How to Choose the Right Fabric for Bridesmaid Dresses?

Choosing the right fabric for your bridesmaids is very important for your wedding. We have seen some brides who chose chiffon dresses to match the wedding theme without the bridesmaids' opinions, which made the bridesmaids shiver with cold. In the end, they had a conflict with the bride and parted unhappily.

If you want your bridesmaids to shine as brightly as you on the wedding day and accompany you on the happiest day of your life, then please be sure to choose the correct bridesmaid dresses for them, whether it is color, style, or of course the most important thing is the fabric.

Read on; we will comprehensively analyze the characteristics of 12 bridesmaid dress fabrics to help you choose the right bridesmaid dress.

What Fabric Should I Use for My Bridesmaids' Dresses?

Bridesmaid dresses come in different fabrics, which can be Popular. We’ll look at those here: satin, chiffon, velvet, jersey, lace, silk, crepe, charmeuse, faille, bengaline, Georgette, and cotton. Understanding how these fabrics work can make your decision easier.

Satin

Satin is a gorgeous fabric that is shiny on the surface but dull on the back. As a bridesmaid dress, it is soft and close-fitting, not easy to wrinkle. Under the light or candle, the surface of the dress will sparkle, dignified and elegant, especially suitable for formal weddings.

There are different types of satin. In the summer, you can choose lighter-weight charmeuse, silk satin, and acetate satin, which are cool and breathable. For winter weddings, you can choose heavier satin back crepe or satin wool, which are warm and comfortable.

In addition, satin cannot be simply machine washed to avoid damaging the dress. To this end, we provide you with easy cleaning ways for satin bridesmaid dresses.

Chiffon

Chiffon is the most common fabric for bridesmaid dresses in summer weddings. This fabric is light, breathable, transparent, and not stuffy when worn. It is especially suitable for outdoor gardens and beach weddings. Because the most common chiffon on the market is made of silk crepe, cotton and polyester, it feels a little rough and is not as comfortable as satin. At the same time, chiffon is particularly fragile, easy to wrinkle, easy to pilling, and cannot be machine washed. Chiffon requires special care.

If you want a smoother chiffon, I recommend you to check out satin chiffon, pearl chiffon or silk chiffon.

Velvet

This fabric is like its name: gorgeous, like swan feathers, soft and warm, and the best choice for winter weddings. Velvet feels fluffy, has strong moisture absorption, and is very comfortable to wear.

The disadvantages of velvet are also apparent. It will leave noticeable marks after being squeezed for a long time, and the fluff on the surface is easy to get dusty. If you are not holding a wedding in the desert or Gobi, choosing velvet as the dress fabric will satisfy your bridesmaids.

Jersey

Jersey is a fabric made of wool, cotton and synthetic fibers. It is light, breathable and stretchy, making it very suitable for wearing next to the body. Its warmth retention is slightly lower than velvet and higher than satin, making Jersey a common fabric for bridesmaid dresses in late autumn and early spring weddings. The disadvantage of Jersey is that it is generally durable.

If your wedding is in winter, you can consider a double-sided Jersey, which has high warmth retention and durability, and bridesmaids will not feel cold when wearing it.

Lace

Lace is a transparent mesh fabric, the most common fabric in bridesmaid dresses. It feels a bit rough. It is usually made into various patterns to embellish the dress and add a sense of refinement.

Lace can be used all year round, but due to its mesh structure, it is not wear-resistant and the surface is easily damaged by sharp objects, so bridesmaids need to be reminded to pay attention to the surrounding environment when wearing it.

Crepe

Crepe is a soft fabric for bridesmaid dresses that has wrinkles on the surface. It has high elasticity. When you stretch the crepe slightly, there will be many mesh holes on the surface, which is very breathable. After you let go, it will immediately return to its original shape without any traces of stretching.

The dress made of crepe fits the bridesmaid's body very well and will not feel stuffy. It is especially suitable for spring and summer weddings.

Charmeuse

Charmeuse, also known as crepe-back satin, is a high-end and elegant fabric made of silk or synthetic fibers. It feels very soft and close to the body. With good thermal insulation, it is one of the best fabrics for outdoor weddings in summer. The bridesmaids will feel very cool when wearing it.

If you are a person who is sensitive to synthetic fiber clothes, then the charmeuse bridesmaid dresses woven from natural mulberry silk are suitable for you.

Faille

Faille is a delicate fabric with a unique horizontal yarn texture. It is made of cotton, silk, wool or synthetic fibers. This bridesmaid dress fabric feels soft, smooth and breathable, and I highly recommend it for bridesmaids to wear at summer weddings.

