Back when the tradition of bridesmaids wearing matching gowns first became popular in the mid 1800s, the dresses they wore would coincide in formality with the time of day the wedding took place. But today, the formal bridesmaid dress is acceptable for just about any type of wedding, including late-morning, afternoon, or evening nuptials.

Much like this change in wedding etiquette, the dress for bridesmaid has also, thankfully, drastically changed over the last 150 years or so and have evolved from unflattering styles, colors, and fabrics to dresses that can actually be worn again to another formal event.

Popular Colors and Fabrics for Formal Bridesmaid Dresses

While at one time, black was one color never to be worn to a wedding, and especially not by members of the bridal party, fortunately that’s now no longer true with this color opening up a great deal of flattering choices to choose from. Black can also be accented by literally any other color in the spectrum, including ultra formal accents in gold or silver, or even offset by the palest of cream colors and ivory.

Other dark shades such as hunter green, burgundy, brown, deep reds, plum and blues are all perfect for the formal bridesmaid dress, and the darkest of colors will always flatter any type of figure. However, you aren’t necessarily limited by these particular colors, just be sure those you do pick are in the styles of dresses that match the formality of the day.

Some of the fabrics used to make the most beautiful and formal of bridesmaid’s dresses include satin or sateen, silk, which will always be in style, and organza, a blend that’s comprised of silk fibers along with nylon and polyester to create this sheer, elegant fabric. For a vintage but formal look, choose fabrics like velvet, crushed velvet, or velour.

Formal Bridesmaid Dress Styles

Today, classic, understated, and elegant are three words that instantly come to mind when it comes to the formal bridesmaid gown, as long gone are the layers of taffeta and ruffles that once struck fear in the hearts of bridesmaids everywhere. Formal dresses are usually floor-length and will rarely fall above the knee. A simple gown with spaghetti straps would work well, and if any of the maids are concerned with showing too much of their shoulders or arms, scarves or wraps in matching or complementary colors are the answer for this and any style of dress that’s without sleeves.

Accessories, such as embellishments on the dress in sparkling faux crystals, the shoes, or glamorous headpieces and matching jewelry can all add to the formality of a gown as well.

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According to proper etiquette, the bride decides upon the colors and the fabrics she wants while the bridesmaids can then have the liberty of choosing the specific style of formal bridesmaid dress they like the most, or the one that looks best for their figure. This not only gives the members of the bridal party the freedom to pick an outfit they’ll be happy to be seen in, and hopefully, be able to wear once again, which is especially important with the high prices of most everything today.

It’s important to see that your bridesmaids will be happy and comfortable on the day of your wedding. If all of your maids aren’t exactly the same size and shape, as is the case with most bridal parties, make it your mission to be a kind bride and explore all of the many options available for those who may need plus size bridesmaid dresses.

Today there are, thankfully, a great number of elegant and fashionable, plus size bridesmaid dresses in a variety of styles, many of which are thoughtfully designed to camouflage those common problem areas, such as both A-line and empire waist dresses. The ballroom style helps to emphasize an hourglass figure, corset tops minimize the waist and emphasize the bust, and a gown with a Basque waist is wonderful for minimizing bigger hips.

Some of the very best fabrics for fuller figures include:

• Chiffon
• Georgette
• Lace
• Matte
• Organza (For the overlay)
• Satin
• Tulle (For the overlay or embellishments)

If at all possible, steer clear of any pastel colors, which not only have already been overused quite often in years past, but they also tend to be less than flattering shades for the fuller figure.

Picture credits: npiggy

Darker colors are always slimming, and always in fashion. For autumn weddings consider deep shades such as plum, mocha, burgundy, or hunter green, while nuptials taking place during the winter could have the bridal party in colors including navy, silver, and crimson red. Other shades to consider instead of pastels for weddings in the spring and summer are creamy ivory, gold, beige, or deep purple. Allow the bridesmaids to voice their opinions and let them help choose colors that will emphasize their best features.

I just love the color of these dresses!

Plus size dresses and gowns intended for special occasions like a wedding usually run on the small side, making you wonder how you possibly could have gained weight overnight. The most important thing to remember is that not every dress will fit the same and the only way to ensure a great fit is to measure, measure, and then measure again. Also, don’t forget the undergarments as there are many that can help whittle away a dress size, or even two.

