Love a mismatched bridesmaid look? You’ve come to the right place! See how to nail this impressive mix and match bridesmaid dress trend… and be sure to subscribe for the latest to your inbox!
One of the big trends for weddings – as we mention here – is mismatched bridesmaid dresses. This year, couples are opting for bridal party attire in different styles rather than the same matching looks we’ve grown accustomed to in past decades.
But let’s be honest, it can be kinda tricky when you think about it.
• Are bridesmaids going to look disorganized in photos if they’re not all wearing the same style?
• What if you totally mess it up and bridesmaids look ridiculous in their mismatched dresses?
Relax, neither of those things will happen! That’s because you’ll learn right here how to mismatch bridesmaid dresses like an expert.
Let’s get started!
The Mix and Match Bridesmaid Dress Trend
You see, this idea of mismatching your bridal party isn’t new, but it’s catching on. And since it’s one of the big trends of 2024, I want to tackle it head-on. When you think about it, we’ve kinda gotten used to having bridesmaids all wear the same “uniform” and, while that’s OK for some people, it doesn’t work for everyone.
If you’re a bride who wants bridesmaids to reap the benefits of picking out a style that works best on their body shape (um, yay!) and give them the confidence to feel their best on your wedding day, keep reading.
photos by Brooke Taelor for Dessy
First, let’s cover the unmatched bridesmaid dress trend before we jump into the styles. What is a mismatched bridesmaid dress, anyway?
Mis-matched bridal parties is when the dress color is the same but the styles are all different.
For instance, suppose you choose blush pink. Your maid of honor and bridesmaids all wear blush pink dresses, but in various necklines. Your MOH may wear a strapless maxi, while one bridesmaid wears a one-shoulder dress, another bridesmaid rocks a halter neckline, and a third bridesmaid wears a mockneck sleeveless dress – all in the same shade.
There’s one variation, however, that brides also love, but it can feel a little overwhelming to some brides. It’s the mismatched trend of different colors, but the same dress. You may choose a strappy midi length dress and then ask bridesmaids to all choose a color that is within a complementary palette (i.e. jewel tones). This offers a dynamic color palette that will look lovely in photos but also gives the bridesmaids their own individuality.
Here’s an example of different shades for bridesmaids, but a cohesive look:
Now, why are bridesmaids loving this trend as much as the bride is? That’s easy!
• HAPPIER BRIDESMAIDS: Make your bridal party excited about what they’re going to wear
By giving bridesmaids more of an opportunity to choose the dress they get to wear, there’s more happiness! More joy! More excitement in wearing the dress on the wedding day itself and maybe even afterward.
It’s also a great way to make bridesmaids feel good about themselves. Picking your own dress does wonders for confidence and gives you a boost, especially when you’ll be wearing the outfit in front of so many people. By picking the type of silhouette, or even the fabric, that suits your style and your body shape best, you’ll feel good on the wedding day and rock that style down the aisle. :)
• VERSATILITY: Bridesmaids will love to wear the dress again – a great investment
Who wants to spend a couple hundred dollars or even less on a dress they’ll never wear again?
• UNIQUE LOOK: No more standard, traditional style
Your wedding and subsequent photos will be one-of-a-kind
Now that you know a bit more about this unique trend and why everyone’s loving it, let’s dive right into the mismatched bridesmaid dress styles of 2024.
How To Pick Mismatched Bridesmaid Dresses
First, don’t just have bridesmaids run off and find any dress they want and then wear it on your wedding day. You want the ease of this, certainly; but you also want your bridal party attire to look stunning in photos. So there’s just a little bit of organization to follow first.
Instead of that, you’ll ask bridesmaids to wear a dress in the same color, but different necklines, and show them some examples.
One of the most helpful places that showcases mix and match bridesmaid dresses is, hands down, Dessy. In addition to wildly-positive reviews, their coordinating bridal party dresses align with the latest styles and trends, especially color palettes, for 2024. So you’ll on the right track.
Here are some examples.
As you can see in this example, each bridesmaid has her own unique look… but with the same color that ties it all together nicely.
Here are some additional styles to note:
If you like the look, here’s how to get the look for YOUR wedding and your bridal party.
Step 1. Decide what color you like.
What is your wedding theme? Season? What colors are you using on invitations, decorations, and flowers? Consider one of the shades and choose it as the bridesmaid dress color.
Step 2. Find out what length or fabric you’d like bridesmaids to wear.
One big thing to note for this trend is the color you select may look different depending on the fabric you select. For instance, a silky or satin finish will by shiny, maybe even darker than the actual color on a chiffon dress, for instance. Select one type of fabric and choose a length (if you want the same length – or go wild and let bridesmaids wear varied looks).
Step 3. Ask bridesmaids to shop at the same retailer.
Whether you shop at Dessy or you choose another bridesmaid dress resource, have bridesmaids shop from the same place. Why? It can be helpful to have bridesmaids shop from the same place and perhaps even order at the same time to get all the dresses in on time. This is also helpful because the styles will be very similar when they’re made by the same company.
Here’s an example from the website, using a soft purple color Lilac Haze as the main shade:
… and the result? Stunning!
Now it’s your turn: Ok, I think you’re ready! Now that you know the basics, and you’re pretty much earned expert level achievement in mismatched bridesmaid dresses from these tips (ha!), it’s time to show off your knowledge.
► Head to Dessy to start mix and match bridesmaid dress shopping now and find out what your bridesmaids like! They have a whole section here where you can literally choose a color and they sort by dresses that match – even with some floral patterns! It’s so easy.
Choose your color and then filter out the results to envision how bridesmaids will look.
Okay, on to you: what do you think of this trend? It’s so much easier when you can sort dresses from the same company in the same color palette, rather than looking online at all kinds of places, don’t you think? Anyway, I wish mix and match bridesmaid dresses was a popular trend when I got married! :)
Hope it helps!
xo
Emma
We’re an affiliate of Dessy, but this is not sponsored. It’s honestly the best resource I’ve found for mix and match bridesmaid dresses, period. :)
mismatched bridesmaidsmix and match bridesmaid dresses
Emma Arendoski
Emma is the CEO of Emmaline Bride, The Handmade Wedding Blog, published author, leading wedding expert, and wedding planner. Read her latest book: The Inspired Wedding. Wife, mother, coffee lover. Follow on Instagram and at Emmaline Baby for baby + kids inspiration.
