With the distance and time zones between my bridesmaids and me, I realise that asking my girls to coordinate buying the same dress is a bit farfetched. In fact, I have this small fear that I would be overruled with a resounding “NO” if I even suggested they go out and buy coordinating dresses from a store like David’s Bridal.
They don’t like my idea?? (Image via Dumbo Iditty Head blog)
Who can blame them? Typical bridesmaids’ dresses can be expensive, poorly made, and often unflattering. (Meaning no disrespect to brides out there who love total matching—it’s just not for everyone!)
My girls are not all the same size and shape, and each of them has her own distinctive style. Luckily, I am a huge fan of choosing your own dress, and I adore mismatched bridesmaids’ dresses like these:
Picture-perfect greens (Photo by Lumière Imaging)
Soft country vibe (Photo by SugarLove Weddings via Polka Dot Bride)
Blushing pinks (Photo credit: Martha Stewart via Polka Dot Bride)
Hot greys—LOVE these dresses!! (Photo by Kate Powers for InStyle via Music City Events)
Classic black (Image credit: Our Wedding Day Blog via The Budget Savvy Bride)
Fantastic colour range! (Photo by Laura Murray Photography via Cori Cook Floral Design)
Apparently it’s still “alternative” or “offbeat” to have non-matching bridesmaids, but I am absolutely loving all these photos. Such personality! So many great styles! So many happy faces! (I could go on…) But honestly…different colours, patterns, whatever—as long as it’s a sexy dress I don’t care!
Still, I would like to pull together the looks somehow, whether it be by using the same general colour, matching sashes, or maybe matching cardigans…I would really like something to set these gals apart from the guests at the wedding to make them even more special. I’ll just have to think about it some more.
Does your vote go to mismatched or traditional bridesmaids’ dresses?
We’re doing mismatched as well. Two of my BMs have already picked out their dresses (one is from David’s Bridal and another is from another bridal salon). Two more to go!
My vote goes to the mismatched dresses, same color scheme. I also LOVE the matching cardigan idea – as a March bride, I will be wearing a cardigan myself! A matching necklace, matching hairstyle, or matching shoes could also be a way to help them stand out!
I love the mismatched BM look! It didn’t work that way for us, but I love seeing it in other weddings.
I love the mismatched look! My color is green, and all 6 BMs have dresses of different colors (same tone). The fabric isn’t the same either – some cotton, some silky, etc. They look great together! I told them to pick the same color of shoe (light pink/dusty rose) – the 3 that already have their shoes aren’t the same color but they work! I also told them to get the same color of jewelry (dusty rose).
Mismatched! As I posted before, that is what we did and I loved it!
We mismatched too! It was so great and seriously took a LOAD of stress off for everyone. And they looked gorgeous 
I totally have that rainbow one bookmarked. I don’t know that many people, but that is an awesome look. And those gray dresses are soooooo cute.
I say give them a color/ a designer and let them go for what they know because you know that the dresses are what they like and in the right color.
My husband wanted David’s Bridal dresses of all the same color, but I at least got in different dresses. I wanted them to just find a dress in a similar color from where ever. Love mismatched bridesmaids.
After much internal debate, I recently decided to let my bridesmaids pick their own dresses and gave three guidelies: (1) the dresses must be solid black; (2) no shiny materials; and (3) can I please have veto power?! This way I am still being flexible, but can retain some measure of control. I can’t help it!!
I’m planning to do mismatched. My cousin did this for her wedding and I loved it! and the dresses were so much more “wearable” than typical bridesmaid dresses!
I’m planning to pull them all together with coordinating wraps, which I’ll gift them. They can wear them if they want, or save them for later!
We’re doing mis-match brides. I can’t wait to see them all together!
I like the idea of allowing the girls some leeway in what they think they look best in (especially since, as a bigger-chested, oddly-shaped person, I have had my fair share of being stuck in the “but it looks good on EVERYONE!” standard strapless-long-shapeless thing and HATED it every time). So I’m giving them the color palette (navy dress, ivory sash) and we’re just going to Lula Kate, where they are AWESOME and will let you mix and match whatever neckline with whatever skirt type, so everyone gets a silhouette they like! (I…HOPE! this has yet to actually occur, since my wedding’s not ’til next spring, but that’s the plan for our September shopping trip!)
My bridesmaids all choose their own dresses, they got them from various places, one i got her dress off ebay with shoes for $30.
The only thing i did was choose color and fabric so when they took pictures it looked more uniformed. I was so happy with my decision because it was one less bride decision i had to make
Mismatched! I just told them the color and the rest is up to them…the more I look at pictures the more I love it. I’m thinking cardigans or scarves to help tie us together too!
Mismatched! We’ll be going with some-shade-of-blue, knee-or-tea-length (just not long), and other than that pick what they like best.
i think you can go mismatch with tradioanl . That is what i am doing. Jrcew has some really cute dress . You pick a fabrice you like and the girls pick there dress. They are all mismatch but they still have the same sort of look going AND they have dress that are cute .
I honestly didn’t have to much an opinion about it. My MOH of went shopping with me and together we found two dresses. Then the girls picked which designs they like.
Definitely going mismatched here too. I really wanted rainbow colours and seeing that photo makes me wish I had gone that route!
We’re going, aqua, purple and pinks and the BM’s are choosing their own dresses. One is coming from the US (I’m UK) so logistically, same dresses would have been a nightmare!!
I love pictures of mismatched, but it just wasn’t meant to be for our group
Mrs. Funnel Cake, Zürich, Switzerland/Columbus, Ohio Age and Occupation: 24, Visual Communication Designer Fiance's Age and Occupation: 28, Application Engineer Engagement Date: May 30, 2010 Wedding Date: October 2011 Venue: Catholic church followed by a botanical conservatory About Me: I'm an American designer who moved to Switzerland for love after a fairytale beginning at the top of the Eiffel Tower. I love travel, photography, museums, learning German so I can speak with my mother-in-law, cooking (eating), cuddling, and I'm not afraid to try something new even if it terrifies me. My Swiss/Brazilian man and I are both down to earth people planning a traditional Catholic wedding in my hometown with some quirky cultural exceptions to reflect our different backgrounds. We look forward to celebrating with friends and family from all over the world in a classic, sophisticated fusion of heritage and love.
Latest Gallery Pics