And last, but certainly not least, always remember that you’re definitely not limited to the “traditional” bridesmaid outfits or gowns as today, the possibilities really have exploded as designers and bridal dressmakers have finally gotten the hint that women of larger sizes should be amply accommodated just as their thinner counterparts. Consider two piece ensembles, mix-and-match separates, and if you’re truly a modern bride, there’s even a few line of denim separates with fancy matching tops to choose from.

If you absolutely can’t find anything to accommodate one of your maids, or if you aren’t able to find the right dress for yourself, perhaps you just aren’t looking in the right places. The internet is chock full of information and innumerable gowns to browse through as well as plenty of dresses that are labeled as “cocktail” or “prom” or “special occasion” dresses that would be perfect as plus size bridesmaid dresses.

Usually the grown up bridesmaids are quite easy to handle and they are happy to go along with your wishes. However, when choosing the junior bridesmaid dresses , it always pays to listen to what the young ones have to say. This makes them feel as if their thoughts and ideas have been taken into consideration and they have played an active role in the planning of the wedding. Nonetheless, compromises usually have to be reached about styles as well as budgets, so where do you start when trying to find something which is suitable all round?

Well, first of all, you have to decide whether they will be wearing traditional bridesmaid’s dresses or are you going to go for something more practical? Their moms will always be appreciative of the latter as the little ones will get further wear out of the dress at sometime in the future. Another possibility these days is an outfit appropriate to a particular theme your wedding may be modeled on.

Traditional Dresses

Traditionally styled junior bridesmaids dresses are usually a variation on the theme of the brides dress. After all, the junior bridesmaid is princess for the day and wants to look the part whilst dreaming about how her special day will be in years to come. The color you choose for the dress can either be a part of the general color scheme of the wedding or if you like you can introduce a contrast to the colors worn by the grown up bridesmaids. The materials used in this type of dress are usually silks and organza, and more often than not feature a band or sash around the waistline.

Practical Dresses

There are many options out there for really cute junior bridesmaid dresses and you can find these by simply looking in your high street stores. Quite a few of them are similar to ballerina costumes, so can either be used again for ballet practice or for attending the birthday parties of friends. Silks, satins, and tulle are the more popular materials for this style of fairy like dress.

Themed Dresses

Many brides and grooms choose to have a particularly relevant theme to their wedding. This tends to be something close to the hearts of both of them, such as a shared interest or maybe even something sentimental about the way in which they met. For example, a couple who first set eyes on each other at a line dancing class may opt for a country and western theme to their wedding and the bridesmaids may well find themselves adorned in cowgirl gear. Costumes such as these can be bought, hired or even hand made, time permitting.

It does not stop at the dress though. There are all manner of accessories to think about such as shoes, body and hair jewelry and fancy lacy socks or tights.

Once you have decided on the style you are going to go for, you can search on line and you will find hundreds of websites with full color photography of the many designs and available matching accessories. You may even be able to select the junior bridesmaid dresses from the same place you buy the bridal gown. If you prefer to see and feel the costumes in person, then pay a visit to any of the well known high street stores, but remember to take the little ones along with you so they can have their say too. This way it will be smiles all round as you head for the altar.

When I was planning my wedding on a rather limited budget myself, I knew the first thing I had to accomplish was finding cheap bridesmaid dresses that were beautiful, but that also wouldn’t require any of my attendants to take out a loan. Two of the young women in the wedding were college students at the time, so I had to make sure they would be able to afford their dresses along with all the other responsibilities that often come along with being a bridesmaid.

During an event as special as someone’s wedding, every bridesmaid wants to look their absolute best. After all, many eyes will be on the entire wedding party, and everyone will be posing for more than a few pictures throughout the day. Besides the matter of appearances, keeping your budget in mind is also an important factor to consider.

But how can you find a dress that’s not only inexpensive, but also well made, and of course, beautiful? Well, it all really depends on if you know where to look or not.

If many of the prices in the bridal magazines make you cringe, it’s still helpful to look over the popular styles, see what colors appeal to you the most, and get a few ideas to jumpstart your search. Speaking of searches, the internet is an invaluable resource for finding countless styles of dresses, and also for speeding up the process of bargain shopping. Instead of driving from store to store, simply surf from one site to the next, keeping a list of those that catch your eye.

