dresses to wear to a wedding

Black tie weddings are always so elegant and sophisticated. If you are planning a black tie affair, not only does the bride need to find an appropriate gown, but so do her bridesmaids. These are some of the hottest trends for formal and fabulous bridesmaid dresses.

First of all, a formal bridesmaid dress can be just as chic and stylish as one for a more relaxed wedding. They are not the big poufy dresses that bridesmaids had to wear to evening weddings in the past. For a black tie wedding, your attendants should wear floor length dresses, but they can still be very current and sophisticated.

Other than length, color is going to be one of your biggest decisions to make about your bridesmaid dresses. The trend for formal gowns is to go with deep neutral colors. You hear a lot of colors names like pewter, charcoal, slate, chocolate, and even black. What you are not finding is very many bridesmaid dresses in light or bright colors for formal weddings. It is not to say that you can't have a floor length apple green dress for your attendants if it is your heart's desire, but they may stick out like a sore thumb amongst the tuxedos and guests in more subdued colors.

The styles of formal bridesmaid dresses these days are slim and chic - there is not a petticoat in sight! Two of the most popular fabrics are silk chiffon and tissue taffeta. The chiffon is a beautiful flowing fabric that will fall softly in a slim skirt. It is often being shown with a pleated or shirred bodice falling into a skirt that is slender, but lightly gathered at the waist. All of these fabric effects help to make the chiffon a more forgiving fabric than it is when used in a single layer or draped on the bias. Your bridesmaids will thank you for this!

Tissue taffeta is a fabric with a crisper hand than the chiffon, and it is also opaque, unlike the sheer chiffon. The tissue weight of taffeta is wonderful, because it retains some of the same crispness of regular taffeta, but its lighter weight allows it to be pleated and gathered without being bulky. It is a great choice for a bridesmaid dress when you want a gown that has a skirt which can hold a shape like a slim A-line. The taffeta would also be fantastic for a black tie wedding in the fall or winter, whereas the chiffon is best for warmer weather.

There are many stylish necklines available in formal bridesmaid dresses. The same symmetrical one shoulder look that was so hot at the Oscars can be found in a gown for your attendants. Other fantastic neckline choices include a deep-U shape, spaghetti straps, and the sweetheart neckline, which is another red carpet favorite.

The finishing touch for your bridesmaids will be the perfect bridesmaid jewelry. For a black tie wedding, you will definitely want to amp up the glamour factor. Look for fabulous bridesmaid jewelry such as sparkling chandelier earrings, elegant drop necklaces, and stacks of pearl and crystal bracelets. Special jewelry makes a great bridesmaid gift from the bride, and it will help your attendants to look and feel complete in their formal gowns.