Mixing And Matching Bridesmaids: A Guide To Perfect Positioning

Mixing and matching bridesmaids' dresses is a growing trend that allows each bridesmaid to express their unique style while maintaining a coordinated look. This approach not only adds a creative touch to the wedding but also ensures that each bridesmaid feels comfortable and confident. While it can be tricky to execute, with careful planning and attention to detail, you can achieve a cohesive and stylish bridal party. Here are some tips to help you position mix-and-match bridesmaids effectively.

Same colour, different dress styles

Mixing and matching bridesmaid dresses is a great way to let your bridal party showcase their individuality and unique sense of style and identity. Opting for different styles in the same colour is a modern take on the traditional bridal party. Here are some tips for achieving a cohesive and stylish look for your bridesmaids:

Choose a colour that complements your wedding theme:

Select a colour that aligns with your wedding theme, season, and venue. Consider colours that are important to you and your family or that complement the time of day and season of your wedding. For example, spring and summer weddings might feature pastel blues, blush, rose gold, or shades of pink, while autumn and winter weddings could include burgundy, emerald green, or gold tones.

Allow your bridesmaids to choose their style:

By selecting the same colour but allowing your bridesmaids to choose their dress style, you enable them to pick what looks best on their body type and makes them feel comfortable and confident. It's a great way to ensure your bridal party is happy and excited about their outfits.

Recommend a specific designer:

To ensure the colour is an exact match, it's a good idea to recommend that your bridesmaids choose gowns from the same designer. This will create a cohesive look, even if the styles vary.

Consider similar dress features:

To bring the look together, you can suggest similar dress features for your bridesmaids. This could include the same length (floor-length or knee-length), necklines (V-necks or sweetheart necklines), sleeve length, or the inclusion of ruffles or other details.

Play with textures:

Don't be afraid to mix and match textures to add interest and dimension to the overall look. Combining different fabrics, such as satin and matte crepe, will create a stylish contrast and look stunning in photographs.

Remember, the key to successfully mixing and matching bridesmaid dresses is to find a balance between individuality and cohesiveness. By following these tips, you can achieve a beautiful and unique look for your bridal party that showcases the personalities and styles of your bridesmaids.

Same dress style, different colours

Having your bridesmaids wear the same dress style but in different colours is a fun way to mix and match your bridal party's look. This option will look cohesive, but it does require your bridesmaids to agree on one style.

To select the colours, choose undertones that are prevalent in your wedding palette. For example, if one of your primary wedding 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 hues. Dusty pastels like desert rose, wisteria, and fog blue are a great combination. Just make sure that these colours don't clash with your overall wedding colour scheme.

To include more colours, choose dresses in a gradient or ombre effect. For instance, shades of burgundy, dusty rose, plum, mercury, and blush create a cohesive look. Some other mix-and-match colour combinations that look stunning are shades of silver and blue, and warm neutrals such as rose gold, champagne, nude, biscotti, and taupe pink.

If you're worried about your bridal party looking disjointed, you can keep at least one element consistent across the dresses. As long as the dresses share at least one common feature—like the neckline, silhouette, hemline, or fabric—they'll have a link to each other and won't look disconnected. You can also keep the bouquets the same to tie the look together.

Same texture, different dress styles

Mixing and matching bridesmaid dresses is a great way to let your bridesmaids show off their individual styles. If you want to go for a "same texture, different dress styles" look, here are some tips to achieve a stylish and cohesive bridal party:

Firstly, decide on the texture you want your bridesmaids to wear. This could be lace, sequins, beading, or any fabric of your choice. For instance, you may opt for a subtle sheen of satin or a matte crepe fabric, which will create a stylish effect and look amazing in photographs.

Next, choose the colour. You can either go for different shades of the same colour or pick a few complementary colours. For instance, you could choose blush pink and have your bridesmaids wear varying shades of it. Alternatively, you could select a few colours that go well together, such as dusty blue and grey, or rose gold, champagne, and nude.

Now, it's time for your bridesmaids to pick their dress styles. They can choose different silhouettes, necklines, and sleeve lengths to suit their body types and preferences. If you want a bit of harmony, suggest they choose dresses with similar design elements, such as ruffles or draped details.

