Bridesmaids' Style Guide: Mix And Match Dresses

Mixing and matching bridesmaid dresses is a great way to let your bridal party shine in their own style while keeping a cohesive look. This trend is a popular choice for brides who want their bridesmaids to feel comfortable and confident. There are many ways to mix and match bridesmaid dresses, from different styles in the same colour to clashing colours and patterns. The key is to maintain some consistency, whether it's the same colour, fabric, texture, or silhouette. You can also consult your bridesmaids to understand their preferences and involve them in the process. Accessories, such as matching jewellery, shoes, and bouquets, can also help to tie the whole look together. By following these tips, you can create a unique and stylish bridal party that everyone will love.

Same colour, different styles

Mixing and matching bridesmaid dresses is a great way to let your bridal party express their unique style and feel comfortable and confident. If you want your bridesmaids to wear the same colour but different styles, here are some tips to achieve a cohesive look:

Choose a single colour

Firstly, decide on a colour that fits your wedding vision. You can then let your bridesmaids choose a style they love in that colour. To ensure the colour is an exact match, it's recommended that they choose gowns from the same designer.

Keep one element consistent

To avoid looking disjointed, keep at least one element consistent across all dresses. This could be the neckline, silhouette, hemline, fabric, or sleeve length. For example, you could opt for all floor-length dresses or vary the sleeve length with some dresses long-sleeved, some short-sleeved, and others sleeveless.

Opt for a limited colour palette

To reduce the risk of the dresses looking disconnected, opt for a limited colour palette. For example, soft neutrals or varying shades of blue.

Keep bouquets the same

Think of the bridesmaid bouquets as another accessory to tie the look together. Choose a colour or scheme that complements every dress.

Don't forget accessories

Matching jewellery, shoes, and hair accessories can also help to unify the look.

Consult your bridesmaids

Ask your bridesmaids about their preferences for silhouettes, lengths, and necklines. This will help you choose styles that will make them feel confident and comfortable.

Pre-select dresses

If you want to retain some control over the dress choices, you can pre-select a few options that your bridesmaids can choose from. This ensures they don't stray from your vision while still allowing them to express their individuality.

Same dress, different colours

Mixing and matching bridesmaid dresses is a great way to let your bridal party showcase their individual styles. If you want your bridesmaids to wear the same dress but in different colours, here are some tips to achieve a cohesive look:

Pick a Colour Scheme

Decide on a colour family or palette that you like. You can opt for pretty pastel tones, jewel tones, or bright and bold shades. You can also choose colours that are prevalent in your wedding palette. For example, if one of your primary colours is blue, dress your bridesmaids in different shades of blue or blue-grey. If you prefer a more diverse colour range, opt for similar or dusty pastel hues like desert rose, wisteria, and fog blue.

Choose a Dress Style

Pick one silhouette for everyone in your bridal party to wear. This will help create a cohesive look even with the different colours.

Consider the Details

Bring your party's look together by choosing dresses with similar features. Look at length (floor-length or knee-length dresses), necklines (V-necks or sweetheart necklines), sleeve length (long sleeve, short sleeve, or sleeveless), or ruffles. You can also add matching jewellery, shoes, and bridesmaid bouquets to tie the whole look together.

Consult Your Bridesmaids

Ask your bridesmaids about their preferences. This will allow each of them to feel confident in their own look. You can also give them a set of guidelines, such as recommending a designer, length, material, or colour.

Order Fabric Swatches

To narrow down your search, see how various colours, patterns, and textures look next to each other. Many bridesmaid dress brands offer fabric swatches that can be sent to you. This will help you determine if the colours complement each other and if they fit your vision.

Shop from the Same Retailer

Consider working with a retailer that specialises in bridesmaid ensembles. They can offer various dress styles in the same fabric and different shades of popular wedding colour palettes.

Don't Be Afraid of Pattern and Texture

Patterns and textures can add interest to your bridal party's look and keep it from looking too matchy-matchy. Think sequins, florals, ruching, or embroidery. If more than half of your bridesmaids want to feature patterns, go with a larger print so as not to overwhelm the eye.

Different colours, tied together

Mixing and matching bridesmaids' dresses of different colours is a great way to let your bridesmaids express their individual styles. It's also a way to keep things simple, especially if your bridesmaids have different body types and sizes. Here are some tips to pull off this trend:

Choose a Colour Palette

The key to mixing and matching different colours is to pick one set palette. You could choose pretty pastel tones, jewel tones, or bright and bold shades. You could also opt for tonal differences, such as different shades of green, or colours that clash, like orange, pink, and burgundy.

