Bridesmaid Dress Dilemma

It's the time of the year when brides and bridesmaids are shopping for their dresses.  Here's a fairly common question that I receive from bridesmaids:


I'm a bridesmaid in my friend's wedding.  She chose the bridesmaid dresses, and mine looks terrible on me.  Can I tell her I don't like it?

 There needs to be a bit of compromise on both sides here.  First off, brides occasionally give bridesmaids a choice of dress styles or colours, as long as all of the bridesmaids’ dresses complement one another.  If this is not an option, the bride should see each of the bridesmaids as they try on her chosen dress.  She may have chosen a dress that is not right for your body type, and hopefully when she sees the dress on you, she’ll reconsider.  If not, there are two options:  If you simply don’t like the dress, buy it and wear it with a smile.  It’s only for a few hours and it will make your friend happy.  However, if you feel very self-conscious in the dress (for example if you have eczema and the dress shows your whole back, or you’re uncomfortable about your weight and the dress is very skimpy), bring your case to the bride. Perhaps you can wear a shawl or alter the dress.   Remember that the bride is your friend and she cares about you – she wants you to feel comfortable and beautiful and will likely hear your concerns.  Likewise, you are her friend and arguing over the bridesmaid dress probably isn't worth the added stress.