You’ve scoured magazines, searched the internet and maybe even visited a shop or two in search of THE dress for your wedding.  You take the time to create the perfect ensemble for that perfect day and have probably dreamed, stressed and plotted the perfect attire for hours.  Question is, have you spent that much time on your groom and the rest of your wedding party?  Or better yet, should you?

For the sake of your photos, the answer is a big resounding “YES!”.  And you know what I mean if you’ve seen wedding photos where the maids are in multi-colored (or patterned) dresses, the groomsmen are in khakis and button-up shirts and the bride is in a stunning, crystal covered ballgown-the picture just doesn’t look pleasing to the eye and has more distractions than it should.  Or, on the flipside, you see stunning wedding photos where the couple and their party blend beautifully into a perfectly decorated background and everything just meshes…and meshes beautifully.  You’re spending big bucks on pictures that will eventually be family heirlooms.  You want them to be just as amazing as that dress and making sure there’s a coordinated and cohesive look for all the members in the photo is a great way to ensure that what’s in the photo is just as good looking as the quality.

So where to start?  The easiest thing to do is to first determine the look of your wedding and then choose an appropriate venue.  Finding gowns and attire to follow suit will be much easier because you’ll have the location booked and will know what to keep in mind.  If the gown is already purchased, find a venue that will suit its style, and dress your maids and men to match.  Keep a photo of your venue and/or gown with you when you go shopping so that you have a good reference of what to keep in mind.  And don’t forget to include moms and dads in your search-they’re in the wedding pictures too!

Finding out that your groom refuses to wear a tux is a hurdle that’s best accomplished at the beginning of the wedding planning stage.  Having the “what do we want to do?” conversation after he’s popped the question will keep you both on track as your search for the righ apparel.  Taking the time to select a few appropriate gowns for your bridesmaids (if you want to let them have the final say) is a good way to make sure that their selection still keeps with your vision.  If you want to have your maids in different gowns to suit their body shape, avoid patterns and keep things monochromatic.  Also, it’s a great idea to have the same hem length. 

And if you need assistance, choose a bridal shop that offers you someone that will help you make proper selections based on your style and waht your event will look like.  It’s a simple way to save you stress and get you a great looking bridal party!