Consult Your Bridesmaids

Ask your bridesmaids about their preferences for silhouettes, lengths, and necklines. This will help you choose styles that will make them feel confident and comfortable. You can also stick to one brand when shopping for dresses to ensure the fabrics and colour palettes are the same or subtly different.

Accessories

Matching jewellery, shoes, and bouquets can help tie the whole look together. You can even give these as gifts to your bridesmaids!

Other Ways to Mix and Match

If you want to experiment with more than just different colours, you can also mix and match fabrics, hemlines, and silhouettes. You could also choose dresses made from the same fabric but in different styles and lengths. This will give your bridesmaids a chance to showcase their signature styles while keeping the look cohesive.

A mix of solids and patterns

Mixing solids and patterns is a great way to add an interesting element to your bridesmaids' attire, especially when paired with solid-coloured gowns. To coordinate this look, start by finding a pattern you love, then use the colours within that pattern to determine the shades of your solid dresses.

For example, if you have a floral pattern with pink, blue, and green, you can choose solid dresses in those colours. This will create a cohesive look for your bridesmaids while adding a bit of variety and interest to their attire.

You can also use patterns to incorporate your wedding colours or themes. For instance, if you're having a tropical wedding, you could choose patterns with floral or leaf designs. If you're having a more formal wedding, you might opt for geometric patterns or stripes.

Additionally, consider the scale and placement of the patterns. You can choose a variety of patterns with similar colour schemes to create a cohesive look. Or, if you want to make a bolder statement, you can mix and match different patterns, ensuring there is at least one common colour throughout.

Don't be afraid to play around with different patterns and colours to find the perfect combination for your bridesmaids. It's a great way to let their personalities shine through while still maintaining a coordinated and stylish look for your wedding.

Various textures and embellishments

Mixing and matching bridesmaid dresses is a great way to let your bridesmaids showcase their individual styles and personalities. It's also a good way to ensure that everyone feels comfortable and confident. Here are some tips for creating a cohesive look with various textures and embellishments for your five bridesmaids:

Choose a Single Starting Point

Begin with one element that you love and build from there. It could be a specific dress style, a colour, or even a fun accessory. This will help you stay focused when mixing and matching different elements.

Be Creative, Yet Cohesive

The more you mix and match, the more important it is to keep other elements consistent. You can tie the whole look together by having your bridesmaids wear the same jewellery, hairstyle, hair accessory, shoes, or carry the same bouquet.

Order Fabric Swatches

Before settling on specific textures and embellishments, order fabric swatches to see how different options look together. Many bridesmaid dress brands offer this service, allowing you to compare colours, patterns, and textures side by side.

Determine a Unifying Design Detail

Even with various textures and embellishments, it's essential to have at least one consistent element across all the dresses. This could be the colour, a specific type of embellishment, or a unifying design detail like ruffles or draped details.

Mix and Match Textures

You can create a cohesive look by mixing and matching dresses with different textures. For example, you could have some bridesmaids in chiffon and others in sequins or lace. This adds visual interest and allows you to play with different styles while keeping the overall look coordinated.

Embellishments

Embellishments like sequins, beading, and embroidery can elevate the look of the bridesmaid dresses and make them stand out. You can use embellishments to highlight the maid of honour or add a touch of glamour to the overall aesthetic.

Consult Your Bridesmaids

Remember to involve your bridesmaids in the process. Ask for their preferences and opinions on styles, colours, and textures. This will not only make them feel valued but also ensure that they feel confident and comfortable on your big day.

Accessories

Don't forget the power of accessories! Matching jewellery, shoes, and bouquets can tie the whole look together. You can even give these as gifts to your bridesmaids.

Examples for Inspiration

For some visual inspiration, check out real-life examples of bridesmaids rocking the mix-and-match trend with various textures and embellishments. For instance, a group of bridesmaids in vintage-style gowns featuring beading and sequins, evoking a glamorous 1920s vibe. Or, for a unique twist, consider a mix of satin and sequin dresses in the same colour family, like silver or rose gold, for a delightful and unexpected combination.

Remember, there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to mixing and matching bridesmaid dresses. Get creative, have fun, and trust your instincts!

Frequently asked questions