Bridesmaids In Patterns: A Creative Twist On Tradition

Mismatched bridesmaids' dresses are a fun and playful option for today's modern bride. While it was once considered a wedding taboo, it has now secured its place in today's wedding designs. Bridesmaids' dresses no longer need to be the same, and brides are mixing it up with different styles, fabrics, hemlines, and colours. This trend allows you to highlight each individual and ensure they feel great in what they're wearing. There are a few ways to pull off the mismatched look. You could have the same dress style in different colours, the same dress colour in different styles, or different dress styles and colours. The key to a foolproof ensemble is keeping one thing consistent throughout the party.

Assign one pattern to the whole bridal party, letting them choose varied silhouettes

Assigning one pattern to the whole bridal party while letting them choose varied silhouettes is a great way to keep your bridal party's looks cohesive. This approach allows your bridesmaids to showcase their personalities and aesthetics while still maintaining a unified appearance.

• Keep the pattern consistent: While it's fun to have varied silhouettes, ensure that the pattern itself remains the same or at least complementary across the board. This will help to avoid a chaotic look and ensure your bridal party appears cohesive.
• Choose a colour palette: Opt for a general theme, such as pastels, or a specific palette like shades of green. This will guide your bridesmaids in selecting dresses that complement each other while still offering them the freedom to choose their preferred silhouette.
• Play with print sizes and styles: Once you've settled on a colour palette, you can further enhance the cohesive look by choosing prints in different sizes, styles, and scales. For example, some bridesmaids could wear dresses with large floral prints, while others could opt for smaller, ditsy florals, all within the same colour palette.
• Designate a 'pattern leader': If you're nervous about too many shapes and shades competing with each other, consider selecting one bridesmaid to rock the designated pattern. Then, coordinate the rest of the dresses to complement that particular pattern. This approach will also add depth and visual interest to your bridal party photos.
• Keep the background colours consistent: When choosing prints in different scales, it's a good idea to maintain a limited colour palette for the main background of each dress. Start with one pattern and then choose other patterns that complement its colour and design.
• Consider the wedding theme: The type of wedding you're having can guide your pattern choice. For example, floral prints are perfect for spring, barnyard, or outdoor weddings. Geometric prints suit summer weddings, and tropical prints are ideal for beach or destination weddings.

Remember, the key is to strike a balance between individuality and cohesion. By assigning one pattern and allowing your bridal party to choose their silhouettes, you'll achieve a fun, playful, and modern look that showcases the unique personalities of your bridesmaids.

Keep the colour of each dress the same, but mix up the prints

Mixing up prints while keeping the colour of each dress the same is a great way to add diversity and a personal touch to your bridesmaids' attire. This approach can be a fun and unique twist on the traditional matching bridesmaids' dresses, and it allows your bridal party to showcase their personalities and style.

• Keep the colour palette consistent: Decide on a colour that you want your bridesmaids to wear and stick to it. This will create a sense of unity and cohesion among the dresses, even if the prints are different. You can choose a specific shade, such as blush pink or emerald green, and ask your bridesmaids to find dresses in that colour but with varying prints.
• Play with print sizes: Varying the print sizes can add interest and dimension to the overall look. For example, you can pair larger, bolder prints with smaller, more subtle prints. This could mean having some bridesmaids in a large floral print, while others wear a smaller ditsy print, all in the same colour family.
• Choose complementary prints: When mixing prints, it's essential to select designs that complement each other. Look for prints that have similar colour schemes or are in the same tonal range. For example, you could pair a bold floral print with a more subtle paisley or geometric print in the same colours.
• Use prints as an accent: If you want to keep the dresses mostly solid-coloured, you can use prints as an accent. For instance, some bridesmaids could wear a solid-coloured dress with a printed belt, scarf, or other accessories. This way, you add a hint of contrast without overwhelming the overall look.
• Consider the dress silhouettes: While focusing on the prints, don't forget about the silhouettes of the dresses. You can mix and match different necklines, sleeve styles, or hemlines to add further variety and ensure that each bridesmaid feels comfortable and flattered.
• Add cohesive accessories: To bring the look together, you can provide your bridesmaids with identical or similar accessories. This could be in the form of matching shoes, jewellery, or bouquets. These accessories will help tie the different prints together and create a unified bridal party look.

