One of the many perks of being a bride is that you not only get to pick your dress, but you get to dress up all the people in your bridal party, as well.  It’s like playing paper dolls with real people.  And just like you, you want them to look their best.

Which means combining what you want with what looks good on your bridal party.  Starting with the men, all tuxedos are not created equal.  Most likely your groomsmen will have different shapes, so if want everyone in the same tuxedo style you need to select one that works well for more than one body type and that can easily be altered.  Above all, you want your groom to look fabulous so it’s okay for him to wear a tux unlike anyone else’s in the bridal party. Or he can wear the same tux as his groomsmen and set himself apart by wearing a different boutonnière, cummerbund or tie.

Less is more with tuxedos, especially if your groom and/or groomsmen are generally tall and husky.  Big guys don’t need any extra frills, ruffles, pleats, and fabric to add to their bulk.  Best to stick with clean, smooth lines and dark colours (black is both classic and slimming).  Avoid cummerbunds on men with thick middles (it draws attention their waists) and instead opt for vests, which minimize bulges in the torso.  Double-breasted jackets also tend to add extra weight.  And be careful about putting tails on a big man, as it can make him look like a tree trunk (same width from head to toe).

That said tails look great on a tall, slender man, provided he’s not too thin (in which case tails can actually accentuate his lankiness).  If your groomsmen are really slim and you want to bulk them up, try putting them in double-breasted jackets with padded shoulders.  For the most part tall slender guys look great in just about anything, as long as you pick tuxedos that can be altered to accommodate their long arms and legs.
For short, small guys don’t select tuxes that are too big for their frames.  Avoid double-breasted styles and instead go for jackets with only one to three buttons.  Pleated trousers and padded shoulders can also add dimension, as long as you have a seasoned tailor on hand for the fitting.

Fortunately (or maybe unfortunately) your bridesmaids will be more vocal when deciding what looks good on them.  Even though you make the final decisions, it’s a good idea to bring your bridesmaids along on your quest for dresses.  You may find you like a dress that you would’ve never considered once you see it on your bridesmaids.
Just like with tuxedos, you want dresses that accentuate your bridesmaids’ physical assets.  So for example, don’t put form-fitting column dresses on short heavy ladies, don’t put low-cut bodices on gals with either overly large or overly small breasts, and don’t put 3” heels on 6’ women. (Remember, in addition to being kind to your attendants you want your pictures to look good.)  If you have a myriad of body types to deal with, discretely cater to the one that’s hardest to flatter, because let’s face it, tall fit women can pull off any style. Also avoid colours that flatter only a few skin tones.  For example, instead of picking yellow, choose something like pink or rose, which tends to compliment a variety of complexions. 

As for who pays for what, traditionally the bridesmaids pay for their own dresses and the groomsmen pay for their own tuxedo rentals.  If any of your attendants are very young (right out of high school, for example) or financially strapped (because they’re in Uni) then typically their parents pick up the tab.  However, if it’s within your budget to help with the cost of your attendants’ clothing (by paying for alterations, for example), it’s nice of you to offer, but by no means should be expected by your attendants.  Unless, of course, you insist your bridesmaids wear overly expensive designer party frocks, in which case it’s up to you to foot the bill for these dresses (or at least help out with the cost).

Selecting the right clothes for your bridal party is a milestone that should be completed early on to allow time for special orders and alterations.  Finding the perfect attendant clothes may seem like a lot now, but all your energy pays off when they’re beaming at you from the alter, impeccably dressed, as you walk down the aisle.