New Dresses

My friends bride has an off shoulder gown and asked her bridal party not to wear off shoulder for the dresses they were allowed to choose. So I know some brides do that as a further means to stand out

I've been to tons of weddings where the bride and bridesmaids are all in strapless dresses. I don't think it looks odd at all. If anything, it may add some continuity. It's not like the bridesmaid dress is going to look anything like the wedding gown.

Some adhere to it for the sake of standing out or because they feel like they're not supposed to but it's definitely not a golden rule or anything. You can still have them wear strapless if you'd like. If you want them to wear strapless, go for it. Of course I don't know what your dress looks like but clearly this bride did it her way as well. I think it still looks great.

I feel like as the bride you will stand out regardless as long as the color of their dress and the over all style of the dress isn't too close to yours. My dress is strapless, my MOH's dress will be off the shoulder, and the bridesmaids will have straps. They're all wearing the same dress, the MOH just has a different neckline to stand a little.

You can tell them the style but IMO if they are paying they should have a say in the style especially for their body types. Their dress style does not need to match yours. I told my MOH my color scheme and let her decide which color she preferred and this past Saturday we went dress shopping and I let her choose the style she loved best and of course she asked my opinion. My dress is off the shoulder and hers is strapless. I think it is what they feel most comfortable wearing and are willing to buy.

I've seen a lot of weddings where the bride and bridal party have the same neckline. As the bride you will stand out regardless. I would let them wear whatever they are comfortable in.

The sales assistant is saying that to make a commission and has no basis in fact. There are countless weddings where the bride and her attendants are all in strapless and others are mixed. That is between you and the bridesmaids and what they are comfortable with. Not everyone is comfortable in certain styles, whether it be body issues or religious convictions, plus what looks good on a tall thin girl won't be flattering on a chunkier short girl and vice versa, and that needs to be taken into consideration. Let them be comfortable because they are paying for an expensive dress that is typically only wearable one time and any discomfort will show in pictures.

Unless they are all wearing white wedding dresses, you will be the center of attention as the bride no matter what.

I think it was odd for the consultant to say that. You are the bride! Your dress is obviously going to stand out from the bridesmaids, and strapless is such a common thing anyway. I would understand her concern if the dresses were white... (but hey, some people do that too!) For me, I picked the color and let them pick any long style in that color. It’s important to me that if the girls are paying, they have a style that works for their body and is comfortable.