How To Jazz Up Bridesmaid Dresses
If solid bridesmaid dresses feel staid, spruce things up with a pattern, or mix and match a few.
Jenny Yoo Gigi dress in paprika, $177; available at www.shop.nordstrom.com
WHITE by Vera Wang VW360144 dress in cassis/gold, $168; available at www.davidsbridal.com
Hadley dress in vintage-inspired fabrics, $98 each; available at www.etsy.com
Today, more and more brides are trying to break up the matchy-matchy look of identical bridesmaids. Most choose a color, or a color family, and allow their attendants to choose different dresses within that solid color scheme. Those with a little bit of nerve, however, are finding ways to work a print, or several, into the mix. Brides can use prints subtly, singling out a special attendant, like a maid of honor, while adding a bit of pizazz into those bridal-party photos. Or they can go all-out and dress their maids in a few mix-and-match, coordinating prints.
Prints also convey personality. “There is an innately sweet and feminine look about delicate printed florals that can work in so many ways,” says Ali Barone, owner and creative director of Ali Barone Events (www.nyweddingmaven.com). “Depending on
the accessories and styling, they can easily work for a wedding that is a little bit funky, a little bit country, and a whole lot of vintage!”
“The bride might have an outgoing, unconventional personality, and these types of printed dresses are a part of her everyday style that she wants to incorporate into her day,” adds Dawn M. Foy, president and CEO of Chique Events (www.chiqueny.com). If you're having a country-style wedding, for example, Foy suggests pairing a printed dress with a great pair of cowboy boots.
Barone has one caveat for a bride choosing a printed dress or dresses: “The girls’ bouquets need to be simple. Pulling one color from the pattern and using it as the color palette for the bridesmaids' bouquets will prevent the overall look from being too busy.”
