Hi My three bridesmaids, as well as the best man are all currently overseas at the moment.  Because of this, my fiance and I have decided to have an extra long engagement of 20 months to give them time to enjoy their OE and also to save up money to get back here for our wedding.  Although I have the luxury of 20 months to plan everything, I am wondering what I should do regarding choosing the bridesmaids dresses.  I suspect that my bridesmaids will get back maybe a week before the wedding, in which case it would be too stressful to organise dresses last minute.  Would it be easier to ask them to send me their measurements and get dresses made, or should I buy the dresses already made, and send them over to them for them to have altered? Also what kind of dress is flattering to most figures?  One of my bridesmaids is of average build and height, one is short and curvy, and one is tall and big-boned. Any suggestions are appreciated. Thanks. Leanne

How about choosing a color and having them pick dresses themselves that they consider flattering?  That would take away a lot of unnecessary stress for you!

Hi My three bridesmaids, as well as the best man are all currently overseas at the moment.  Because of this, my fiance and I have decided to have an extra long engagement of 20 months to give them time to enjoy their OE and also to save up money to get back here for our wedding.  Although I have the luxury of 20 months to plan everything, I am wondering what I should do regarding choosing the bridesmaids dresses.  I suspect that my bridesmaids will get back maybe a week before the wedding, in which case it would be too stressful to organise dresses last minute.  Would it be easier to ask them to send me their measurements and get dresses made, or should I buy the dresses already made, and send them over to them for them to have altered? Also what kind of dress is flattering to most figures?  One of my bridesmaids is of average build and height, one is short and curvy, and one is tall and big-boned.         Hmmm...this is a tough one.  Probably the *easiest* thing by far would be to let each bridesmaid choose her own dress, following certain guidelines you've laid out to make sure the dresses will harmonize. There's no rule that says all the bridesmaids have to be dressed identically.         If you want them all dressed the same, the next easiest if they're all near each other is just to let them figure it out, again, with a little guidance from you.         I'll warn you that if you buy dresses _base_d on measurement, you will have *major* alterations to do.  I was just in my SIL's wedding, and that's what she did with six bridesmaids

For the flattering to most figures, I would suggest something with an A-line, perhaps empire waist.         Just a caveat here on empire waist gowns!  While a lot of people think of them when they have hard to fit bridesmaids, thinking that because they're not fitted through the waist, they'll be just perfect, in reality, they're a very bad _style_ for a lot of curvier women!  My sister chose an empire waist dress for her wedding, probably thinking that it would be kind to me because I had recently had a baby.  Well, I very much appreciated the thought, and it's true I wasn't close to having my figure back at the time, but the dress looked *horrible* on me!  Just because it's not fitted through the waist doesn't mean you don't notice a belly that isn't flat, and trust me, anyone who's at all busty is likely to have trouble (not usually my problem, for sure, but while breastfeeding, well....).  Anyway, I'd use this _style_ with caution.  My feeling is that it looks best on *thin*, not too curvy bridesmaids.  Very deceptive _style_. Best wishes, Ericka