Because faille dresses drape well, can show the bridesmaids' figures well, and are cheap, they are often seen as a substitute for silk. But its disadvantages are also apparent. Compared with silk, it is more rigid and not easy to stretch.

Silk

Silk is the most expensive fabric for bridesmaid dresses. It is woven from mulberry silk and is especially suitable for sensitive skin. It is skin-friendly and close to the body. Because silk is exceptionally light and soft, with a charming luster, it is often used in large weddings.

In addition, silk is also one of the most absorbent and durable fabrics, which is very suitable for formal weddings in spring and summer. At the same time, its price is also the highest. If you have enough money, I strongly recommend that you choose silk as a bridesmaid dress.

Bengaline

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Bengaline is a stretchy, close-fitting fabric. Made of viscose, nylon and spandex, it is breathable, fits the curves, and is not easily deformed when stretched, making it perfect for bridesmaid dresses. At the same time, It is very durable, so you don't have to worry about it getting damaged due to exceptional circumstances on your wedding day.

If you have a lot of activities on your wedding day, I highly recommend Bengaline, as it will ensure that your bridesmaids can move freely on the wedding day and won't feel tired from the clothes.

Georgette

Georgette is a common fabric in high-end fashion, especially wedding and bridesmaid dresses. This fabric is a type of crepe with a translucent appearance, slightly wrinkled, and good breathability. It is often mistaken for silk chiffon and is one of the fabrics I recommend most for bridesmaid dresses in summer weddings.

Compared with chiffon, Georgette is not very transparent, especially suitable for bridesmaids who don't want to show off their figure.

Cotton

Finally, we will discuss cotton bridesmaid dresses, which are less popular but still a good choice. This fabric is soft and breathable, has strong moisture-wicking ability, and is very comfortable.

However, the disadvantage of cotton as a dress is also fatal. It is very easy to pill and wrinkle. Maybe you just sit on it, and it will have obvious wrinkles, which will greatly affect the bridesmaids' beauty on the wedding day. Moreover, cotton is very absorbent, so it is recommended that you do not wash it immediately after purchase to avoid shrinkage and shortening the dress.

General Tips for Selecting the Perfect Bridesmaid Dress

Now that you know more about bridesmaid dress fabrics, selecting the best option for your celebration should be easier. To help further, here are some general tips to keep in mind when choosing bridesmaid dresses.

Consider the Bride's Vision and Preferences

What styles are in your mind? Prefer multiway bridesmaid dresses?

The right bridesmaid dress should complement the wedding dress. This doesn’t, however, mean that they should be a muted replica of the bride’s dress. There are simple ways to choose dresses that help the bridesmaids stand out but not overshadow the bride. For example, if your dress is modern, the bridesmaid dresses can have a more vintage or retro look.

Consult with the Bridesmaids

It is also important to consider the opinion of the bridesmaids when choosing the dress. They will be the ones wearing them, after all. Bridesmaids who have a say in your decision will feel better about their dress and look confident and elegant while wearing it. 

Remember, Comfort Is Key

Avoid choosing a fabric that will make your bridesmaids uncomfortable at your celebration. Pay attention to the season and potential weather at your wedding too. This will ensure you choose a fabric that works.

Keep Alterations in Mind

Remember that your bridesmaids will need to have fittings for their dresses, too. So choose your designs and fabrics on time to allow for changes to be made as necessary. Some bridal shops will handle the fittings and alternation for both your dress and the bridesmaid dresses.

Fabrics to Match Your Wedding Dress

When choosing bridesmaid dress fabrics, picking one that is an exact match with your wedding dress might not be ideal. You do not want to look like you were all cut from the same mould. Rather, you can opt for fabrics that complement your dress. For example, a satin or silk wedding dress pairs beautifully with chiffon bridesmaid dresses and vice versa.

Consider the Neckline

The neckline of the bridesmaid dresses should also be very different from the wedding dress neckline. Choosing options that are the same could take attention away from the bride. So if for example, your wedding dress has a sweetheart neckline, a straight neckline is a better option for the bridesmaids. A wedding dress with sleeves also pairs well with sleeveless bridesmaid dresses.

Conclusion

Choosing the right bridesmaid dress is important to the success of your wedding, and you can do so using fabrics. Details to pay attention to when choosing the fabric of the dresses include the weather, texture, theme of the wedding and even the fabric of the bride’s wedding dress. Once you have these details, you can choose from the fabrics above.