A bride is only as happy as her bridesmaids – so keeping her best friends in tip-top style should be a priority at any wedding. Gone are the days of horrifying bridesmaids dresses, and instead we’re welcoming in a new era of mixing, matching and, most of all, making sure the bridal party looks and feels as good as the bride herself. Times are changing in the world of bridesmaids, and we’ve talked to experts on their forecasts for the next big trends in dresses, hair, makeup and more. If you’re at a loss for how to have a cohesive bridal party look while still letting your bridesmaids’ individuality shine through, take a scroll down to explore our tips!
Let your bridesmaids’ personal styles shine
“I think it's lovely when you consider the comfort and body type of each bridesmaid, showing you truly care about your ladies,” says Sally Vander Wyst, owner of Milwaukee Flower Co. There’s nothing worse than having your bridal party resent you for making them not feel their best when they are standing in front of a huge crowd of people – and nothing worse than photos in which your best friends look miserable. Be sure to prioritize their own personal preferences and let them pick silhouettes that inspire confidence and put a smile on their faces.
Be flexible!
“We think that even after COVID everyone’s going to be celebrating the big day in basically anything they love. Our personal favorite look is the Bianca Jagger look, we’re talking a timeless tailored pantsuit pair with a chunky headband/veil mix. We also gush over a simple seasonless slip dress, like Reformation or anything Self-Portrait bridal,” - Jess Thill, marketing manager of Relics Rentals.
Have fun with patterns
Mixing and matching patterns gives your wedding a fresh feel. Think of patterns as a neutral and take it from there. The key to making sure your bridal party doesn’t look like one of your grandmother’s quilts is to provide a unifying theme. Give your bridesmaids some guidelines – florals, lace, a certain color palette – and watch as you, the bride, are relieved of the stress of having to pick out dresses that please everyone.
Tie in your floral design
If you don’t know where to start with deciding on a look for your bridesmaids, consider turning to your floral design. Coordinating bridal party looks with the flora and fauna of your celebration’s aesthetic can lend itself to a subtle sense of cohesion and unity. If your arbor and aisle are draped in blush-hued arrangements, try a similar palette for your bridesmaids dresses to bring it all together. And be sure to have their bouquets be in contrasting tones to provide some dimension.
Don’t let trends dictate your beauty choices
Hair and makeup are the most personal aspects of anyone’s look. With different colorings, face shapes and hair types, it’s impossible for the newest fads to flatter all of your bridesmaids’ unique forms of beauty. Instead, exercise flexility with beauty choices and let your bridal party stick to what works for them. Hair and makeup trends can be an excellent jumping-off point for inspiration, but remember to check in with your bridesmaids to see what they prefer as well.
