Mix-Matching Bridesmaids Dresses: Achieving A Coordinated Look

Mixing and matching bridesmaids' dresses is a fun way to let your bridesmaids show off their individual styles and identities while achieving a uniform look. It's a popular choice for couples, as it allows each bridesmaid to feel comfortable and choose a dress that suits their body shape and size. There are a few things to keep in mind when coordinating mix-and-match bridesmaids' dresses. Firstly, decide on a colour scheme or a colour combination, such as pastel shades, metallic shades, or neutral shades. You can also choose different textures and patterns to add interest and creativity to the mix. Another way to mix and match is to choose the same dress style but in different colours, or the same colour but in different dress styles. It's important to have a cohesive look, so consider sticking to one brand or designer when shopping for the dresses. Finally, don't forget the accessories! Matching jewellery, shoes, and bouquets can really tie the whole look together.

Same colour, different dress styles

Mixing and matching bridesmaid dresses is a great way to let your bridal party express their individuality and unique sense of style. Opting for the same colour but different dress styles is a modern take on the traditional bridal party, allowing your bridesmaids to express themselves while achieving a uniform look.

Choose a Colour Scheme

Start by selecting a colour that aligns with your wedding vision. You can choose a single shade or experiment with different hues and shades within the same colour family to create a beautiful, flowing contrast.

Provide a Vision Board

It is essential to provide your bridesmaids with a clear vision of what you are aiming for. Create a digital vision board that can be shared with your bridal party. Include dress examples, colour swatches, and inspiration photos to give them a better understanding of the overall vibe and feel you want to achieve.

Choose a Unifying Design Detail

Even with mismatched dress styles, it is crucial to determine at least one consistent element to create cohesiveness. For example, you may allow your bridesmaids to choose their preferred style and cut but request that they all stick to the same specific colour or fabric type.

Shop from the Same Retailer or Designer

To ensure an exact colour match, it is recommended that your bridesmaids choose gowns from the same designer or retailer. Many brands offer various dress styles in the same fabric or colour, making it easier to achieve a coordinated look.

Consider Accessories

While alternating styles, you can tie the look together by incorporating identical accessories. Consider statement necklaces, earrings, or belts that can be given as bridesmaid gifts and will add a cohesive touch to the overall aesthetic.

Get Input from Your Bridesmaids

Remember to communicate with your bridesmaids and consider their preferences. They will appreciate having their voices heard, and you can ensure that they feel comfortable and confident on your big day.

By following these tips, you can achieve a beautiful and cohesive look for your bridal party, allowing each bridesmaid to shine and express their personal style.

Same dress style, different colours

Mixing and matching bridesmaid dresses is a great way to let your bridal party express their individuality and unique sense of style. Here are some tips to achieve a cohesive look while having your bridesmaids wear the same dress style in different colours:

Choose a Flattering Dress Style

Select a dress silhouette that is universally flattering for all your bridesmaids. This ensures that everyone feels comfortable and confident. If you absolutely adore a particular dress style, go for it! You can still achieve a mismatched look by opting for different colours.

Limit the Number of Colour Variations

While rainbows are fun, they are not necessary for a bridal party unless you are specifically going for that aesthetic. Keep the colour scheme to a maximum of three variations to maintain a cohesive look. Play around with fabric swatches to determine your colour scheme, and remember that colours may look different on a full-size dress compared to a small swatch.

Keep the Same Designer

Even if your bridesmaids are wearing the same dress style, the colours may vary slightly between designers. To ensure an exact colour match, have your bridesmaids choose gowns from the same designer.

Opt for a Limited Colour Palette

To achieve a more cohesive look, especially with smaller bridal parties, consider limiting the colour palette. For example, you can dress your bridesmaids in different shades of blue or blue-grey. Alternatively, opt for similar dusty pastel hues like desert rose, wisteria, and fog blue.

Use Transition Colours

If you want to feature colours that are not next to each other on the colour wheel, use transition colours to bridge the gap. For instance, if you want to incorporate both green and blue, find a shade of blue-green that falls somewhere in between.

Provide Guidelines

While you want your bridesmaids to have some freedom, providing a set of guidelines is essential to maintain a cohesive look. You can recommend a designer, length, material, or colour palette to work within.

Pre-Select Dress Options

If you want more control over the dresses or are worried about a particular bridesmaid straying from your vision, pre-select a few dress options that they can choose from. This still allows your bridesmaids to have a say while ensuring that the dresses align with your wedding aesthetic.

Tie the Look Together with Accessories

To create a unified look, incorporate identical accessories such as a rhinestone belt or hairpiece. You can also give matching jewellery as bridesmaid gifts. Additionally, consider having your bridesmaids wear the same style of shoes or carry bouquets with colours that represent each dress colour.

Same texture, different dress styles

Mixing and matching bridesmaids' dresses is a great way to let each bridesmaid show off their individual style and ensure they're wearing a dress that makes them feel great. It's also a way to add a unique and modern twist to the bridal party's look.

