How to Mix and Match Bridesmaid Dresses: The Ultimate Guide

Are you struggling to find the perfect bridesmaid dresses that don’t scream “uniform”? The mix-and-match bridesmaid dresses trend is the ultimate way to showcase each friend's unique style while keeping your bridal party cohesive and stunning. Say goodbye to the same dress for everyone and hello to a vibrant, personalized look that’s as dynamic as your crew. We’ve put together some tips for blending colors like jewel tones and rustic feel, fabrics (satin or chiffon?), and designs that ensure your bridesmaids feel fabulous and your photos look spectacular.

What are Mix-and-Match Bridesmaid Dresses?

Mix-and-match bridesmaid dresses are a trend that has skyrocketed in the past few years. Given that it fares better for both the bride and the bridesmaids, its popularity is justified. The idea is simple. Each member of the bridal party shows up in a different outfit, varying in silhouette, design, or color, yet ends up in a complementary, cohesive blend of attires that is visually appealing and creatively enhancing. The result is a stunning set of bridesmaid dresses with each of your girls wearing a dress unique to their personality and style.

The concept took off after the pandemic when more & more couples opted to plan celebrations that celebrated individuality rather than tradition, which in this case is matching bridesmaid dresses! If you’re wondering where the similar bridesmaid look originated from, then let’s go all the way back to Ancient Roman times. It was believed that weddings (at least in those days!) were gatecrashed by evil spirits and the identical dresses confused them long enough before she tied the knot.

Weddings have come a long way since then, and matching bridesmaid dresses eventually became a tradition, which the couples are now changing.
And perhaps given that bridesmaids’ are your closest set of girls, giving them autonomy - by letting them choose attire for their style, comfort, personality, and budget - makes them likely to feel one emotion over everything else: happiness.

What Equipment/Tools Do You Need to Mix and Match Bridesmaid Dresses?

Whether you plan or plunge, you may hammer out your bridal look details through these tools.

Digital Vision Board

Do you know about the “secret board” feature on Pinterest? It’s a great tool to invite your bridal party to participate in the inspiration side of wedding planning. But before they can start saving their ideas, you should pin a few pictures reflecting what’s on your mind. Besides dress examples, include pictures from real weddings that reflect the overall vibe and aesthetic you’re going for! The board also allows you to privately group chat with each other so your messages and other wedding inspiration boards remain free from clutter. Start by sorting out the attire and then, move on to hair, makeup, and jewelry, so you can streamline the mix-and-match bridesmaid look one after the other.

Communication Tools

Consistent and clear communication is the key to successfully streamlining all aspects of a wedding party. In today’s technological age, this has been made easier with several apps and tools. Group texts on WhatsApp are a popular medium, but it’s important to set some ground rules so ALL communication is strictly wedding-related and discusses the problem on hand. Another favorite is a private Facebook Group, which allows you to post polls, posts, and pictures - all in one place to plan for mix-and-match bridesmaid dresses. It’s also easy to scroll back and it won’t cause your phone to constantly beep with messages.

Shopping Platforms

To curate mix-and-match bridesmaid dresses that harmonize beautifully, choose shopping platforms specializing in them. We aren’t joking! They exist. Many offer dedicated pages where you will find ideas and inspiration related to mix-and-match bridesmaid outfit trends with links to shopping pages. Seeing a sharp boost in trend, a good deal of local designer stores have also educated themselves on the idea and can help you turn this vision into reality. A suitable starting point is to have 3 to 4 shopping platforms’ names (both online and offline) ready before you let the bridesmaids in on the plan.

Fabric Swatches

Another important detail to successfully implement the trend of mix-and-match bridesmaid dresses is to source the swatches of the fabric you want and send them over to your bridesmaids! Alternatively, you can ask your girls what fabric they are comfortable wearing and settle on one option. Choosing a similar-looking fabric is essential because think about it, different materials flow and look different, and won’t photograph in the same way too. Bottom line? If you have asked your bridesmaids to choose their dresses, offer them a fabric swatch each so they can show it to their designer and end up in the same outfit material on D-Day.

5 Ways to Mix And Match Bridesmaid Dresses

When the mix-and-match bridesmaid dresses trend burst onto the scene, it was a revelation! Brides had finally realized that their besties come in all shapes and sizes, and not everyone feels fabulous wearing the same dress. Some are more modest, and some are more daring, so having them all wear the same dress didn’t create a group of confident and comfortable ladies. And just like that, the mismatched bridesmaid dress craze took off—and we love it!

But how do you pull it off? Here are the many ways to incorporate different dresses for your bridal party.

Same Color, Different Styles

This was the OG of mix-and-match bridesmaid dresses– the original concept where brides chose one color but allowed their bridal party to select a style that best flattered their bodies and fashion sense. Still popular today, this trend is the easiest and works well all year round. We love to see bridal parties that not only choose different necklines but also unique attributes like ruffles or sleeves. This looks great in photos and allows your friend's style to shine. It's a trend that inspires creativity and allows you to create a unique look for your bridal party.

