Don’t worry, I know how you feel.
Bridesmaid dresses are hard. Anyone who has watched Bridesmaids knows that much.
Organizing a group of highly individual women is positively panic inducing. Everybody is so different!
Different budgets, different body shapes; you know the drill. And even though they all love you, each bridesmaid will have an opinion on what looks good. Your vision falls apart before you can say ‘something blue’.
Send. Help.
Lucky for you (and literally anyone that has ever planned a wedding), there is an easier way.
Mismatched bridesmaid dresses are the ultimate wedding trend right now. If you are stressed about the way you and your tribe are going to look, a selection of different bridesmaid dresses is your new best friend!
Gone are the days where you must spend hundreds of dollars on matching dresses that they will never wear again. Forget about last minute alterations because one girl doesn’t fit the original dress size you purchased for her.
Do yourself a favour and let go of any preconceived notions of what bridal parties “should” look like!
How do you plan mismatched bridesmaid dresses?
There are a couple of different ways you can style this trend. It will all depend on what theme you are going for! Some of the most common ways to do it are:
- Same colour, different style dress
- Same colour, different lengths and styles
- All different colours in the same colour palette
- Infinity dresses that can be styled in different ways (like the ones we have here)
- Bridesmaids choice: let them pick anything that makes them feel incredible!
The dresses can be chosen by you, or by your bridesmaids. To really nail the mismatched look, it is a good idea to give your bridesmaids a few guidelines! Most people give their girls a few ideas (for example, this length, this colour, this shade), and then let them choose a dress that suits them.
Still not convinced? Here are a few reasons why mismatched bridesmaid dresses are pretty much the best thing ever.
Read More: 7 tips for keeping the wedding stress at bay
Mismatched bridesmaid dresses save money
Whether it is you, your in-laws or the bridesmaids themselves who are paying, this style is an amazing way to save money.
Instead of spending X amount of dollars per dress, each dress will be individual. You can get creative about where they are bought, and bridesmaids can spend what they are comfortable with.
Mismatched dresses save you money because you can get creative about where you are sourcing them. If you have a colour palette in mind, you could ask your girls if any of them already have something that would work. If it fits with your vision, there’s no reason why they should need to buy something new if they don’t have to!
This trend is especially great if you want a large bridal party. Who can afford to get everyone in the same thing anyway?!
Save yourself the stress, and let your bridesmaids know you are getting creative.
Each girl will feel incredible
One of the most cringe-worthy things you can do is force a bridesmaid into a dress that doesn’t suit her. They will love you for letting them wear something that looks and feels great!
Once you have given them a colour and length, they can find different bridesmaid dresses that flatter their body. Everybody will look more natural in photos and feel more comfortable standing next to you on the Big Day.
You have probably put a lot of thought into your perfect dress- now the bridesmaids can too!
Your imagination can stretch its legs
The mismatched dress style lets you really show your creativity.
Do you want everyone to float down the aisle? Will the bridesmaids have an iconic piece that stands out on its own? Could you create an ombre with their dresses? Are you like me and want to work sparkles in to everyday life? You could even get them in matching skirts like the ones we have here. Nothing is off limits when you decide to go with this trend!
A good place to start is to imagine the overall FEELING of the day. If you are imagining full-glam ballroom photos, then rustic, “earthy” dresses are not going to work (and vice versa). Start by visualizing the photo shoot, the ceremony, and the flow of the day to figure out what kind of colours are going to work.
If you need a bit of inspiration, this post on The Knot has some incredible palettes to get you started.
You only need one thing to tie everyone together
Mismatched bridesmaid dresses give you breathing room. If you have something that ties everyone together, you don’t have to stress about everyone looking exactly the same.
Some things that will tie your tribe together are things like:
- Colour palette
- Matching accessories or hair pieces
- Bouquets (in the same palette ideally)
- Matching ribbons around the middle of the dresses
- Patterns on the dress (e.g. floral, sequins)
- Shoes
Although it is an amazing way to style your bridesmaids, it is still important to set parameters so that it all looks cohesive. You are a tribe afterall!
You can include the groom
It turns out the groom sometimes wants creative freedom too. A defined colour palette is a great way to tie the whole bridal party together. It’s not just black suits and ties anymore!
Want a burgundy palette? Put him in a navy-blue jacket. Got earthy tones? Branch out into green or tan suits. Thinking grey sequins? Find some super-swish waist coats.
Ties, pants, pocket squares, jackets, waistcoats, suspenders, hats, and boutonnieres can all be styled according to your colour palette. Get the groomsmen thinking!
Value for money increases with mismatched bridesmaid dresses
If you have been a bridesmaid before, you probably have a dress hiding in the back of your closet. No matter how beautiful it is, you will always feel like a bridesmaid in it. So, all the love and money and effort you put in to it really is for one single day.
Well, no more.
Even with an array of dresses, the costs can still add up. If you play your cards right, your bridesmaids will have a dress that they can wear again! Having a dress that they love means that cost per wear will be unbelievable in comparison to traditional bridesmaid dresses.
Read More: 5 signs you’ve become the raging Bridezilla you’ve seen on television
You can delegate
Letting the girls choose their own dress means less work for you. Hallelujah!
If you haven’t learnt how to delegate yet, then you will very soon. Mismatched bridesmaid dresses create an atmosphere where your girls can help you with the heavy lifting.
You can share your ideas, and then send them out while you concentrate on the important things (Like trying wedding cakes- ain’t nobody allowed to take that job away from you!).
Shopping for bridesmaid dresses doesn’t have to be stressful. Armed with a well-thought out colour palette, mismatched bridesmaid dresses are the way to go for a stunning and stress-free bridal party.
Ready to find the perfect mismatched bridesmaid dresses? Check out some of our favourite styles here!