Expert: Weddings Etc LLC - 6/2/2009

Question
Hello,
My friend asked me to be her maid of honor. She had a hard time choosing dresses for bridesmaids (couldn't pick a color, decided on a style since all girls are of a different body complexion and what flattens one doesn't flatter another, also her mother and fiancé wanted to be a part of a choosing process#. She finally bought dresses last month in hideous pink color. I don't like the dress one bit, but I had to say yes to this dress for my friend's sake; her mother and fiancé were pressuring her about the price and they were happy with the price they got on these dress. When I tried on the dress they didn't even look at me they were happy with a price #btw I offered to pay for the dress but her mother said no, that it is a custom for the bride to buy dress for her maids). And now I don't know what to do, I look like a pink cupcake in this dress, every night since the day we got them I'm having nightmares about this dress, I'm not kidding. It's not even how the dress looks. The wedding is in the mid July when it's going to be extremely hot, this dress has 5 layers of skirt!!!! I feel uncomfortable in this dress, won't be able to dance, or even move since I'll be in this dress from 11AM till the early AM hours of a next day, and it will be too hot. I already have purchased a gorges gown for my relative's wedding, that wedding is in the 1st week of July, it's a beautiful evening gown and I would love to wear it to my friends wedding. My question is: can I change into my own gown after the pictures, wedding ceremony and my toast? I love my friend and wish her the best, I already agreed to wear this hideous dress, which I would never pick, but I still want to change after official part of the wedding. Please help me with my dilemma!!! I’ll really appreciate your help with this problem.

Thank you.


Answer
Hi Leisli,

I can certainly empathize with you.  It's not often, anymore, that the bride's family pays for the bridesmaids dresses.  It's unfortunate that they didn't select a designer who has a selection of styles then you could have at least, selected a style that looks good on you.

However, since this dress is what your friend has selected, you probably need to keep it on all evening.  There's other times that pictures will be taken with you as part of the wedding party, the the last one, unfortunately, will be when the bride and groom leaves and the wedding party will be expected to be there (in all their glory) to see them off.

It's just one day then you can donate your dress or hide it in the back of the closet!

If you really feel strongly about this, run it by the bride.  If she's okay with it then go ahead and change.  Remember, it's her day.

Hope this helps.  Please let me know if I can be of further assistance. (Someday, the bride will look back and say did I REALLY pick out those dresses and make my good friends wear them????!!!!_