When meeting with clients I get asked about other vendors A LOT! And as we sit there discussing color palettes and the details of their day, the one thing that always becomes a topic of discussion is bridesmaid dresses. Where to get them, which fabric works best, etc. Today most brides want their bridal party to be stylish and sophisticated without breaking the bank. More times than not brides want their bridesmaids to feel comfortable, typically letting them choose from a variety of colors, styles, patterns and/or fabrics. Gone are the days of stuffy, 'match-matchy' dresses! Last but not least, brides, and of course bridesmaids, love the idea of being able to wear the dress again. So I thought I would share some advice based on my own personal wedding experience!
I wanted something simple and classic, and of course I had my mind set on a particular shade of green that I could not find in any of the local boutiques. I also wanted to make sure that the fabric fit my preppy-chic style. I was hell-bent on no chiffon or taffeta! Lastly, I wanted my right-hand ladies to be able to choose from a variety of styles and a price point that was reasonable -- around $100.
That is where J.Crew comes in! I was so excited to have finally found the color I had been eyeing! And hallelujah it came in a variety of styles and a cotton fabric to boot. And the best news of all, almost all of the styles were on clearance! Of course I was quickly knocked off my bridal-high when I realized that all clearance purchases were non-refundable....ugh!
I quickly got in contact with one of J.Crew's wedding specialists to get the particulars. I wanted to make sure I was giving my 'maids' the correct information in terms of sizing and returns. While the name of my consultant escapes me, she forever left a lasting impression of their quality customer service! She sent me sample fabric swatches, was there to answer all of my annoying questions and even reassured me that in the case of a clearance dress needing to be returned it would be no problem! To say I was relieved is an understatement.
After finally figuring out the logistics of colors, sizing and styles it was up to my girls to decide which dress they preferred. Thankfully they made my life simple and all chose a different dress in the chosen cypress, cotton cary fabric! We were even able to accommodate my Jr. Bridesmaid by ordering a size zero and having my lovely seamstress take it in and tweak the straps just a bit!
The best news of all was that EVERY SINGLE DRESS was either bought on sale or with one of their 30% coupons, making the most expensive dress $120. And to my knowledge most of my bridesmaids have re-worn their dress multiple times!
I will be the first to say that ordering bridesmaid dresses online scared me at first! And the initial sticker shock of some of J.Crew's dresses turned me away, until I found 'that style' that I had been searching for. It was then that I started investigating pricing a little further and wasn't too proud to hit the clearance racks in the pursuit of style!
Oh! And P.S. My seamstress said that she was impressed with the overall quality of the dress. Excellent stitching and seam work!
GREAT JOB ALL-AROUND J.CREW!
(I was not paid to endorse J.Crew in any way. This is simply a personal experience of excellent customer service and overall client satisfaction!)
Photography Credit: Henry Photography