Free The Bridal Party 

Flexibility is the New Bridal Party Clothing Trend 

by Kerri Cooke 

When it comes to what a bridal party will wear, the bride has the final say. However, that doesn’t mean dressing for a wedding has to be a chore. While bridesmaid dresses in 2024 are following a lot of the same trends as bridal dressing, you don’t want to be the bridesmaid that upstages the bride. But you don’t need to sacrifice style, either. Just don’t overdo your look. The bride will be heavily involved in picking the bridal party attire, so go with the flow and enjoy the special time with your loved one. 

Re-wearable Dresses 

The most frustrating part of bridesmaid dress shopping can be paying for a $300 dress that you know you will never wear again after the wedding. More brides are taking their bridesmaids’ investment into consideration when choosing the dress they will wear. The bride might opt for tea-length dresses rather than floor-length gowns. Another option is for dresses to be easily convertible into date-night attire. This could mean dresses with floral patterns or simple, elegant gowns that can be accessorized into a new look. 

Mix And Match Attire 

There is no rule that all bridesmaids must have identical dresses. If the colors are similar, slightly different gowns can reflect a bridesmaid’s personality while still giving the bridal party a cohesive look. Bridesmaids have different body shapes and skin tones. What works for one woman might not work for another. If a bride is flexible, the combinations can be fun to curate. Rhonda Kleckley, owner of Accessory Zone, says the average bridal party in the area is averaging from five to six bridesmaids. It would be easy to coordinate similar looking gowns for a bridal party of that size. 

Neutral Colors 

Gone are the days where wearing neutrals as a bridesmaid is a faux paus. More brides than ever before are opting to have their bridal party wear neutral colors that are not dissimilar from the color of the bridal dress. Choosing gowns must be done with care, though. If a bridal gown is white, the bridal party might offset yet compliment her gown with attire in a champagne color. The contrast is subtle but can be stark if the bridal dress is embellished. As far as accessories go, Kleckley says many bridesmaids are wearing silver, gold-tone and crystal earrings for an effortlessly elegant look.  

Black Gowns 

Black is becoming a common color at weddings. It’s the go-to color for the groom and groomsmen after all, so why should the bridesmaids be excluded from the universally flattering color? Black is the color on the opposite side of the spectrum from white. If bridesmaids flank the bride in onyx gowns, it will make the bridal dress shine even more. 

No Bridal Party Theme 

There is always the option to give bridesmaids free range when it comes to their dresses for the big day. If the wedding is small and entails minimal planning, this option might be in the interest of everyone involved. After all, a wedding is all about celebrating the love between two people and their friends and family. The details are not always important. 

Groomsmen 

As for the groomsmen, your task is to make sure your suit is tailored to perfection. After that crucial step is done, you can determine if a colorful tie or some statement shoes are in order.