Having bridesmaids no longer means dressing up your friends in head to toe identical outfits! It is very fashionable these days to mix and match separate articles of the ensemble, allowing variations of colour or detail, or even allowing each lady to select her preferred (and most flattering) dress shape. With a little care and attention you don’t have to feel like you are dragging your friends along in the hideous puff-sleeves nightmare dresses of yesteryear. Letting them choose some of their own details and accents can really make them a part of your wedding party which will make sure everyone is as happy as they can be on your big day.
Separates and Silhouettes
If your bridesmaids are a variety of sizes, how about just choosing a bridesmaid dress brand, colour and fabric and then let your ladies choose their own dress style? Plenty of designers will offer different dress silhouettes in a particular shade, for example halter tops, a-line or strapless styles. This ensures that you don’t end up with bridesmaids feeling self-conscious in their outfits, and that confidence will make your whole bridal party glow!
For real flexibility as well as many unique style options, why not go for separates instead of traditional bridesmaid dresses? How about a ballgown skirt with a cashmere twinset? The skirt will flatter any figure, and the tops can actually be worn after the wedding so make nice gifts for your bridesmaids to take away with them too. You don’t need to order the two halves of the outfit from the same retailer either, and in fact if you keep your eyes open you can pick up some real bargain bridesmaid outfits on the high street.
Colour and Shade
If you’d rather keep a uniform appearance in the silhouette of your bridesmaid dresses, why not let your girls pick a different shade of your wedding theme colour to complement their individual tastes and skintones? If you’re having a purple wedding, have your bridesmaid dresses in a choice of pale lilac, rich amethyst and dark plum shades. You could even go for contrasting colours, for instance having a mix of yellow and blue bridesmaid dresses in your party for a beach-themed wedding.
The same principle applies to flowers; if your bridesmaids will be wearing the same style and/or colour of dress, how about personalising their bridesmaid bouquets? You’ll still want colours that work with your overall wedding colour scheme ideas, but you can use different shades of the same flower, varied shapes in the arrangements or even just different coloured ribbons to match each bridesmaid dress colour.
Accents and Details
Remember there’s no need for your bridesmaids to be dressed all in a single colour! Use accents and details to enhance their outfits as well as allow them some individual style. You don’t even have to keep the same fabric for accents, as the whole point is for them to contrast vibrantly with the main bridesmaid outfit. Simple accessories like scarves, sashes and boleros can give colour variations in your bridal party to avoid a boring one-colour block in photographs and guests’ minds.
You can take this a step further and let your ladies choose bridesmaid accessories that complement both their outfits and their personalities. Jewellery, scarves and belts are all great for letting your bridesmaids put an individual spin on their ensemble, and you might want to offer them a choice of co-ordinating clutch bags for storing necessities, which will also double as a lovely memento gift of your big day.
