Bridesmaid Style: Mixing And Matching Three Colors

Mismatched bridesmaid dresses are a growing trend, allowing each bridesmaid to showcase their unique style and express their individual personality. There are three ways to achieve this look: opting for different dress styles but keeping the same colour, choosing a uniform dress style with varying colours, or selecting dresses that differ in both style and colour.

While this trend allows for creativity and flexibility, it can also present challenges. To avoid a disjointed-looking bridal party, it is important to maintain a cohesive aesthetic. This can be achieved by choosing a unifying design element, such as similar necklines, fabrics, or a shared colour palette.

Additionally, it is essential to consider the wedding's aesthetic, budget, and the couple's personal preference when making these decisions.

Same colour, different styles

Having your bridesmaids wear the same colour but different styles is a great way to let their personalities shine through while keeping your bridal party looking cohesive. This option also allows your bridesmaids to choose a style that flatters their silhouette and that they feel comfortable and confident in.

To ensure your bridal party still looks uniform, you could ask your bridesmaids to choose gowns from the same designer so that the colour is an exact match. You could also keep other elements of the look consistent, such as the fabric, length, neckline, sleeve length, or details on the back of the dress.

If you want to add more variety to the mix, you could opt for different shades or hues within the same colour family. This will create a beautiful contrast while still looking harmonious.

Another way to tie the look together is through accessories. You could, for example, give each of your bridesmaids a statement necklace or a pair of earrings as a gift, which they can then wear on your wedding day.

• Dusty blue
• Sage/dark green/pistachio/eucalyptus
• Blush/rose/mauve

Same style, different colours

Having your bridesmaids wear the same dress style in different colours is a great way to let each bridesmaid showcase her unique style while keeping things simple. This option allows your bridesmaids to have a choice in picking a style they like, while still maintaining a cohesive look for your bridal party.

To achieve this look, it is important to pick a dress style that suits everyone, such as the ever-flattering A-line silhouette. Then, decide on the colours, ensuring a balanced mix among your bridesmaids. It is recommended to limit the colour variations to no more than three to maintain a cohesive aesthetic. It is also a good idea to specify the colour for each bridesmaid to ensure a harmonious look.

For example, if you have five bridesmaids, you could choose three complementary colours that go well together, such as different shades of blue, pink, or neutral tones. You could then assign two of your bridesmaids to wear the same colour, creating a balanced distribution of colours.

Another tip to ensure your bridesmaids look cohesive is to choose an additional element that is the same across all dresses. This could be the type of fabric, such as satin or chiffon, or a similar neckline, like a V-neck.

Additionally, it is recommended to choose the same dress length for all the bridesmaids. Mixing short and long dresses can create a mismatched appearance. By selecting one length for all the dresses, your bridesmaids will look coordinated and unified for your special day.

Overall, opting for the same dress style in different colours is a wonderful way to showcase the individuality of your bridesmaids while still maintaining a stylish and cohesive bridal party look.

Different styles and colours

There are several ways to approach styling your bridesmaids in different colours and styles. Here are some ideas to consider:

Different Styles, Same Colour

This is a great way to achieve a trendy mismatched look while keeping things simple. It is the easiest way to coordinate while still allowing your bridesmaids to choose a style they like. Remember, different dress styles will suit different people!

Same Style, Different Colours

If you can't settle on a single colour, why not opt for a variety? Choosing different colours in the same dress style is simpler than mixing both styles and colours. Pick a dress style that suits everyone, such as the ever-flattering A-line silhouette, then decide on the colours, ensuring a balanced mix among your bridesmaids.

Mix of Styles and Colours

If you want a truly unique bridal party look, consider dresses in varying styles and colours. This option requires more planning, but the result is fun and memorable. Start by picking two to four colours that go well together, such as different shades of blue, pink, or neutrals. When choosing dress styles, it's essential to select designs that fit the overall theme. To avoid a chaotic appearance, focus on similarities in silhouette, fabric, or other details like waistlines, necklines, or straps.

Similar Prints in Different Colours

If you're a maximalist who likes to take risks, consider having each of your bridesmaids wear a different printed gown. This method makes a statement and is a great way to let your bridesmaids showcase their personalities. Start by giving your group some guidelines for choosing a dress in a particular pattern. Whether you decide on sparse florals, gingham, or even Swiss dot, this method is one of the best ways to add variety to your bridal party's attire.

