look gorgeous....the better they looked, the better the whole overall outcome of the wedding looks. My pictures were gorgeous thanks to my stunning ladies and handsome men! Ladies...it is your day, but if you didn't have wonderful friends to stand by your side on that day....you would be up there ALONE....so don't try to down dress them! Enhance their beauty....because the day may come when YOU will be their bridesmaid...and revenge can be SWEET!

H.L. | May 14, 2007 4:01:23 PM

For my wedding years ago, I let my bridesmaids choose their dress. I wanted them to feel comfortable and to have something that (if they wanted) could wear it again. For my brother's wedding I told them I would not be picky (like her family) about my outfit; I would wear whatever his fiance wanted. However, his fiance let her teenage sister pick out our outfits. We wore what looked like baby doll lingerie (sheer and opened below the bust with lace around the edge) and a short skirt. In fact I have lingerie that is less revealing than my outfit! I think her little sister was mad at her and was taking it out on all the bridesmaids!

JD | May 14, 2007 2:49:22 PM

I do not understand why some brides intentionally dress their bridesmaids in unflattering dresses just so that they can look better.For my wedding almost 2 years ago, I had 3 bridesmaids and I basically took them to the store picked out a fabric and color and they each got to pick something that flattered their bodies. The dresses where a deep burgundy and they all matched beautifully even though it was not the same exact dress.I also let them pick out their hairstyles. I still get compliments on how stylish my bridesmaids looked.

Joelle | May 14, 2007 11:04:56 AM

Every bride says they pick out dresses that can be worn again. Well, my bridesmaids have all worn their dresses repeatedly over the years. I even borrowed my sister in law's and wore it to a party. I think they were $50 each, so there isn't any need to spend hundreds of dollars on something atrocious. We are celebrating our 15th anniversary next week and I still have people come up to me and say how beautiful our wedding was!!! So shame on those bridezillas who make their friends wear something ugly to make themselves look better!

Frances | May 14, 2007 11:03:04 AM

I was a bridesmaid several times before and the brides always got insecure about their bridal party so they always made us wear yucky gowns. One even told us not to have our hair done or put on makeup! Needless to say, I refused to be friends with them soon after the wedding!

Then I went to a wedding where the bride--tall and slender--had a wedding party filled with women just as tall and slender as she was. They all had on lovely pale silver gowns and wherever they went, the bride looked like a white lily surrounded by shimmering water. She looked devastatingly beautiful!

So when I got married, I made sure my friends wore SPECTACULAR dresses! All the guests said my bridesmaids looked amazing, my girl friends LOVE me, and the guys in the crowd had a pretty good time ogling my friends haha. And how did I feel? Great!

Angela | May 14, 2007 10:37:10 AM

I am getting married next year and my best friend is my only attendent. I didn't want to make her spend over a hundred dollars on a dress she will wear one time. So we found a bridal consignment store and she found a dress that everyone loved. In my opinion the bride should want her bridesmaids to look nice. Its a reflection of the bride's taste and besides who wants to make someone waste all the money on a dress no one likes.

Betty | May 13, 2007 7:45:49 PM

I had 2 bridemaids back in 1996. I let both of them loose in a bridal store, and they each picked out 2 dresses. They decided, with the help of me, on a light green dress. It was so cute. It was on sale ($56 each), and then I bought shoes for them and a necklace and bracelet that they got to keep as a gift.During the the wedding, one of the girls heel's broke, an she went bare foot. I still remember that. 11 years later, they still are my best friends. The only problem was, my husband didn't like the idea of the two groommen wearing green ties. My husband still has the green tie.

Avery | May 13, 2007 6:02:35 PM

I picked a beautiful dress for my five bridesmaids. It was long, A light pink, very simple, with white and pink roses. About one month before the wedding, two of my bridesmaids came up to me and told me flat out and told me that they didn't like the dresses. And do you know what I said? I don't care! This day is about me. people shouldn't be looking at you anyways. If I'm a bridesmaid, and the bride puts me in bubble wrap, I suck it up and wear it. You shouldn't steal attention anyways!

Sonja Bjerkos | May 12, 2007 7:11:22 PM

I have been married twice (yes, it's WAY better the 2nd time around!) and probably spent less on 2 weddings than most brides spend on one. Simple receptions in the church basement just aren't done anymore, I guess. But I think that's a real shame and the worst waste of money ever! Who really remembers the decorations, cake, flowers, or even the bride's dress, for that matter, other than the bride?? Your true friends will want to help you celebrate whether you are hosting an elaborate shindig or a simple reception. The most important part of the day is the commitment you make to love one another through all the ups and downs - NOT the perfect dress, flowers, cake, and everything else. A high-priced wedding does NOT guarantee happiness!

Molly | May 11, 2007 4:54:37 PM

I let my bridesmaid choose her own dress. She waited until two weeks before the wedding, found a gown on clearance at a local department store for $35, altered it for $20 and it was done. She matched the guys perfectly, and now, 5 years later, the divorce is almost final...good thing she didn't go all out! Maybe she had a premonition?

Sheryl | May 11, 2007 4:44:42 PM

My wedding was pretty much a disaster. Several things imploded at the same time such as my husband's mother going completely psycho and not speaking to me or any of my family the entire weekend. My husbands oldest sister not speaking to me (I found out later that she never did like me). His youngest sister complained about everything and helped with nothing. My future neice and nephew were not allowed into the rehearsal dinner because they were under 21 and the conservative state of ND does not allow that. Only about 1/2 of the guests showed up because we could not afford a spendy reception. And finally our wedding pictures looked very amature. BUT we have been very happily married for 14 years and have added three boys to our family. The wedding did not set the tone for our life together.

Carrie | May 11, 2007 1:22:44 PM

I was a conscientious bride ... i made sure the dresses were versatile to fit all the girls, who were different sizes. i also didn't go to a traditional place; i let them agree on flattering colors and gave a few specifications and set them loose. they looked lovely!