Bridesmaid dresses from China: sizes and colour
Send a named measurement and quantity list, approve a fabric swatch from the intended dye batch, and confirm finished-dress measurements before production. Order the group together and allow time for fittings and alterations before the wedding. Share the approved list and swatch with Cambridge China Bridge.
Make a named measurement and quantity list
Choose a person to coordinate the order. Give each bridesmaid a separate row recording her name, dress style, quantity, bust, waist, hips and required length. Follow the supplier's illustrated measuring instructions, record the units and measurement date, and measure wearing the intended underwear. Confirm how wedding shoes affect the length measurement.
Keep body measurements separate from the supplier's size label and finished-dress measurements. Ask the supplier to recommend a size or confirm custom sizing for each named wearer, then obtain her approval. Check whether the factory accepts your exact size mix through small-order sourcing; the size and colour pack guide explains restrictions that could otherwise leave you buying unwanted dresses.
Approve fabric from the intended dye batch
A colour name or screen image is not enough. Ask for a physical swatch cut from the fabric batch intended for your dresses, with its batch reference recorded. A dye batch means fabric coloured together. Ask the factory to reserve enough approved fabric for the whole named order before cutting, including different sizes and styles.
Compare the swatch in daylight and under lighting similar to the venue. Check it with the intended lining, since layers can change the appearance. Different fabrics may look different despite sharing a colour name. Keep the approved swatch and give the factory a matching reference through sample comparison. Use the apparel guide for broader fabric checks.
Confirm finished-dress measurements and fit
Ask for the finished-dress measurements against every named row before approving production. Agree where measurements are taken, whether widths are measured flat or around the garment, and how much variation you will accept. Ask the supplier to explain the extra room allowed for movement. A dress made exactly to body measurements may be uncomfortable.
Try a sample in the intended construction and fabric where possible. Check sitting, walking, raising arms, fastening the zip, lining coverage and access for alterations. Ask for fibre-content labels: in Great Britain, textile labels must show fibre content. For cups, boning and layered construction, use the woven wedding-dress guide.
Plan delivery around fittings and alterations
Set the required arrival date by working backwards from the wedding with your alterations specialist. Allow time for sample approval, production, transport, customs clearance, group fittings, alterations and a final try-on. Ask the supplier to confirm arrival at your address rather than only the factory dispatch date. The wedding delivery guide covers the separate question of late delivery and UK rights.
Ask before ordering whether spare matching fabric can travel with the dresses for alterations or repairs. Agree how each dress will be identified so it reaches the intended wearer. On arrival, unpack promptly, compare the dresses together with the retained swatch, and arrange fittings while there is still time to resolve problems.
Approve substitutions in writing
Put the named list, approved fabric reference, finished measurements and arrival date into the written order. State that changes to fabric, dye batch, colour, lining, style, size or quantity need your written approval before cutting or dispatch. A matching colour name does not authorise a replacement fabric.
For any proposed replacement, request a physical swatch or sample and an explanation of the effect on fit, appearance, cost and arrival. Approve the specific change and update the named list. Before dispatch, ask Cambridge China Bridge's staff in China to compare the dresses together, check each against its named measurements and reconcile quantities with your approved order.
Frequently asked questions
Can I order different sizes in the same colour?
Ask the factory to accept your named size and quantity list and reserve fabric from the approved dye batch for the whole order. Confirm any minimum or fixed size-pack restriction before paying.
Will the same colour name guarantee matching dresses?
A shared name is not enough. Approve a physical swatch from the intended batch, keep the fabric consistent and compare the finished dresses together before dispatch.
Should I order my usual UK dress size?
Use current body measurements and the supplier's measuring instructions. Ask for the proposed size and finished-dress measurements for your style, then check the fit with a sample where possible.
When should the dresses arrive before the wedding?
Agree the arrival date with your alterations specialist, leaving time for fittings, changes and a final try-on. Obtain confirmation of delivery to your address rather than just a dispatch date.