Dressing Your Wedding Party, Without Losing Your Mind, Part One: The Mismatched Bridesmaid Dress Hack

You’ve seen this look out there, if you’ve spent any time at all on wedding blogs or Pinterest: the mismatched bridal party dresses look. All your bridesmaids wear different dresses in the same color, and it’s easy, right? That is why people do it, after all. It can be, but there are a few ways to do it, and a few ways to make sure that it looks awesome. Here are our tips.

Same Color? If you want all of your bridesmaids or wedding party in the exact same color, it would be wise to ask that they all purchase dresses from the same place, and each select their own style. J. Crew famously offers a range of bridesmaid’s dresses in a variety of styles and colors, or you can even have them rent dresses in one color from places like Union Station. This way, you can make sure that the colors all match exactly, while the mismatched cuts and styles will make everyone feel flattered and comfortable.

Same Color, ish? If you don’t care if the colors match perfectly, but want them to be about the same, pick a range of similar colors and let your ladies pick something within the spectrum. Shades of plum to eggplant to berry, for example, or royal blue to cobalt to navy. Consider going to your local hardware store, picking out some paint chips of colors you like, and offering those as a guide.

Different Colors? Consider offering a palette of choices to choose from, with everyone in a different color or a range of shades. Brooklyn-based wedding designer Michelle Edgemont has a series of downloadable wedding palettes that add layers of color and texture to your wedding look. Consider assigning each of your ladies a different hue, like this rainbow wedding.

Or Perhaps a Print? The other option is to use texture or pattern to create cohesion. Request that everyone wear “metallic neutrals” or “moody small prints” or “colorful stripes” and then use Pinterest to illustrate what, exactly, mean.

But how to bring it all together? So those are just some of the choices–you can get even more creative, of course. But how do you bring it all together and make sure that everyone looks like they “fit” together? You want your bridesmaids to look mismatched on purpose, not like they got dressed in the dark. There are a few ways to make sure everyone looks cohesive, even if they aren’t all wearing identical outfits. Here are the best ways to ensure a uniform look, minus the uniform.

• Length: Length is really important. If you want everyone in a full-length gown, say so! Ask everyone to wear garments with similar lengths, which will also help to keep their formality on the same page.
• Formality: When you tell your bridal brigade what to wear, let them know how formal their garment should be. Full length formal? Cotton sundresses? Cocktail-lenght skirts? All of those are great, but won’t read as cohesive in a jumble. Length is an important indicator of formality (more on that right here), as is fabric. Cotton and linen read as more casual, while silk, velvet, lace, and chiffon will read as more formal. So include the fabrics you want when you make your request.
• Accessorize: You can always gift your bridal party an item to wear that will help bring things together. Jewelry, a topper, or other small piece will help bring things together. Just be sure to let people know it’s coming–no one wants to buy something they aren’t going to end up wearing.
• Use Technology: Use Pinterest for this! Create a board with the kinds of styles you like or have in mind. Request a texted photo of dresses or outfits before they are purchased, and don’t be afraid to say “that one doesn’t quite fit.” Your people would much rather you be happy than worry that you don’t like their look!

Wondering about dressing a mismatched wedding party that isn’t all women? Or your groomsmen? Tips on all that coming up in our next installment!