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6. Have Their Measurements Taken by a Professional

It is not uncommon for every person in your bridal party to live in another part of the country, or in another country altogether. This can complicate things a bit.

If your bridesmaids have a brick and mortar location near them that carries the dress, encourage them to go into that retailer and have their measurements taken by the sales consultant before ordering.

If any of your bridesmaids do not have a physical location near them that carries the dress, have them go to a nearby tailor, or anywhere that does alterations. Ask the alterations specialist to take their measurements. They will usually need measurements for their bust, waist, hips, and hollow-to-hem (or length) to ensure that they order the proper size.

No matter where they end up going to have their measurements taken, there are a few items that they should wear or bring with them to the appointment. In order to get the proper measurements, your bridesmaids should wear the undergarments that they will be wearing the day of your wedding (bra, corset, shapewear, etc.). These undergarments can change the shape of your body as well as your measurements, so it is important to take them into account.

While your bridesmaids may not have the exact shoes selected that they will wear to your wedding, they should bring heels of a similar height when they are having their measurements taken. Bridesmaid dresses usually come in a standard length. If it looks like the dress may be too short in the shoes they’ve selected they may want to request that extra length be added to the hem (there is usually a fee for this) or find another pair of shoes to wear with the dress.

Make sure that your bridesmaids refer to the size chart for their specific dress when selecting which size to order. If they are in-between sizes, opt for bigger rather than smaller. It is easy to take a dress in – to let it out, not so much (EEK!).