• Choose the same texture or fabric for all the dresses. This could be lace, sequins, beading, chiffon, or any other fabric or texture that you love. This will create a cool, cohesive look.
• Play with different silhouettes, necklines, and sleeve lengths to suit each bridesmaid's body type and preferences. This could include mixing up the sleeve lengths, necklines, and hemlines while keeping the texture and colour consistent.
• Consider using dresses with the same design elements, such as ruffles, hem length, or draped details, to add harmony to the mix-and-match look.
• To avoid a disjointed look, stick to a hemline or have balanced options. For example, you could choose all floor-length gowns or a uniform knee-length hem, or vary the lengths but ensure there is a good mix of silhouettes and lengths.
• Keep other elements consistent, such as jewellery, hairstyles, hair accessories, shoes, or bouquets. This will help tie the look together and create a cohesive aesthetic, especially if the dresses vary significantly.
• Choose dresses from the same designer or retailer to ensure shade consistency and a seamless shopping experience. Many brands offer various styles in the same fabric or different shades of popular wedding colour palettes.
• Create a vision board or mood board to communicate your vision to your bridesmaids and keep the look cohesive. Include swatch colours, dress silhouettes, and inspiration photos.

Same dress style, different textures, patterns and colours

Mixing and matching bridesmaid dresses is a great way to incorporate each person's personal style and preference, allowing their personalities to shine through. If you want to go for a "same dress style, different textures, patterns, and colours" approach, here's how to do it:

Firstly, it's important to decide on a unifying element to create cohesiveness among the different looks. This could be the dress style, colour, texture, or pattern. For example, you could opt for the same silhouette but in different colours, or the same colour but with different necklines. Keeping the dress length the same is another way to ensure your bridal party looks cohesive.

If you're going for different textures and patterns, consider how these will look together. The subtle sheen of satin paired with a matte crepe, for instance, will create a stylish look and photograph beautifully, capturing a kaleidoscope of colours in sunlight. Play around with different combinations of textures and patterns to see what works best together.

To make the process easier, order fabric swatches to see how various colours, patterns, and textures look next to each other. You can also create a digital vision board to share with your bridesmaids, including not just dress examples but also inspiration photos to give them a better idea of the overall vibe you're going for.

When mixing and matching, it's important not to vary too many features. A good rule of thumb is to switch up no more than one or two things about each dress and keep the rest the same. For example, you could choose different necklines and colours but in the same fabric. Or, you could vary the dress fabric and necklines but keep the colour consistent.

Finally, consider adding identical accessories to tie the whole look together. This could be a statement necklace, a hairpiece, or a bouquet that represents each dress colour.

Different dress styles, colours, textures and patterns

Mixing and matching bridesmaids' dresses is a great way to let your bridal party showcase their individual styles and personalities. Here are some tips for coordinating different dress styles, colours, textures, and patterns for your bridesmaids:

Different Dress Styles, Same Colour:

This is one of the easiest ways to mix and match bridesmaid dresses. Choose one colour and fabric from one designer, and let each bridesmaid select a style that suits her body type and preferences. You can mix sleeve lengths, necklines, and silhouettes while keeping the colour and fabric consistent. For a bit of harmony, suggest dresses with similar design elements, such as ruffles or draped details.

Same Dress Style, Different Colours:

If you have your heart set on a particular silhouette, you can still mix and match by varying the colours. Pick undertones that are prevalent in your wedding palette, such as different shades of blue or blue-grey. If you prefer a more diverse colour range, opt for similar hues like dusty pastels. Just ensure the colours complement each other and your overall wedding theme.

Different Dress Styles, Different Colours:

This option provides the most freedom and is extra memorable. The key is to choose dresses with similar elements to maintain cohesion. You can select gowns of different lengths, unique patterns, textures, and so on, as long as the colours complement each other and fit your wedding theme. Encourage your bridesmaids to collaborate and share their plans.

Same Texture, Different Dress Styles:

Mix and match dresses with the same texture, such as lace, sequins, or beaded dresses. This creates a cool, cohesive look. Let your bridesmaids choose different silhouettes, necklines, and sleeve lengths while keeping the same texture.

Different Colours, Textures, and Patterns:

To achieve this look, choose two or three consistent colours so your bridesmaids can coordinate. Popular colour combinations include various shades of dusty blue and grey, or metallic shades like gold, rose gold, and champagne. Then, select different dress styles within your chosen colour palette. Add fun details like sequins, ruffles, or prints. If you want to include prints or sequins, make sure at least two dresses incorporate these elements for balance.

Same Dress Style, Different Textures, Patterns, and Colours:

Pick one silhouette for everyone and then mix it up by using different fabrics, such as chiffon, sequins, or a combination of both. You can also vary the colours, choosing two or three shades that work well together. This way, each bridesmaid can enjoy a unique look while still maintaining cohesion.

Frequently asked questions