Remember, the key to successfully mixing prints is to maintain a sense of balance and cohesion. By keeping the colour consistent and playing with different prints and silhouettes, you can achieve a stylish and unique look for your bridesmaids that reflects your modern and creative approach to wedding design.

Choose a colour palette and opt for prints within that palette

Choosing a colour palette and opting for prints within that palette is a great way to allow your bridesmaids to showcase their personalities while maintaining a cohesive look.

Firstly, consider the season in which you're getting married. In winter, colours like reds, golds, emerald greens, and royal blues are popular, while pastel palettes are perfect for spring. For summer, bright colours like pinks and purples work beautifully, and autumnal weddings call for shades of auburn, orange, red, and dark green.

If you have a particular colour in mind, you can experiment with different shades of that colour for each bridesmaid dress. For example, a palette of blush, lavender, and dusty blue dresses creates an eclectic, feminine look, while a combination of mauve, peach, purple, and blue is refreshing and versatile.

You can also opt for prints within your chosen colour palette. For instance, if you're having a beach wedding, consider tropical prints or palm leaf patterns in colours like peach and blue. If your wedding is in a garden setting, floral prints with an understated colour palette like mint, sage, and cerulean are a lovely choice.

If you're worried about clashing patterns, you can opt for similar prints in different colours. Sparse florals, gingham, or Swiss dot patterns can be a fun way to add interest while still maintaining a cohesive look.

Don't be afraid to experiment with colours and prints to find the perfect combination that reflects your unique style and personality.

Select one bridesmaid to wear the pattern and coordinate the rest of the dresses from there

If you're keen on the idea of incorporating patterns into your bridal party's attire but are hesitant about too many shapes and shades competing with each other, a clever solution is to select one bridesmaid to wear the pattern and then coordinate the rest of the dresses from there. This approach offers a multitude of possibilities for mixing and matching, allowing you to experiment with different colours and silhouettes.

To achieve a cohesive look, consider choosing a single pattern for the designated bridesmaid and then opting for solid-coloured dresses in complementary hues for the rest of the bridal party. This way, you can maintain a sense of unity while still embracing a playful and unique style.

Another option is to select a colour palette that complements the chosen pattern. This could be a general theme, such as pastels, or a more specific range of shades, like various green hues. By doing this, you can create a harmonious look while still allowing each bridesmaid to showcase their personality and style.

If you're feeling adventurous, you can even play with the scale of the patterns. For example, some bridesmaids could wear dresses with large floral prints, while others don smaller, more delicate patterns. This technique works beautifully if you stick to a limited colour palette for the main background of each dress. Start with one pattern and gradually build upon it by introducing complementary colours and designs.

When selecting the pattern, consider the style of your wedding. Floral prints are timeless and versatile, especially for spring, barnyard, or outdoor weddings. Geometric patterns, on the other hand, are fun and modern, perfect for an artsy bride or a summer celebration. If you're having a beach, destination, or island wedding, tropical prints with leafy designs can be a great choice.

Remember, the key to successfully incorporating patterns into your bridal party's attire is to maintain a sense of consistency. Whether it's the pattern itself, the colour palette, or a combination of both, ensure there is at least one unifying element throughout the ensemble. This will ensure your bridal party looks like they belong together while still celebrating their individual personalities and styles.

Choose prints in different scales, e.g. large florals vs ditsy

When it comes to bridesmaids' dresses, there are many ways to pull off the mismatched look. While you can opt for different necklines, colours, and textures, you can also choose prints in different scales. For example, some bridesmaids could wear large florals, while others could wear ditsy prints.

Ditsy prints are tiny scale prints with a random appearance and scattered placement. They often have multiple orientations, with different elements of the print facing different ways. From a distance, a ditsy print can almost look like a solid colour. Ditsy prints are commonly seen in florals, but they can also feature other motifs, such as leaves, birds, or abstract shapes.

When choosing different prints for your bridesmaids, it's a good idea to keep one or two things consistent. For instance, you could assign one pattern to the whole bridal party and let them choose varied silhouettes. Alternatively, you could pick a colour palette and opt for prints within that palette, experimenting with colours until you find shades that complement each other.

If you're nervous about too many shapes and shades competing with each other, you could select one person to wear the pattern and coordinate the rest of the dresses from there. Or, you could choose one pattern and then build on it with another pattern that complements its colour and design.

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