When you get married, it will probably be easy to find a cake, a tux, and a bouquet in almost any color, but the bridesmaids dresses will present a completely different problem. In fact, finding beautiful, affordable, and modest bridesmaids dresses can be so challenging that I would recommend finding the ones you want before you even choose colors for everything else.

In the past, brides have dealt with bridesmaids dresses in a number of different ways. The simplest solution would be to avoid bridesmaids all together. If that is not what you had in mind, another solution is to pick wedding colors and have each bridesmaid wear an outfit that she already owns in one of those shades. They won't match perfectly, but a corsage, a small bouquet, matching headbands, or another small accessory can clearly mark your friends as bridesmaids for the photographer and guests.

If you know a good seamstress in the family or the neighborhood, making your own bridesmaids dresses is another option. It will take time to find the perfect pattern, take measurements, and make the dresses, but you will have tons of options to choose from as you pick out the material and trim that you want. Unfortunately, material isn't as economical as it used to be. As fewer women learn to sew, the price of making your own clothes has risen. It could cost just as much to make a dress as to buy one in a store. Look for sales and coupons on fabric to cut down the cost if you do decide to go with custom-made bridesmaids dresses.

Another way to look for modest bridesmaids dresses is to search online. Although you won't be able to try the dresses on before they are ordered, online shopping can save you tons of time and gas money. If modesty is high on your list of priorities, I would recommend searching for your dream dresses in Utah formal dress stores because the predominant religion in that state values modesty a lot. Utah also enjoys a higher number of weddings than any other state in the country; which makes it a very good place to shop for bridesmaids dresses.

If you want more selection to choose from, you can look at prom dresses too. They are definitely fancy enough for a wedding, but many of them are "louder" than the classy style of bridesmaids dresses. Depending on your personality, a prom dress might be the right look though.