Why some brides force their bridesmaids to wear ugly dresses

A new survey has revealed the lengths some brides will go just to make sure she shines on her big day.

According to the poll carried out on 1,000 bridesmaids, 72 percent of those questioned believed that an unflattering outfit had been forced on them to make the bride look better, while only a third were given a choice in what they wore.

However, most gave as good as they got - more than a fifth of bridesmaids have insisted on altering their outfit before they would participate in the wedding.

Unfortunately though, the majority of those questioned admitted having negative thoughts about the nuptials they had attended.

A further 37 per cent said they felt the wedding couple were mismatched and shouldn't be marrying, with more than half of those questioned admitting they had been bridesmaids at weddings where they were glad they were not marrying the groom.

The survey which was carried out by online jewellery brand Vashi.com did show that the old impression of bridesmaids on the prowl for single man still applies these days.

A fifth of those asked said they had picked up up a new man when they have been a bridesmaid. Some were wasting their energies on a lost cause though - six per cent revealed they had secretly fancied the groom, with three per cent admitting they had even been romantically involved with the man of the hour before he met his bride.

Vashi Dominguez, founder and CEO of Vashi.com, said: "We've all looked at wedding photos and thought, 'What are the bridesmaids wearing?' Well, now we know the answer."

He continued: "In seven out of ten cases, the bridesmaids are convinced they have been lumbered with a dress to make the bride look prettier. I am sure most brides wouldn't see it that way and they would say that they chose bridesmaid dresses which went well with the wedding dress.

"The solution is for brides to relax a little and involve their bridesmaids more in choosing their outfits."