Choosing Bridesmaids' Colors: What's Your Wedding Style?

Choosing the colour of your bridesmaids' dresses is one of the most important tasks on your wedding to-do list. The palette of your wedding party attire will likely determine the rest of your decor, like flowers, tablescapes and even lighting. It's also important to consider the skin tone of your bridesmaids—not everyone looks great in pastel or a jewel tone. You should also keep in mind the season and venue, as well as the colour of your own bridal gown. If you're feeling indecisive, it might help to create a wedding Pinterest board to inspire your colour palette.

Choosing bridesmaid dress colours by season

Spring

Spring weddings often feature lush florals and greenery. Shades of green, pink, blue, and neutral colours are perfect for spring bridesmaid dresses. Floral prints are also a particularly fitting option for spring. From baby blues to soft pink hues, pastel bridesmaid dresses are a lovely choice for spring. These lighter shades will add a subtle pop of colour to your wedding's vibe and will pair nicely with bouquets of vibrant blooms.

Summer

Summer is the perfect time to embrace vibrant colours and breezy, soft fabrics. Yellow and orange channel the cheerful vibes of sunny weather. Oceanic-inspired hues like coral and light blue are also a good choice for a summer wedding. Bright colours always pair well with a summer tan. Butter yellow is another option for bridesmaids' dresses, with soft chiffon dresses for a semi-formal wedding or satin gowns for a black-tie affair.

Autumn/Fall

Let the foliage be your guide for an autumn wedding. Warm shades of gold, copper, and brown are ideal for bridesmaid dresses. These colours will complement the season of changing leaves, especially for a rustic outdoor celebration. Fall is also a good time to lean into metallic shades like gold and copper, which look iridescent when hit with light. Rich shades of red and rosy hues are another option, with a matching red lip for a timeless look.

Winter

Rich jewel tones like emerald and sapphire, as well as classics like navy and black, are popular choices for winter bridesmaid dresses. Shimmering champagne-coloured gowns are another elegant option, with satin or silk fabrics to let the colour shine. Burgundy, gold, evergreen, navy, and eggplant make for an elegant, moody colour palette. These colours look exceptional in luxe winter fabrics like velvet, jacquard, and satin.

In addition to the colours, it is also important to consider the fabric and length of the bridesmaid dresses. For a winter wedding, seasonally-appropriate fabrics like crepe, velvet, and satin will keep your bridesmaids warm. Longer dresses can also look more festive for a winter wedding, while shorter dresses may be more appropriate for a summer wedding.

Selecting colours to complement the wedding venue

The venue is key when it comes to choosing your wedding colours. The location will set the stage for your wedding, so it's important to pick colours that complement the space. Here are some tips to help you select colours that will enhance the look and feel of your wedding venue:

• Consider the surroundings: Take into account the natural surroundings of your venue, such as the greenery of a forest or the white sand of a beach. For a forest wedding, neutral-coloured gowns will complement the natural backdrop without clashing with the vibrant colours of the foliage. On a beach, bolder shades like fuchsia or orange will stand out against the sand and create a beautiful contrast.
• Think about the season: The time of year can greatly influence your colour choices. For a winter wedding, rich jewel tones like emerald, sapphire and navy are popular choices, while spring weddings often feature pastel shades and summer weddings are perfect for vibrant, tropical hues. Autumn weddings are a great opportunity to embrace warm shades like gold, copper and brown, reflecting the colours of the changing leaves.
• Create a cohesive look: To make your wedding party feel cohesive, consider using jewel tones such as magenta pink, eggplant purple, sapphire blue and jade green. These colours share cool undertones and create a stylish, elegant look. For a beach wedding, seafoam greens and blues will evoke a mermaid-like aesthetic, while tropical prints and colours like peach and blue will suit an island-themed celebration.
• Play with light and dark: Combining light and dark shades of the same colour can create a sophisticated and contemporary look. For example, mixing light and dark grey bridesmaid dresses in different fabrics like velvet and chiffon will add texture and depth to your wedding party's attire.
• Be mindful of skin tones: It's important to choose colours that flatter the skin tones of your bridesmaids. While some colours may wash out certain skin tones or make them look flushed, others will complement a range of complexions. Warm neutrals like gold and taupe are versatile choices that work well with many skin tones.
• Add a touch of glamour: If you want to bring a touch of glamour to your wedding, sparkly bridesmaid dresses in complementary pastel colours like champagne and pale pink will create a romantic and elegant atmosphere.

Ensuring colours suit skin tones

When choosing the colour of your bridesmaids' dresses, it's important to consider the skin tones of your bridal party. After all, you want to ensure the colour complements each person and doesn't wash them out.

To achieve a cohesive look while catering to different skin tones, consider incorporating different tints of the same colour. For example, if you've set your heart on blue, your bridesmaids could wear powder blue, navy, and cobalt, depending on what best suits their complexion.

