Pretty Patterned Bridesmaid Dresses

Patterned bridesmaid dresses have been making an appearance at warm weather weddings these last few years, and this wedding season is no different! Brides are donning their maids in  dresses covered in the prettiest of patterns. Whether the pattern you choose is subtle or striking, it is a fun and flirty option for spring and summer weddings. When choosing patterned bridesmaid dresses make sure that you choose a print that will be flattering to all of your girls. Smaller printed patterns seem to be more flattering than large bold designs. If you decide to mix and match patterns, make sure that all the prints are cohesive with each other and don't clash. Not only are patterned dresses unique and fun, another great reason to choose them is when all the bridesmaids are wearing patterned dresses you will notice that the bride stands out even more in her solid white gown! Take a look at several different ways to do patterns for your bridesmaid dresses. From romantic to vintage or even geometric, there is a style for every wedding! 

Image Credits: Pretty Patterns Main Image,  Romantic Dresses-1 (photo by Anna Hardy), Romantic Dresses-2 by Maggie Heinzel-Neel Photographyc, Bold Dresses (Photo by zadesignz), Flirty Dresses, Retro-Chic Dresses (photo by Nathan Wu Photography), Vintage Dresses 1, Vintage Dresses 2, Geometric Dresses 1, Geometric Dresses 2

The Most Versatile Bridesmaids Dress Ever

It wasn't that long ago that it was considered perfectly acceptable to walk into a bridal store only to see a small rack of puffy sleeved bridesmaids dresses in your choice of taffeta, taffeta, or....tafetta!  Oh, but not anymore.  The wedding fashion world has finally caught up with the rest us.  Brides today have some really great options to choose from.  Ones that actually complement their wedding day vision.

If you are searching for the ultimate one-size-fits all bridesmaids dress that is guaranteed to be worn again and again, you have to check out TwoBirds Bridesmaid.  What makes them so great?  Their dresses are the epitome of versatile, boasting over 15 different ways that they can be worn, and they are almost guaranteed to look good on any figure.  I don't know about you but I also just love the idea of buying a dress that can actually be worn again!  Some of TwoBird's dresses in action:

Priced at about $270 each, if the price tag is too high for your wallet, there are more affordable alternatives available from larger chain retailers (like this multi-way dress from Dessy priced at $140 each).  A word of caution when going with a less expensive dress...be sure to take into consideration that you may not get the quality, service, and/or color selection that you would get by paying full price.

Happy Planning!

Breaking Away From Traditional Bridesmaid Dresses

More and more brides today are breaking away from traditional taffeta bridesmaids gowns and opting for more modern, wear-again dresses.  Long gone are the days of puffy sleeves and matchy-matchy attire.  Brides want their bridesmaids to feel just as beautiful as they do on their wedding day.  With that in mind, traditional bridal stores are no longer the shops of choice to find dresses.  Brides are breaking barriers and finding their inspiration in all venues, from small boutiques to large corporation chains.

These beautiful sheer silk georgette dresses are designed by Kostas Murkudis and available at andreamurkudis.net.  Talk about a horse of a different color.  These stunning dresses come in 143 colors with a possible 21,000 color combinations when you layer one on top of the other.  The possibilities are endless.  Such a fabulous way to give your bridesmaids wearable fashion while still meeting your wedding day vision.  Check out all the other color options over at style bubble.


Other increasingly popular spots for finding bridesmaids dresses are chain stores like anthropologie and jcrew.  Choosing a corporate store is a great way to keep all your bridesmaids in the same dresses but still give them a dress they will love.  Because, many stores will be able to inventory a larger number of the same dress style.  Another great idea is to choose a different style for each girl but the same color.  Many larger corporations will carry multiple dress styles and will be able to provide many of them in the same color.  Give your girls the color you want, the store, and tell them to go shopping. (Above photo credit - J Crew bridesmaids dresses courtesy of goode green photography)

More adventurous brides have opted to mix-and-match their gown styles by hitting local thrift shops and vintage stores.  The upside of going this route is that your dresses are likely to be very inexpensive and one-of-a-kind.  Downside...you may have to set aside a lot of time and dedication to finding dresses in the right sizes and ones that match your color scheme.

Happy Planning!

Allie