An often overlooked fact in the world of bridal attire is – if a dress is marked or labeled as being a bridesmaid’s dress , it’s going to be more expensive than a similarly made dress that’s not marked as such. Never forget there are many gorgeous cocktail dresses, evening gowns, and prom gowns that all would make perfect bridesmaid gowns. Besides the usual bridal shops and boutiques, there are numerous department stores and internet retailers that carry these types of dresses at reasonable prices.

My own wedding was in the middle of October, and I chose a deep, garnet red as the color for my bridesmaid’s dresses, which were beautifully offset by my creamy colored gown with its gold roses delicately brocaded throughout. They looked very elegant in their modest bridesmaid dresses.

What everyone didn’t know was that my gown and two other bridesmaid’s dresses were actually prom dresses that we bought early in June when prom season was just ending. All three gowns were purchased at a department store for a mere fraction of the regular cost, and I can’t count the number of guests who asked if my dress was custom made just for me! They had no idea where these discount bridesmaid dresses came from.

Another revelation I thought of during my search for the perfect but cheap bridesmaid dresses was that each of the bridesmaids didn’t necessarily have to match one another, as long as the color of the dress was the same. This opened up a world of possibilities since I wasn’t limited to one particular style. In fact, the other two dresses I chose for my attendants were basically the same, but one had a different type of sleeve, and they were of varying lengths. Since no two bridesmaids are built exactly the same, why should their dresses be?

Being asked by the bride-to-be to stand along side her at the wedding is quite a special honor. Choosing the bridesmaid hairstyles is at least as important as finding the right dresses and shoes, the coordinating accessories, jewelry, and makeup.

Bridesmaid Hairstyles for Short Hair

As you would imagine, the shorter the hair, the easier and quicker it is to style. Even though hair is short, many different styles are still possible, such as curling, straightening, changing the part, or how the bangs are parted, or even put in updos for hair that’s at least three inches or so. Also, add small, matching accessories, but be sure not to have too many so that they take away from the actual hairstyle itself.

Bridesmaid Hairstyles for Medium Length Hair

Much like longer hair, medium length hair can be styled in a variety of ways. Using a large barreled curling iron or medium to large hot rollers, curl the hair to get big, tumbling curls that look soft and natural. The hair can also be pulled up toward the back of the head, while loose ringlets that are also curled can be used to daintily frame the face.

Bridesmaid Hairstyles for Long Hair

Curly hair never goes out of style, and with longer hair, the options for creating interesting hairdos are endless. Curly hair can also be left to cascade down over the shoulders, pulled into an updo, or gathered at the nape of the neck.

For long, straight hair, consider a chignon or French knot complemented by sparkling hair clips, barrettes, flowers, or matching headpieces for all the bridesmaids. Using a flat iron or straightening iron on hair that’s already straight will just make it look extra shiny and smooth, and also help to keep any unruly strands under control.

All types of bridesmaid hairstyles should be finished with a hairspray that provides plenty of control, but one that isn’t heavy or tacky, weighing down the hair, and ultimately, ruining the style.

5 Helpful Hints to Remember

1. If you’re the bride, although you should give direction and offer suggestions as to what you would like in regards to your bridesmaid’s hairstyles, just remember that after all, it is their hair and your maids should at least have a say about how they would like to have it styled.

2. If you’re a bridesmaid, do try to be objective about the styles the bride has suggested. Remember, it is her big day, and after that, you’re free to style your hair any way you wish! Of course, you should still make your opinion known, but be willing to compromise if need be.

3. If every bridesmaid has a different length or type of hair, the styles don’t necessarily have to be exactly the same, as long as they’re all tied in together with coordinating accessories. Even something as simple as the same colored ribbon or flower, or solitary barrette is enough to cause an air of continuity.

4. Less is always more. See that the headpieces or hair accessories do not overshadow the actual hairstyles. Besides, the more barrettes, bobby pins, and hair clips that are used, the better the chances are that at least a few of the women are going to have trouble keeping everything in place.

5. Because there are so many spectacular types of hairdos to choose from, you’ll want to make sure none of them outshine the bride on her special day. Bridesmaid hairstyles should indeed be elegant, but always complementary to the bride’s.