Different Colors, Same Style

If you love the idea of your bridesmaids rocking the same silhouette, spice things up by choosing the same dress in different colors. Just ensure the style is universally flattering! Instead of a rainbow explosion, go for a sophisticated look with multiple shades of a single hue or complementary colors from your wedding palette. This way, you’ll achieve a vibrant yet cohesive vibe that’s sure to wow your guests!

For example, if you want your emerald bridesmaid dresses, select a few shades of green and let your ladies choose the one they like best. You can mix mint, sage green and olive green to create a cohesive look that doesn’t feel forced.

Mixing Colors and Prints

Mix-and-match bridesmaid dresses don’t have to be limited to simply choosing different colors or styles. You can also create your mismatched look by adding fun prints like florals, polka dot designs, stripes, or other unique patterns. Make sure to complement them with solid-colored dresses in a color featured in the print to create a dynamic, balanced look that isn’t too busy.

Mix Different Textures

Another great way to mix and match bridesmaid dresses is with different textures. When done right, chiffon, floral prints, velvet, and sequins look beautiful together. The key is to select complementary colors while creating a multi-dimensional look. This technique ensures each dress is unique yet harmoniously tied together.

Beyond the Dress

For bridesmaids who don’t like to wear dresses, you can consider allowing them to wear an ultra-stylish jumpsuit in the same color as the bridesmaid dresses. These modern alternatives offer a sleek and sophisticated silhouette that perfectly blends with the other choices for a fashion-forward bridal party.

Tips for Pulling Off the Mix-and-Match Bridesmaid Look

Have a Vision

Before you start shopping for bridesmaid dresses, it’s best to have an idea of how you want the bridal party to look. Begin with your wedding theme, and then do research on social platforms or in magazines to get inspiration. Pinterest is one of the best places to look for wedding ideas so that you can get ideas for your bridal party dresses.

You can even find bridesmaid dress mood boards that give you ideas of which colors look great together. These can make selecting your mix-and-match bridesmaid dresses easier. Save your favorite photos, share them with your ladies, and let the shopping begin.

Give Guidance

Giving your bridesmaids the option of choosing their dress doesn’t mean you let them fly free. It’s best to guide them on the color and suggested styles, but you also need to give final approval. Why? Creating an aesthetically pleasing mismatched bridal party requires thought and preparation to ensure that each gown harmonizes with the others. You want to ensure that you approve of the dress style and that they choose the right colors to create the look you want.

Talk to Your Bridal Party

The whole point of mix-and-match bridesmaid dresses is to make your girls feel confident and help them embrace their individuality. Instead of going around assigning dresses, ask them what style or color they’d love to wear. If they don’t look complementary, give them other options to choose from! Make it a fun group activity. Plan a brunch and let the discussions flow. If some bridesmaids live far away, consider scheduling a Facetime. Understand that its your call at the end of the day, but just an open discussion can help your bridal party feel more comfortable and poised in their dresses.

View the Combination in Person

The colors and designs can look different in pictures than in real life. To coordinate the dresses, it’s important they complement both virtually and in reality. If you can watch the combination in person, then it’s the best way to see your idea come to life. But if not, order the dresses from one online store so the color and fabric variations are uniform in all the dresses, so you end up with a cohesive and eye-pleasing aestheitc despite the variations.

Pick Florals Mindfully

Dress is just one part of the bridesmaids’ look. Accessories, hair, and most importantly, the flowers, are what ties the entire bridal party look together. The bridesmaid bouquet can quickly add or distract from the aesthetic. That’s why it’s important to give it close thought. When it comes to mix-and-match bridesmaid dresses, matching bouquets is the way to go! And you will find the case for it in the majority of pictures online on the idea. Keep the mismatch to the dresses, and give your bridesmaids same bouquets to rock at the wedding!

Avoid Too Many Features

The saying “sometimes less is more” can reign true when creating a mismatched bridesmaid ensemble. A good rule of thumb is only to change one or two things.

For example, you can have different necklines and colors (in your prechosen palette) but keep them in the same fabric. You can also choose different fabrics like velvet, chiffon, and sequins but keep the same color. This will create a beautiful look that’s visually pleasing and not too busy.

Tie It All Together

An important element often overlooked when creating a mix-and-match bridesmaid dress look is something to tie it all together. For example, you can do this by having each bridesmaid wear the same hair accessory or beaded belt. But statement jewelry or shoes also works well too. And if you’re mixing and matching with different colors, make sure to include each color in the bridesmaid's bouquets. It’s a beautiful way to complete and perfect the look.

