You’ve picked out your wedding gown! While figuring out your wedding day ensemble is a big deal, that doesn’t mean you’re finished thinking about what everyone will be wearing to your wedding. Next comes figuring out what your bridesmaids should wear. This can be a tall order: how do you make sure that your dearest friends all look and feel awesome while matching you? One of the best ways to do that is to focus on some key details so everything is cohesive!
Fabrics First
One of the best ways to make sure that you and your bridal party are coordinated together is to choose dresses that are made of similar fabrics. If your bridal gown is made from a soft chiffon fabrics, your bridesmaids probably should be in similar soft, flowy gowns. On the flipside, if you have a highly formal, very structured satin dress with a sheen, your bridesmaids ought to wear something similar. This is a good way to make sure that everything seems to “go” together. It also can help you make sure that all of the dresses are a similar level of formal. A romantic boho maxi dress will send off a very different vibe than a retro inspired lace tea length dress.
Coordinate Silhouettes
Another way to make sure that your bridal party looks cohesive is to choose dresses with similar silhouettes. This might mean that if your bridal gown has a sweetheart neckline, your bridesmaids should as well. If you’re in a ball gown, your bridesmaids might wear a-line dresses or something with a bit of fullness to the skirt. If you opt for a shorter length, such as a tea length dress, your bridesmaids should also be in short dresses. It can often work well for your bridesmaids to be wearing a simplified version of your dress in a color that matches your wedding decor!
Matching Embellishments
The details of your wedding ensembles can also be coordinated for a sense of unity. If your gown has a lace overlay, maybe your bridesmaids could have matching lace sleeves? If you are wearing an ornate tiara and living your princess dreams, your bridesmaids might look sweet with sparkly headbands in their hair. You might also consider bringing color into your look- if your girls are in blue dresses, you might want to opt for a matching blue sash at your waist to tie everyone’s look together!
Bonus: Diversity In The Bridal Party
The days where every bride’s entourage consisted of her closest female friends and sisters, dressed in identical dresses are in the past! Many modern bridal parties might contain men or gender non-conforming people. Even if everyone standing by your side is comfortable wearing a dress, that doesn’t mean it needs to be the same dress!
Sit down and chat with your bridal party about what everyone would be comfortable wearing at the wearing. This might end up involving suits and different styles of dresses. This doesn’t mean that everyone’s look won’t go together! Talk about colors and fabrics together and make sure your whole squad understands what you want, while also making sure everyone feels great in their wedding gear.