If you'd prefer your bridal party to wear the same shade, opt for a universally flattering colour. Richer, deeper tones like dark teal and maroon work well across complexions. These pigments don't have the same variations as pink or yellow, which can easily wash someone out. Beverly Osemwenkhae, a style expert and fashion consultant, also recommends staying away from pastel colours as they are the hardest to pair with a variety of complexions.

When it comes to specific colours, warm neutrals like gold and taupe are flattering for a range of skin tones. A green hue with brown undertones also works as a neutral and is a great option for a rustic or outdoor wedding. A barely-there shade of buttercream yellow is another versatile option that will suit most skin tones.

If you're looking for a mix-and-match palette, mauve, peach, purple, and blue create a "fruit sorbet" palette that's refreshing and can be adapted to any season. For a winter wedding, icy blue and purple shades like periwinkle and violet are a dreamy choice.

Deciding on one colour or mix-and-match

Deciding on a colour for your bridesmaids' dresses is a very important task, and one that can be tricky to navigate. The good news is that there are no longer any hard and fast rules about bridesmaids wearing the exact same dress and colour. In fact, it's now trendy to mix and match different dress styles and colours. However, it's still important to keep cohesion within the bridal party, so here are some tips on how to achieve that:

If you want to stick to one colour but are worried about it suiting everyone's skin tone, choose different tints of the same colour. For example, if you decide on blue, your bridesmaids could wear powder blue, navy, and cobalt, depending on what suits them best. This way, you maintain a cohesive look while still catering to the various skin tones in your bridal party.

If you'd prefer to stick to one shade, opt for a universally flattering colour such as dark teal or maroon. These richer, deeper tones don't have the same variations as pastel colours, which can easily wash someone out. Another universally flattering hue is black, which will complement almost any wedding theme.

If you're set on having your bridesmaids wear the same dress and colour, consider their comfort and mobility. A comfortable and practical dress will be far more useful to you and your bridesmaids on the day.

If you like the idea of mix-and-match, you can still keep cohesion by having your bridesmaids wear different shades of the same colour. For example, if you choose purple, your bridesmaids could wear different shades of purple, from lilac to violet. This way, they are still identifiable as your bridesmaids.

You can also achieve a cohesive look with mix-and-match dresses by keeping them all within the same colour palette. For example, you could choose a palette of mauve, peach, purple, and blue, and let your bridesmaids pick a dress in one of those colours. This "fruit sorbet" palette is punchy enough for spring and summer but also toned down for autumn and winter.

Another way to ensure your bridesmaids feel happy and confident is to let them choose a dress in a colour and style that they feel comfortable in. This way, they are more likely to re-wear the dress, and it takes the pressure off you to find a colour that suits everyone.

Finally, don't forget to consider the season and location of your wedding when choosing colours. Bright tropical hues work well in summer, pastels are perfect for spring, warmer tones suit autumn, and rich jewel tones are best in winter. If you're having a beach wedding, you might want a colour that will stand out against the white sand, like fuchsia or orange. For a forest wedding, neutral-coloured gowns may be best, while classic black dresses are a good choice for an upscale hotel wedding.

Picking colours to flatter figures

When choosing colours for your bridesmaids' dresses, it's important to consider the different skin tones and complexions of your bridesmaids. While it may be difficult to find one shade that suits everyone, there are some colours that are more universally flattering than others. Style expert Beverly Osemwenkhae recommends "richer, deeper tones like dark teal and maroon". These pigments don't have the same variations as pink or yellow, which can easily wash someone out. Pastel colours, in particular, can be the hardest to pair with a variety of complexions.

If you're set on one shade, consider a dark neutral like black, which will complement almost any theme and dress style. Alternatively, you could opt for a mix-and-match look with different shades of the same colour. For example, if you choose blue, your bridesmaids could wear powder blue, navy, and cobalt, depending on what looks best on them. This will create a cohesive look while still catering to different skin tones.

The season and venue of your wedding can also help guide your colour choices. For a summer barn wedding, earthy tones like dark sage, taupe, and terracotta are ideal, while pastel colours and sunset hues like pale yellow, powder blue, and lavender are perfect for a beach wedding. For a winter wedding, rich jewel tones like emerald and sapphire are popular choices, along with classics like navy and black.

When it comes to flattering figures, consider not just the colour but also the fabric and style of the dresses. Loose and flowy fabrics like chiffon, tulle, and organza can complement any outdoor wedding venue, especially for a beach wedding. For a winter wedding, seasonally-appropriate fabrics like crepe, velvet, and satin are elegant choices.

Ultimately, you want your bridesmaids to feel happy and confident in their dresses. By taking into account their skin tones, the season, and the venue, you can choose colours and styles that will flatter their figures and make them feel their best on your special day.

Frequently asked questions