Shop from the Same Retailer

A great tip to have success with the mix and match bridesmaid dresses is to choose one designer for all the dresses. Chances are, you aren’t the first one on their door requesting for mismatched bridal party attires! They have experience, skill, and ability to help your bridesmaids’ pick a dress they love and yet create a cohesive, harmonizing look. It also makes the entire process easier as now all the dresses have to be chosen and picked up from one place, and you can be assured there’s no variation in color (for example, five different interpretations of pastel pink!).

Why Choose Mix-and-Match Bridesmaid Dresses?

The concept of mixing and matching bridesmaid dresses doesn’t just offer an eye-pleasing aesthetic but also has other practical benefits. Find 4 of the listed below:

Portrays Individuality

One of the biggest benefits of choosing a mix-and-match bridesmaid dress is that each bridesmaid can choose a style that complements her individuality and reflects her style. This allows her to feel more comfortable and also spend on a dress that she can wear with confidence later! Moreover, the trend doesn’t just allow you to choose a silhouette, but also among different color variations so each of your girls can pick a hue complementing her skin tone the best! All in all, the idea of a mix-and-match bridesmaid dress lets all your bridesmaids shine on their own, but also together as a group.

Fits Different Budgets

When you buy a similar bridesmaid dress for each member of the wedding party, there are chances that you might exceed the budget of one or more members. But when there’s an option for each member to vary the silhouette, color, or design, it allows them to choose an attire that fits into their budget. This works well for both the bride and the bridesmaids, as now the tough discussions on finance & budget can be worked around more effortlessly.

Unique Wedding Element

If you want your wedding to have a unique element, the mix-and-match bridesmaid dress is an excellent way to add it without compromising the aesthetic of your big day! The trend when done smartly can add a visual and creative appeal, making it memorable for years to come. Moreover, it’s one of those trends that blends with all the wedding themes. Rustic wedding? Have your bridesmaid coordinate in different shades of brown. Garden wedding? A blue palette in different silhouettes works amazingly. Similarly, planning a bohemian celebration? A mix & match with colors of copper, blue, and mustard oozes a creative visual effect.

Less Stressful Shopping Experience

When all the girls have to show up in a single dress, it can lead to a stressful shopping experience for everyone involved. Finding ONE dress means multiple consultations and fittings, making the process stressful and time-consuming. But when the bridesmaids aren’t confined to a single dress, they can shop at their own pace, choose their favorite designer, and still create a cohesive look aligning with the bride’s vision. They can also choose a dress depending on their body type, style, and comfort, making the entire process enjoyable!

What’s the Average Price of Mix-and-Match Bridesmaid Dresses?

The average price of mix-and-match bridesmaid dresses is between $100 and $200. Unlike traditional bridesmaid outfits where you will spend equally on all the dresses, the price of mix-and-match dresses can vary depending on the length, silhouette, style, and material. Here, you can benefit from another one of the pros of choosing a mismatched bridesmaid dress. Since every bridesmaid has a different budget, they can choose what style fits into their price range - making this idea a win-win situation for both parties!

Where to Buy Mix-and-Match Bridesmaid Dresses

Need to refer to research? We’ve gotcha. Here are online stores where you can shop for mix-and-match bridesmaid dresses.

David’s Bridal

This 70-year-old bridal store runs both online and offline and has garnered a name for its quality dresses and exclusive designs. They have a dedicated section on their website for mix-and-match bridesmaid dresses wherein you can browse the pictures, styles, and designs with direct links to shop for your favorites!

Azazie

Azazie is an online store for bridesmaid dresses with budget-friendly styles and custom-sizing options to fit all sizes. There’s an expansive collection of designs available to browse and you can also order swatches before placing an order!

Show Me Your Mumu

Designed for bridesmaids’ whose style reflects fun and bohemian yet has a flair of elegance, Show Me Your Mumu has a show-stopping array of dresses online. But if you need more help, book their virtual appointments where they help the entire squad with their outfits and styling from end to finish!

ChicSew

ChicSew is your one-stop shop to buy modern, elegant mismatched bridesmaid dresses in timeless designs and custom-made measurements. They also keep running lucrative offers on their website and social media so you can get stunning dresses for your crew without any compromise on quality.

Nordstrom

Nordstrom’s wedding shop has a gorgeous range of bridesmaid dresses, available in both ready-to-wear and custom sizes to cater to all members of your wedding party. With over 360 stores in the US, you can also take advantage of their in-store styling services to find the perfect fit.

All in All

Mixing and matching bridesmaid dresses is a fantastic way to celebrate each of your friends' unique styles while creating a cohesive and chic bridal party look. Whether you're playing with colors, fabrics, patterns, or even jumpsuits, the possibilities are endless and exciting. So go ahead, embrace the variety, and watch your bridesmaids shine together in beautifully coordinated individuality. Your wedding day will be all the more memorable for it!