Frequently Asked Questions about Bridesmaids dresses and ordering.

Bridesmaids are usually the aid to the bride but can often be quite tricky to choose a dress style and colour to suit you bridesmaid(s) that also suits the bride's colouring. A bride should not choose a colour for her bridesmaids that does not suit her as she will be next to that colour in many of the photographs!

So here are a few FAQs we encounter that may help guide you or put your mind at ease when thinking abut purchasing bridesmaid dresses.

How long does it take for bridesmaids dresses to be ordered?

Usually bridesmaid dresses take about 12 weeks to arrive from the following working day that they are ordered. Rush deliveries are availablefrom most bridesmaid designers at an additional charge. This is usually about £30 per dress but varies between designers.

I have or will have a pregnant bridesmaid. Help!

Jasmine, one of our bridesmaid designers, do various maternity styles to match their standard dresses. Also, empire-line dresses drop from under the bust so they tend to be a good style as they drape comfortably around a bump. We have in-house seamstresses who can alter dresses brought from Karen Forte and they can often put in a lace-up back to accomodate for weight gain.

Should I order from the internet?

Be careful. Many factories in the far East copy designer's patterns for dresses and offer them at a much reduced price. It can be risky as you won't be getting the quality guarantee and the 'true' dress this way. If you feel it is a genuine product you can check the designer's website and many of them state if they have authorised sellers abroad or on the internet.

  Can I get shoes dyed to match the dresses?

Rainbow Club specialise in bridal shoes which are reknown for being very comfortable. They are a dyeable satin and when you order a shoe style, you can have them dyed to match a swatch of colour. They also have matching dye-able bags. Depending on the style you can have half sizes and from a size 2 to a size 10.

Can I have different bridesmaids in different styles or colours?

This is very fashionable at the moment and is a great way to cater for the different shapes that bridesmaids can be and what colours suit them. Both Kelsey Rose and Mark Lesley, two of our bridesmaid designers, do a fantastic selection of bridesmaids dresses which you can mix and match with styles and/or colours. See the Kelsey Rose collection, under 'Bridesmaids' - 'Collections' for some ideas.

What happens if I want to cancel a dress(es) that I have ordered?

We can check with the designer if they have processed the order as it may be possible to cancel. However if the order has been processed then it is not possible and the balance will remain due when the dress(es) arrives. We recommend brides to get wedding insurance which may help in this situation. Only in exceptional circumstances may a refund be given by authorised staff.