Thoughtful brides have been opting for unique ideas when it comes to picking the bridesmaid dress for a wedding. In the past, it was common for the bride to pick a specific dress, and the maid or honor or matron of honor and each bridesmaid (and sometimes junior bridesmaid) would each purchase the dress in her size.
However, new trends are dictating much more convenient approaches, which can be a part of a budget wedding. Some brides will pick a color, and leave the actual dress up to each bridesmaid; other brides will pick a few similarities (color and length) and leave the rest up to the bridesmaid.
Black Bridesmaid Dress
One popular trend is for the bride to tell her bridesmaids to wear their own black dress to the wedding. This can be a significant cost savings for bridesmaids who already own a black dress, and can be convenient for those who don’t – they can pick a style within their budget that they will definitely wear again.
However, this might not work for every wedding. Depending on the formality of the wedding, the bride might want to make certain specifications – such as length, style of fabric and neckline options.
Another note to consider is that black is becoming a popular color for guests to wear to weddings. If the bridesmaids are in black, how will they stand out from the rest of the guests?
However, black bridesmaid dresses can be very dynamic when the bridesmaids carry brightly colored flowers and wear bold shoes in a single bright color.
One Color, Any Style
Similar to the Black Bridesmaid Dress option above, another option is for the bride to pick one color – whether it’s blue, brown, pink – and let the bridesmaids choose any dress that is that color. This can lead to a lot of variation, but can create a nice subtle “rainbow” effect with a large enough bridal party. Additionally, there is a chance the bridesmaids can wear dresses they already own.
This will probably look best with larger wedding parties – five or more women – to allow enough variation so it looks planned and not mismatched. To add some uniformity, the bride should at least require a similar length – knee or tea length would be easiest for the bridesmaids to find and nicest for her budget.
Also note that some colors look better when varied together – such as blue, yellow, brown, purple or pink. Other colors, such as red, green or orange might clash if different shades are worn together.
Pick a Designer, Color, Length – Let Each Bridesmaid Pick a Style
Another trend is for the bride to pick a few specifications – such as the designer, the exact color and the length – and then let each bridesmaid pick from whatever dresses fall within those guidelines. This will result in a bridal party that is somewhat uniform, but still allows each woman to choose a style that flatters her figure, matches her personal tastes and fits her budget. This also increases the likelihood they bridesmaids will wear their dresses again. But even if they don't, at least they will feel good on the day of the wedding in flattering and personal styles.
A few notes for this option. Have all the bridesmaids give their dress style name or number and their measurements or dress size to the bride or the maid of honor, and have one person order all the dresses at the same time. This will make it more likely that the dresses will all come from the same dye lot, resulting in less variation in color. Considering ordering the dresses from netbride.com to pass on savings to the bridesmaids.
Also note that even among the same color and designer, the fabric of the dress may vary among styles which may result in very slight differences in the color among the dresses. This is usually not noticeable unless the bridesmaids are all standing next to each other in direct sunlight.
One Style, Different Colors
A newer trend is for the bride to select one style of dress, and then select different colors for each bridesmaid to create a rainbow effect. Popular “rainbows” include different fall colors – gold, deep orange, dark red, eggplant. Another option is a pastel rainbow – light pink, champagne, mint green, sky blue and lavender – for a more subtle effect.
In the end, the bride should consider the wedding theme and formality when deciding on the bridesmaid dresses for the wedding. Also, if leaving options up to the bridesmaids, think about each bridesmaids’ personality and personal style, and if any issues might arise in their choices. Even though the members of the bridal party are important parts of the wedding, it is the bride and groom’s day after all.
Maggie Wolff - Maggie has over seven years of experience in public relations and marketing in the fields of healthcare, performing arts, and professional ...
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