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I think the “you’ll wear it again” bridesmaids’-dress philosophy should be declared a myth. I don’t know a single woman who has worn her dress again—I know I haven’t dug any of mine out of the closet! I think brides say that to feel better about doing something that is kind of weird—it’s not every day you get to clothe and accessorize a group of people!
For me, for the look I’m aiming for, I don’t really want the typical, traditional matching gowns. I don’t want the responsibility to clothe five women, all of whom are very differently shaped and sized. I don’t want to dictate how much someone will spend on an outfit they will likely never wear again.
That’s not to say that matching bridesmaids are a bad thing. I’ve been one and I’ll gladly be one again, because it’s not what I’m wearing that makes me happy to be at a loved one’s wedding.
That being said…I’m hopping on the mismatched-bridesmaids bandwagon!
I’ve told my ‘maids to purchase a dress in any shade of yellow and ranging from tea-length to knee-length. It can be subtly patterned, and it can be as inexpensive or expensive as each individual chooses. I requested that it lean more toward sundress than cocktail dress, but overall I trust my bridesmaids to choose awesome dresses that they’re happy with!
I think bridesmaids sort of expect to be told what to wear, honestly. My sister/BM Kay warned me that I may run into issues with my plan, as people may be reluctant to just go out and buy a dress that they like, worrying about how it will look with everyone else’s choice. The thing is, I want variety, I like variety, I embrace variety! I gathered a few photos and sent them off to the girls to give an idea of how much “differentness” I’m OK with.
Image from Ruffled / Photo by Katrina Louise
Image from Green Wedding Shoes / Photo by Love Me Do Photography
Image from Style Me Pretty / Photo by Olivia Leigh Photographie
Image from Bridal Musings / Photo by Ben Blood
I also told them they could wear whatever shoes were comfortable and matched their dresses. Mr. Dragon will likely be having somewhat mismatched groomsmen, too. (He’s making the clothes decisions for the guys and is leaning in that direction.) It will look more folksy than formal, but for our wedding that’s just fine!
Has anyone ever been a bridesmaid in a mismatched wedding? Did you have a hard time finding your dress?
I love love love this. Yellow is such a good color for the mismatched idea. Since we are doing orange I knew this wouldn’t be a good option for my girls. There are to many different shades of orange out there and I didn’t want some of the girls looking more red than orange. Some of my girls have said to me, “I love this dress I’m totally going to wear it again.” I laugh and say, yeah right. I hope they do wear it again but I’m thinking in reality they won’t.
YES! I love this idea. I’m also having mismatched bridesmaids — with the stipulation that the dresses are knee-ish length and not black. I want a colourful mismatched celebration, where everyone is happy and comfortable in what they’re wearing. I have no desire to dictate/stress about what people wear, although I have no issue with other brides who are going for that look.
I really like your inspiration photos! I think letting people choose their own dresses is a really good idea. (I do need to jump in, though, to say that I have worn a bridesmaid dress before! My friend had us buy matching dresses from JCrew — and I loved it so much that I wore it again on a date with Mr. Mole! It’s still in my closet.)
I have TOTALLY worn a bridesmaid’s dress to another function. Mine was a knee-length deep purple dress from David’s Bridal and I wore to another wedding the next year with a cute shrug over it. I got tons of compliments on the dress and no one seemed to know at all that it was a bridesmaid’s dress.
Love it! My maids are all choosing their own LBDs and the groomsmen are wearing black suits of their choosing. We’ll be purchasing the matching ties and pocket squares for them.
I love the inspiration pics. I wanted to do the mismatched thing too but it didn’t work out :((((((
I actually REwore a bridesmaid dress for the first time the other day!!! My friend’s wedding was in October, and she had us wear red bridesmaid dresses. I wore the red dress again out to dinner with my fiance for Valentine’s Day! I texted my friend and she was very excited!! I know not a lot of people re-wear, so I was glad I got the chance!
I have reworn one bridesmaid dress… and it was the one I got on my own for a mis-matched wedding. Even if the style for the others was nice, there’s something about some bm dress materials that is just.. just.. no.
Anyways, the only trouble I had was finding a brown dress in the summer (it was an early fall wedding). But that’s fashion issue. I currently am having my girls pick their own dresses. Since I want “peacock blue”, the color has been an issue, and many have bounced ideas off me. But I’m fine with that- no problem chatting fashion with my friends!
hooray!! i love your inspiration photos - its going to look beautiful! i’m also doing mis-matching: anything purple or blue, preferably with a floral print. I would love it if my BMs already had something in their closet so they wouldnt have to buy something new! im totally in love with this look, but i am a little worried that they wont look “special” on the big day, because they will be dressed just like wedding guests! im working on coordinating jewelry/hairpins/brooches/shoes/cardigans - SOMETHING to help them feel special! 
I too am doing mis-matched. I shared inspiration pictures with my girls and each bought their own dress…except one that kept dragging her feet and being so very dramatic about it. It really became a nightmare of answering umpteenmillion phone calls, text messages, and emails on what she was going to wear. So I think this works for bridesmaids that are easy going….but just be wary of those needy bridesmaids.
I re-wore one bridesmaid’s dress. It was a Chadwick’s of Boston dress from the mid-1990’s. I wore it for Easter Sunday church services, but without the matching mint green shoes.
I simply cannot wait to see how it all turns out! especially the groomsmen! i love love love the inspiration pics.
I think that’s super cute and such a nice gesture of you!
I did the mismatched bridesmaid dress and it was perfect…I don’t think I’ll ever tire of seeing this! I love the yellow inspiration pictures!
I’m glad other people think it will work out!
To all those that re-wore a bridesmaid dress, I hope to join your ranks soon. My sister picked out awesome red 50’s-style halter dresses for her wedding and if I ever get the chance to be fancy I’m going for it. I love that dress — I just live in sweatpants-ville most of the time.
@Miss Castle: One of my bridesmaids was worried about the “ugly” shades of yellow out there but I told her I don’t think anyone will put themselves in an ugly dress on purpose! There are so many shades of yellow, so I’m sure everyone will find something.
@Steffany: I’m kind of struggling with the same thing, but I suspect the bridesmaids will be a little more formally-dressed than everyone else which should help set them apart.
I love this, especially all the yellows and patterns. It just looks happy and summery
I’m telling my girls to buy black dresses, tea length to short-ish and whatever shoes they want. I’m not picky. I am leaning for them to be more formal then informal though. =)
Great idea! I’m so glad this “trend” is catching on. I’m struggling with this too, I truly want them to buy a dress they WILL wear again, while still having somewhat of a say in the style and colour… it’s tricky! But with your loose parameters, you are definitely on your way to making this myth a reality for your Bridesmaids!
I am having a formal wedding reception, but wanted to give the girls some options..so I gave them a swatch of the color I chose and said any solid (of this color) floor length will be fine. They are all different sizes so at least they are buying a dress that flatters their figure. Most of them only have to have it hemmed to be able to wear it again.
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Miss Dragon, Sioux Lookout/Brockville, ON Age and Occupation: 24, Journalist Fiance's Age and Occupation: 35, Graphic Designer Engagement Date: August 22, 2011 Wedding Date: September 2012 Venue: Mother of the Bride’s Residence About Me: I moved to Northern Ontario for a job, expecting to be single for the year I'd be there. Within one month I was dating a co-worker, and now, more than two years later, we’re planning a wedding and I’m still a Northern girl. I’m a reporter and a photographer for a small-town newspaper, and I get to do all kinds of fun, exciting, and sometimes weird things at work. When I’m not getting the scoop, I’m cooking, adventuring, playing with our three black cats, or blogging.
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