Tips for choosing bridesmaids dresses for your wedding party

Be a Good Friend
The quickest way to perturb your best friends? Invite them to be in your bridal party, then turn them into fashion victims. Don't dress your friends in something hideous so you'll look better in comparison, and try not to choose bridesmaid dresses that make your maids look heavy or sexless.


Remember that simple, elegant designs make every body happy. Don't go over the top with lots of details, embellishments, and accessories.
Find the Right Feel
Take your time and decide how you want the bridesmaid dresses to complement your wedding gown. Find a style that evokes the same feel as your dress but doesn't look too similar -- you don't want your bridesmaids looking like the bride.

One Size Doesn't Fit All
Search for a style that flatters the different sizes and shapes of your bridesmaids. A-line skirts and empire waists tend to look good on all body types.

Mix It Up
Or consider choosing a color or a fabric and then letting each maid pick a style that will suit her. You wouldn't want to cram a tall, voluptuous bridesmaid into the exact same style as a petite, skinny girl (totally unfair to either).

Color Them Beautiful
Look for colors you like and think would look good on all of your friends (consider their complexions and hair colors). Brighter colors are generally more flattering, while pastel hues might look great on girls with fair complexions, but can be too distracting on friends with a darker complexion.

Fill Their Closets
Be kind -- don't ask your friends to purchase a bridesmaid dress they absolutely wouldn't be caught dead in ever again. Think about what your maids could do with the dresses after the wedding (sweater sets and skirts, little black dresses, and dark-colored slip dresses are all totally reusable).

Covering the Cost
Remember to think about everyone's present financial situation.(A general price range for bridesmaid dresses is $100-300.) If you fall in love with a dress that's a bit over their budgets, consider covering the difference yourself.

Poll Your Pals
Ask your bridesmaids to go dress shopping with you, but don't bring them all at once if you have more than four. It will be way to hard to formulate your own opinion. Instead, use our bridesmaid dress search and email info about bridesmaid dresses you like to your friends. Listen to their feedback.

Make a List
Put notes beside each name about what kind of dress you think would look good on her, how much you think is fair to ask her to pay for a dress, and anything else that strikes your fancy.

Reusable Hues
Dark-colored dresses like navy, hunter green, and black look great on almost every maid and can be worn to formal events later.

Comfort Level
If you're considering strapless dresses or bridesmaid gowns that don't accommodate bras, ask your bridal party if they would be comfortable in such a style before you decide.

Get It Done
Don't be a control freak and try to do everything on your own. Appoint your maid of honor or a highly responsible bridesmaid to be in charge of organizing gown purchases.

Friday Feature Vendor

Friday Feature Vendor: First Avenue Bakery Deb at First Avenue Bakery makes the most delicious and beautiful cakes. You definitely need to visit her and ask for a sample and pictures of the latest and greatest. Have you found the picture of the cake that you are dreaming of, bring it in and she will do her best to have that dream cake that is sure to please any palate. Make sure you ask about her many flavors, one of my
favorite is the Rasberry filled cake! Be sure to tell her that the ladies at Always and Forever Bridal Boutique sent you her way!

First Avenue Bakery
135 2nd Street NE, Dyersville
(just down the street from the stoplights downtown Dyersville. Next to Joes Diner)
Open Tuesday through Friday 5:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.,
Saturday 6 a.m. to noon, Sunday 6 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., closed Monday.
(563) 875-6198

Friday Feature Vendor

Welcome to our first edition on Friday Feature Vendor where we plan to feature a vendor every Friday. If you are a vendor and would like us to feature you, please contact us at mickysbridal@yahoo.com.

Party Express DJ Services is the Platinum Quality DJ in NE Iowa. Weddings are Randy Demmer's speciality. A wedding DJ that will go the extra mile to ensure the personalization of an event such as wedding receptions is a rare find. Randy knows what brides want for their special day. They want a wedding reception that is fun, interactive, entertaining, exciting, unique, memorable, personal, intimate, stress free, care free, well organized and most important unforgettable.

Party Express DJ Service pledge to each and every brides and groom is that he will do anything possible to make sure your day is special.

Find out more by visiting Party Express DJ Services on the web at www.partyexpressdj.us or call and schedule your event with Randy at 563-875-6422. Mention this feature to Randy when you do and tell him the girls at Always and Forever recommended him.