A Mix of Solids and Patterns

When you think of bridesmaid dresses, you probably imagine solid-colour gowns. While simple dresses are a popular choice, you have options! Patterns are a great way to add an interesting element to your group's attire, especially when paired with solid-colour gowns. Start by finding a pattern you love, then use the colours within that pattern to determine the shades of your solid dresses.

Various Textures and Embellishments

Once you've considered style, colour, and pattern, think about how you can incorporate various textures and embellishments into your group's wardrobe for the day. Sequins, beading, and embroidery are all interesting design elements that will make your bridal party stand out. Texture can also be a great way to help your maid of honour stand out while the others wear solid gowns.

Choosing colours that complement the bridesmaid's skin tone

There are a few things to consider when choosing colours that complement your bridesmaids' skin tones. Firstly, it's important to determine the skin tone and undertones of each of your bridesmaids. Skin tones can range from light to medium to dark, and undertones can be warm (yellow or gold tinge), cool (red or pink tinge), or neutral (neutral or greenish tinge).

Once you've determined the skin tone and undertones of your bridesmaids, you can choose colours that will flatter them. For bridesmaids with light skin and cool undertones, warm neutrals like pastel colours, light pinks, blues, and yellows are a good choice. For those with light skin and warm undertones, fresh summer colours like coral, peach, blush, lilac, sage, and pastel yellow are flattering.

Bridesmaids with medium/olive skin tones can usually wear dark colours. For those with cool undertones, dark and lush cool shades like olive, evergreen, jade, emerald, sapphire, and navy are complementary. If your bridesmaid has medium skin with warm undertones, jewel tones like garnet, ruby red, golden champagne, sapphire blue, and burgundy will make them radiant.

For dark-skinned bridesmaids with cool undertones, rich and captivating colours like cinnamon, rose, mahogany, and Sofia blue will highlight their features. Dark-skinned bridesmaids with warm, golden undertones can pull off almost any colour, including navy, burgundy, and black.

To create a cohesive look while complementing different skin tones, you can incorporate different tints of the same colour or opt for universally flattering colours like dark teal and maroon. Warm neutrals like gold and taupe are also flattering on a range of skin tones.

When choosing colours for your bridesmaids, it's important to consider not only their skin tones but also the wedding theme, season, and venue to find a look that's appropriate for the celebration.

Using a vision board to plan the look

Having your bridesmaids wear three different colors is a great way to showcase your wedding style and aesthetic. Using a vision board is an excellent way to plan the overall look of your bridal party and ensure your wedding vision is realized. Here are some tips on how to use a vision board to achieve this:

Choose Your Canvas

The first step is deciding whether to use a physical or digital canvas for your vision board. If you enjoy crafts and being hands-on, a physical board such as a cork board or bulletin board can be a fun option. This allows you to pin or tack items and move things around easily. It's also convenient for adding physical items like fabric scraps, magazine cutouts, and paper samples. On the other hand, a digital vision board is seamless and easily shareable. You can use platforms like Pinterest or Canva to create a digital vision board and instantly save ideas from the internet.

Collect Inspiration

Start by gathering inspiration for your vision board without worrying about whether the ideas "work" together. Take your time and gather ideas from a range of sources, including travel blogs, fashion magazines, art museums, flower shops, and your own photo collection. Look for color schemes, floral arrangements, venue styles, and any other details that spark inspiration. You can also use paint chips, fabric swatches, and wallpaper samples to figure out your wedding color scheme. Don't be afraid to think outside the box and include non-wedding ideas that speak to you.

Identify Common Themes

Once you've collected a variety of ideas, step back and look for recurring elements. Is there a specific color or type of flower that appears frequently? Identify patterns and an overarching theme to help guide your vision. This will help you narrow down your choices and make more focused decisions.

Edit and Refine

After identifying common themes, it's time to edit and organize your ideas. Remove any duplicates or items that you're on the fence about. The goal is to create a cohesive design or theme, so only include things on your vision board that you genuinely love and that align with your style. Remember, you're not aiming for exact replicas of the ideas, but rather finding your overall aesthetic.

Share and Evolve Your Vision

Once your vision board feels like an accurate representation of your dream bridal party look, share it with your wedding vendors, bridesmaids, and anyone else involved in the planning process. This will ensure everyone is on the same page. Remember that your vision board is not set in stone. As you progress in the planning process, continue to update and evolve your vision board to reflect new ideas and inspirations.

Using a vision board is a fun and creative way to plan the look of your bridal party. It helps to clarify your ideas and ensure your wedding vision is achieved. So, don't be afraid to get creative and experiment with different colors, styles, and themes until you find what speaks to you. Happy planning!

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