When it comes to planning a wedding, there are so many things to think about. And we know you have a Pinterest board full of inspo for every element, including bridesmaid dresses. Beyond your own wedding dress, what your bridal party wears is a big moment. After all, your bridesmaids aren’t just any wedding guest; they’re the Samantha, Charlotte, and Miranda to your Carrie.

Of course, you want your besties to feel their best on your wedding day too, so at Nobody’s Child, we’ve asked previous bridesmaids how they felt about their last bridesmaid dress to see what soon-to-be-brides should be thinking of.

With bridesmaid dresses, it turns out that seven in ten (70%) haven’t worn their bridesmaid dress again and 58% say they don’t plan to. But it doesn’t need to be that way. When bridesmaids get to choose their own bridesmaid dress, they’re twice as likely to wear it again (48% vs 24%). So it’s worth thinking beyond traditional bridesmaid dresses and look at the non-bridal section too, as people are twice as likely to find a dress there (48% vs 22%). Looking at occasion dresses opens up a world of potential and gives them more of a chance to be worn again (and again and again).