How would you like to get your dream dress for PROM 2012
Absolutely FREE?

Always and Forever Bridal Boutique is pleased to introduce an exciting program and we need your help. We are looking for classy, bright young women to be on the Always and Forever Fashion Team. We will select a Fashion Team member from each high school to promote Always and Forever Bridal Boutique for Prom.

What's In It For You:
•Every Team Member will receive $10.00 for each referral that purchases their dress at our store. Ex: 10 Buying Referrals - 10x10=$100.00 off your dress.

•You will also have a fun helping us with our annual fashion show.

Fashion Team Member Requirements:

•Purchase your prom dress at Always and Forever.
•You will receive $10.00 off the price of your dress for each referral that purchases a dress at Always and Forever up to the cost of your dress.
•Assist Always and Forever with our local fashion show.
•Pass out 100 postcards and invite friends and classmates to our fashion show.


How To Become a Fashion Team Member:
•Complete the Fashion Team Enrollment Form found on our website www.afbridal.com. You can also pick up the forms at our store.
•Mail or drop off the completed form to Always & Forever Bridal Boutique, 201- 1st Ave East, Dyersville, Iowa 52040 or email the completed form to sarah.afbridal@yahoo.com
•The number of girls we can accept in this program is limited so turn yours in early.
•We will review the forms and contact you to let you know if you have been selected.
•For any questions or additional information please contact us at
563-875-2240.

Purchasing a Wedding Gown

There are many options available when it comes to purchasing your wedding gown. The following answers to some FAQ's are here to guide you while sorting through all of those daunting choices!

Q: I tried on a gown at a boutique that I fell in love with. When I got home, I searched the internet and found the same dress online at a discounted price. Is it safe to buy it?

A: Bridal designers only sell their gowns through reputable full-service boutiques and bridal salons. Chances are, if you are seeing a gown posted online for sale, it is not from a legitimate dealer. Please visit the website of the designer to find a list of all authorized retailers in your area.

Q: If I do decide to purchase my dress online, what are some of the risks?

A: A dress that you order online could arrive in the incorrect style, size, or color. It could be defective, or it could have been already worn. Your gown may not even arrive in time for your wedding day! You will also be responsible for potentially expensive and "unforeseen" shipping and pressing fees which boutiques often include at no additional charge.

Here is a note from designer Maggie Sottero on this subject that is true for all designers: "Ever heard the saying, "If it seems too good to be true, it probably is"? Don't be fooled by imitation Maggie Sottero gowns! If you buy from an unauthorized retail location or website, you're taking risks! You might be tempted by a lower price, but it's not worth it! The products could be imitations that are certain to be of inferior quality. Only genuine Maggie Sottero products offer the fit, quality and true value for which Maggie Sottero is known."

Q: But the online company promises that I will save money on a particular designer's dress. What does that mean?

A: The dress may cost less than the designer gown you saw in the boutique, but since designers do not sell to online companies, there is no guarantee that the dress you are purchasing is genuine. It very well could be a counterfeit dress, or you could be dealing with an unauthorized seller. They can offer no guarantees on size, color, style, or timely delivery.

Q: I live in Dyersville. There is a boutique in another city that sells the same dress for a cheaper price. Why shouldn't I purchase it there if I am going to be saving money?

A: In the long run, you really won't be saving money! Keep in mind that in addition to the price of the dress you will also have the added expense of precious time and gasoline for travel back and forth.

Q: Will Always and Forever match a lower price on a gown I saw elsewhere?

A: If you feel that you have found a better price elsewhere, please call Always and Forever and ask for Sarah or Micky!

A Bridal Affaire

Please visit the Always and Forever Bridal Boutique booth
at A Bridal Affaire
on Sunday, September 11, 2011
from noon to 3:00 pm
at the Grand River Center Ballroom
350 Bell Street, Dubuque, Iowa

Adult Prom

Well it is all coming togeather now.
Save the Date September 11th 2010
Happy Hour starts at 5:30pm
Dinner starts at 6:30pm
DJ starts at 9:00pm
There will be limited seating available
Capture the Moment Photography will be there to catch all of our memories on film.

A big thanks to all of our sponsors:
Always and Forever Bridal Boutique
Capture the Moment Photgraphy
Doug Langston: Mobile 1 Productions
Country Junction

Check out our facebook page for all the great dresses we will have on sale for you. Not a friend on facebook yet?? Add us!!!