To ensure the look remains cohesive, you can ask your bridesmaids to wear the same jewellery, hairstyle, hair accessory, or shoes. Their bouquets can also be the same to tie the look together.

Finally, it's a good idea to ask your bridesmaids to share their dress ideas with each other, so they can coordinate and ensure their chosen styles complement each other.

By following these steps, you'll achieve a stylish and cohesive bridal party, allowing your bridesmaids to showcase their individual personalities while still looking unified.

Same dress style, different textures, patterns and colours

Mixing and matching bridesmaid dresses is a great way to let your bridesmaids showcase their individual styles. Here are some tips for achieving a cohesive look with "same dress styles, different textures, patterns, and colours":

• Find a salon with an in-house stylist or look for brands that offer mix-and-match styles: This will ensure that the dresses don't look too dissimilar, even with differences in texture, pattern, and colour. Working with a stylist can help you create a cohesive look by mixing and matching the various elements.
• Choose a unifying design detail: While the dresses may differ in texture, pattern, and colour, try to incorporate at least one consistent element across all the dresses. This could be a specific colour, pattern, texture, or design element that ties the whole look together.
• Play with textures: Don't be afraid to experiment with different textures. Combining a subtle sheen of satin with a matte crepe, for example, can create a stunning visual effect and look glorious in photographs.
• Consider convertible dresses: Convertible gowns can be worn in a variety of ways, allowing each bridesmaid to style their dress according to their preferences and comfort level. This option also provides flexibility, as they can switch up their look between the ceremony and reception.
• Determine your colour palette: Even with different textures and patterns, sticking to a specific colour palette can help create a sense of unity among the dresses. Choose two or three colours that work well together, such as dusty blue and grey, shades of pink and peach, metallic shades, or neutral shades.
• Add fun details: Incorporate patterns, sequins, ruffles, trims, or other design elements to add a unique touch to each dress. Just remember to keep these details within the same family or palette to maintain a cohesive look.
• Incorporate accessories: Matching jewellery, shoes, or bouquets can help tie the whole look together. These accessories can also be given as bridesmaid gifts, making them even more special.
• Consult your bridesmaids: Ask your bridesmaids for their preferences and opinions. This will not only make them feel valued but also help you understand their comfort levels and styles. It's important that each bridesmaid feels confident and comfortable in their chosen dress.

Remember, the key to successfully mixing and matching bridesmaid dresses is to maintain a balance between variety and cohesion. By following these tips, you can achieve a stylish and harmonious look for your bridal party.

Different dress styles, colours, textures and patterns

Mixing and matching bridesmaid dresses is a great way to let your bridesmaids showcase their individual styles and personalities. Here are some tips for achieving a cohesive look while mixing and matching different dress styles, colours, textures, and patterns:

Different Dress Styles:

• Choose a single starting point to stay focused. It could be a dress, an accessory, or even a colour that inspires you and helps you build your vision.
• If you want to keep things simple, choose one colour and fabric, and let each bridesmaid pick a style that suits her body type and comfort level. You can mix and match sleeve lengths, necklines, and silhouettes while maintaining colour and fabric consistency.
• Alternatively, pick one dress silhouette for everyone and mix it up by using different fabrics. For example, you can have some bridesmaids in chiffon and others in sequins.

Different Colours:

• Choose two or three consistent colours to create a cohesive look. Some chic colour combinations include various shades of dusty blue and grey, or metallic shades such as gold, rose gold, and champagne.
• You can also experiment with different shades of the same colour to create a unique ombré effect.
• If you have a specific wedding colour palette, choose dresses in those colours to unite the various elements of your big day.

Different Textures and Patterns:

• Incorporate various textures such as lace, sequins, beading, or embroidery to add interesting design elements to the mix.
• If you want to include patterns, start by finding one you love and use the colours within it to determine the shades of the solid dresses.
• If you're worried about patterns clashing, include some neutral-coloured gowns to balance the mix.
• You can also have your bridesmaids wear dresses with similar prints but in different colours.

Frequently asked questions