After the bride has carefully selected the design, fabric, or even the colour of the bridesmaid dress she wants you to wear on her wedding day, it will be your responsibility to go to the store and try it on. But before you put on that chiffon gown, there are a few things you must keep in mind. So, what does it take to be completely prepared for a bridesmaid dress fitting? We asked Avalia's bridal fashion experts to shed some light on the problem so you can make the most of this vital pre-wedding experience.

You'll most certainly require many bridesmaid dress fittings but bringing these six expert-recommendations will make you feel like a pro from the very first one.

The right undergarments

Start with the basics— inner garments. If you're unsure what to wear to a bridesmaid dress fitting. "A bridesmaid should come to her dress fitting wearing the same innerwear she intends to wear on the wedding day," suggests our experts.

Because you don't know how the dress will fit, bring a few different bra options, especially strapless ones, to see which one is the most comfortable and works best with the dress. Keep things simple by sticking to seamless styles and neutral colours, because no one wants to see your leopard-print bra peeking out. If the dress has a low or exposed back, it may even have cups sewn in, but having bra options is still useful.

Shoe options

The bride may ask you to bring a unique pair of shoes in a specific design or colour, but for now, bring a couple of other shoe alternatives to put on with the dress. For the best bridesmaid shoes, you can always visit the official website of Avalia Shoes. While you're looking at bridesmaid dresses, you can give her a heads-up on which shoes you think will look best. Dresses are normally created for a 5'10" bridesmaid, so bring shoes with a matching heel height to what you'll be wearing on the big day of your friend. At Avalia, we have a wide range of wedding sandals that you and your friend would truly love. This will determine how much hemming is required or, if you're a little taller, whether the dress needs to be longer.

Makeup

You'll be all dolled up on your friend’s wedding day, with a full face of makeup and your hair tied back in a bun or in loose curls. So, when you go to try on the dress, get a head start on how it will appear by putting on some lipstick and blush. We recommend taking the time before the fitting to do your hair and makeup so you can get a good sense of how you will appear on the real day. You're less likely to fall in love with the dress if you just roll out of bed and show up at the fitting.

Jewellery

If the bride has gifted earrings or necklaces to the bridesmaids that she wants them to wear on the big day, or if she has a certain jewellery vision in mind, bring those accessories with you to help you imagine the entire ensemble while you're trying on the dress. Furthermore, the bride-to-be will be overjoyed to know that you agree with her accessory choices. Send selfies of the entire outfit, jewellery, and all, to obtain her approval and earn bridesmaid brownie points. Even if the bride hasn't decided on jewellery yet, it's a good idea to wear some beautiful earrings to the dress fitting just to get the look.

Hair ties

Are you planning on wearing your hair up for the wedding? Bring a hair tie or clip with you to get a better idea of how the dress will appear with an updo. This will also provide you with a better view of the gown's neckline and back.

A good attitude

Above all, if the bride is present at the fitting, keep things positive. Even if you're not madly in love with the bride's gown, keep your thoughts to yourself. Going in with the knowledge that you can add your own splash of individuality to the dress with cosmetics and accessories is a good idea.