By Melanie Langston, Staff Writer

The bride has picked her bridesmaids, and the groom has picked his groomsmen. Now she just has to figure out how to make them all look stunning, but not quite as stunning as her, on the big day.

The following are tips and trends to help a bride-to-be choose the perfect attire for her wedding party:

For the bridesmaids, as far as working with different body types, A-line dresses and empire waists look good on everyone.

“Most girls are choosing a designer and a color and leaving the rest up to their bridesmaids,” said Holly Ward, owner of Belle’s Wedding Photography and employee of Belle’s Bridal Boutique in Abilene.

Bridesmaids’ choices depend on how uniform the bride wants them to look, but she also could just give them a color and set them loose. Coordinating without exactly matching can be a good look.

“Our most popular colors right now are tangerine and watermelon,” said Brenda Mahoney, manager at David’s Bridal in Abilene.

Kelly green, bright yellow and hot pink are being used more for wedding colors.

“Bright, bold colors are definitely in right now,” Mahoney said.

Brides should keep each of their maids in mind, so they can ensure the colors will complement their hair color and skin tones and not wash them out.

Another aspect for them to keep in mind is wearability. Since bridesmaids typically buy their own dress, brides may want to ensure they can and want to wear them again. Tea-length dresses are a great option because they come in a variety of styles. Simply choosing a different fabric can make these dresses more or less formal to match the style of a wedding. Generally, a formal wedding calls for longer dresses, and an informal or daytime wedding allows for shorter dresses.

Brides also should not forget about accessories. Metallic shoes in silver and gold, even bronze, are extremely versatile and easier to find than a shade that exactly matches the dresses. For jewelry, brides need to let the bridesmaids know what type (pearls, silver or gold) they would like them to wear.

For the bouquets, brides can consider having each maid carry different flowers within their wedding colors, and then placing each color of flower in their own bouquet. They also could have the groomsman that each woman is paired with wear a boutonniere made of the same flowers. If the bridesmaids’ dresses already are colorful, they may even have bouquets of various white flowers.

For the groomsmen, many different ways exist for brides to achieve a formal look for the men in their wedding. Many rules also determine what is appropriate for the season and time of day. A good rule of thumb is tuxedos for a formal or evening ceremony and dark suits or blazers with khaki trousers for a more casual event. Long ties are appropriate with either and are a more modern choice than the bow tie. If the groomsmen wear blazers, they can match something in their outfits with the color scheme, such as a pocket square or tie.

When considering body type, three and four-button suits lengthen the body’s appearance. A jacket with peak lapels will help the more slim-shouldered man, while the more broad-built should try a single-breasted jacket.

It is a good idea to rent all of the tuxedos from the same store. Shades of black and navy can vary with different fabrics and can really stand out when standing next to each other. If any of the groomsmen live far away, they can get their measurements and turn them in at the store they choose. Groomsmen also should keep in mind that when they rent a tuxedo, the coat, slacks, tie, shirt and vest or cummerbund usually are included. Shoes can be rented too. The rental shoes often are cheaply made and uncomfortable, so they may want to wear their own or buy a new pair.

“When ordering tuxes and dresses, it is a good idea to order them all at the same time so they will be ready at the same time,” Ward said.

For the flower girl, her dress can either go with the wedding gown or the bridesmaids’ dresses, depending on the bride’s preference. It should not be too long, unless she is used to wearing long dresses, to avoid tripping during the ceremony. The bride should ensure her shoes are broken-in and comfortable so she will feel and look her best and should keep jewelry to a minimum, such as a simple bracelet or small pearl studs for pierced ears.

The ring bearer can wear a mini-tux or dark-colored suit, depending on the tone of the wedding. A dark jacket with white shorts and knee socks is another option for summer. Brides should ensure everything fits right and he is comfortable to avoid him tugging or pulling on any part of his outfit during the ceremony. The bride can treat the ring pillow like an accessory – match it to his outfit or her dress, or choose one decorated with flowers or ribbons.

Achieving unity with a wedding party’s attire can be difficult with so many people to please, but with a little background research and planning, a picture-perfect party is reachable for any bride.