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How To Pick Your Bridesmaid Dresses
- Georgia L
- Aug 8
- 6 min read
Updated: Aug 14
For many of us, selecting our bridesmaids is one of the easiest decisions in the entire wedding process. You may have known who they'd be even before you met your partner - I know I have!
These are the women who have stood by you through thick and thin. They’ve supported you, cheered you on, and been there during all the big and small moments of life. Naturally, they’re your go-to girls for your big day. During your engagement, they’ll be the ones helping with everything from DIY projects to keeping you grounded during planning stress. On the day itself, they’ll step into key roles to ensure everything runs smoothly—because they love you that much.
They’re not just your bridesmaids—they're your hype squad, your safe space, and your biggest fans. So of course, they deserve to feel fabulous while they celebrate you.
Let’s dive into how to plan a magical wedding experience that keeps your bridesmaids in theme, feeling confident, comfortable, and completely themselves.
Starting with the Budget
Let’s begin with the practical side—budget. It might not be the most exciting part of wedding planning, but it’s the smartest place to start. Your budget will shape every decision that follows, from where you shop to who pays, and what kind of dresses your bridesmaids will wear.
Who Should Pay for Bridesmaid Dresses?
There’s no fixed rule here. Unlike many other wedding traditions, the question of who pays for bridesmaid dresses varies widely in today’s modern weddings. Before deciding, it’s important to take a step back and think about your unique circumstances, the dynamics within your bridal party, and what feels right for you and your friends.
Think about whether your chosen dresses will be off-the-rack or professionally fitted from a bridal store. This decision will have a big impact on your budget and on what feels fair in terms of who should pay.
Two Main Options for Bridesmaid Dresses
Off-The-Rack
One option is to buy off-the-rack or from online retailers. This can be an affordable choice yet doesn’t mean compromising on style. Your bridesmaids probably already know what sizes and cuts work for them, and there are so many beautiful options available across different price ranges. Many high-street and online brands now offer collections specifically for bridesmaids, with options to mix and match styles, colours, or prints while keeping a cohesive look.
If you go this route in an effort to keep costs low, it’s often perfectly reasonable to ask your bridesmaids to pay for their own dresses. After all, if they were simply attending as guests, they’d likely be buying an outfit anyway.
Bridal Boutique and Fitted
The other option is to go for fitted dresses from a bridal boutique. This can be a truly special experience—not just in terms of how your bridesmaids look, but in how they feel. Being professionally fitted ensures the dresses flatter in all the right ways, and the process of shopping together can become a cherished part of your wedding memories.
That said, this route usually comes with a higher price tag. In this case, it’s considerate for the couple to cover the cost or at least contribute significantly. If your bridesmaids are all financially comfortable and happy to pay for the luxury, that’s great—but it’s always best to check in with them first.
Personal Tip:
If you're leaning toward fitted styles, start planning shopping trips sooner rather than later. This gives everyone time to coordinate around their busy lives—and trust me, the extra wiggle room in the timeline is worth it.
Also, think about how you’d like the fittings to go. Would you prefer a group experience and an excuse to get everyone together? Or would solo appointments work better for your crew, allowing flexibility around work and family commitments? Either way, a clear plan will help avoid last-minute stress and ensure every dress is finished and fitted on time
ASOS
Asos is a great example of an online retail store that offers a specialised bridesmaid collection with multiple designs that offer a cohesive look.
Consider Season
The season you get married may already have impacted your colour scheme of the day, so your bridesmaid dresses should also reflect this. Not only do you need to consider being cohesive to the theme, but ensuring your bridesmaid are weather ready, from keeping them warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
Spring & Summer
As the weather starts to heat up for these seasons, flowy materials such as chiffon, tulle or light weight silk work well. Warm but bright pastel colours are a popular choice. Floral prints are also a great choice, particularly in the spring as a subtle nod to the blossoming season.
The shape and style of the dress may be led by the silhouettes your bridesmaids are most comfortable in, but do still consider the time of the season as a factor. For example high neck halter necks, 1/4 sleeves may work well at the beginning of spring as we have a cooler breeze whereas spaghetti straps, or backless dresses are perfect for the peak of summer.
Autumn & Winter
With the unpredictable British weather, it's wise to prepare for colder, wetter days when choosing bridesmaid dresses. Heavier fabrics like crepe, satin, and velvet are ideal for the season, offering warmth and elegance. Velvet's rich texture and natural sheen offer elegance without the need for prints. Lighter materials can still work if layered or paired with underlining fabrics for extra warmth.
Deeper and darker tones naturally add a sense of warmth and richness. Shades like plum, forest green, burgundy, and navy are timeless and seasonally appropriate. Shades of burnt orange have rightfully become increasing popular for its earthy rich tones particularly in autumn to compliment the nature of the season.
When we think of cold weather, long sleeves and floor-length hems naturally come to mind—they’re perfect for creating a sleek, elegant look that suits the season. However, with many autumn and winter weddings taking place indoors, there’s still room for styles like short sleeves, off-the-shoulder designs, or halter necks. To complete the look and add a practical touch of warmth, a wrap or shawl is the perfect finishing accessory.
How To Personalise To Each Bridesmaid
As we mentioned earlier, your bridesmaids were probably chosen long before you met your forever partner. These are your ride-or-die friends—the ones who’ve been by your side through it all. So let’s get serious about making them feel fabulous.
They’re not just part of your wedding day; they’re part of your story. Choosing dresses that reflect their individual styles, flatter their figures, and make them feel confident is the ultimate way to say thank you for standing beside you—not just at the altar, but through life.
Mix and Match Bridesmaid Dresses
Gone are the days when every bridesmaid wore the exact same dress. Modern weddings now embrace a more personalized, yet cohesive approach—ensuring each bridesmaid feels confident and comfortable in a dress that suits her unique body and style.
If you’re after the most cohesive look, this mix and match method is a total win.
Match:
Colour
Fabric
Skirt hemline
Skirt slits
Mix:
Necklines
Sleeves
Bodice shapes
This approach allows each bridesmaid to highlight her best features. One might prefer an elegant halter neck with a low back, while another may feel more comfortable in a V-neck with sleeves. The shared elements—such as fabric, colour, and a consistent skirt length—ensure the bridal party still looks unified and traditional, while celebrating individuality.
Personal Tip:
Opt for flowing skirts when standardizing the silhouette. They tend to flatter a wider range of body types and are generally more comfortable than figure-hugging styles.
The Ultimate Mix and Match
A growing wedding trend more recently, is embracing multiple colours to bring your overall theme to life. From pairing earthy oranges and deep greens, to blending soft pastels or even experimenting with quirky, contrasting prints—this approach adds, personality, and a unique twist to your bridal party.
You can probably guess where I'm going with this...
One of the best ways to pull it off is by offering a curated selection of dresses. Think: several styles in each chosen colour, or various silhouettes that incorporate your key prints or tones. This gives your bridesmaids the chance to mix things up while still complementing the overall vision.
With this approach, your bridal party becomes a true reflection of your mix-and-match theme. Allowing each bridesmaid to choose a dress style, colour, hemline, and even print that suits her best, while still looking beautifully cohesive together, is the perfect go to.
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