Non-Matching bridesmaids dresses - anyone do this?

ciferri053015

This is something I am considering because my bridesmaids are all different shapes and sizes and I know they may all have different budgets as well.  I was just wondering if anyone has done this and if they have any photos to share.  I figure as long as I let them know the color and fabric I would like it should be fine!  Any advice?  I've seen it done before and some of the photos are gorgeous!  Just wanted to hear from someone with personal experience

CMGragain

Daughter did this.  Her three girls were in various shades of Hydrangea blue.  They carried a blue hydrangea bouquet, too.  Beautiful, and it was easy for them all to find a dress at Alfred Angelo.

missdelilah

I'm doing this. Unfortunately I won't have any photos to share until February. I think it looks really good when it's done properly, and happy bridesmaids make for better photos. Try a google image search if any real weddings have a look that strikes your fancy.

LDay2014

I did it. The parameters I gave them were grey, knee length....GO. They've both picked something completely different, different styles, different textures, different shades. I'm happy they'll be comfortable in whatever they've chosen.

ciferri053015

Yes! Everyone seems to be fighting with me about how it's my wedding and I get to choose whatever I want, but I choose to have a low-stress wedding with a happy bridal party. These people are my friends, not my robots. I want them to feel valued and also for their personalities to shine through

vulpiepop

I'm doing this. I specified the color and length and am letting them decide on what they want to do. I didn't specify fabric though.

holyguacamole79

I did this, and I was in a wedding where the bride did this. I was very appreciative as a BM.

April192002

Depending on what color/fabric you choose, they are likely to pick different dresses, assuming that there are enough options. If you want to make sure that the majority of them aren't picking the same dress then I would see about trying to get everyone together. My concern would be that 2 of 3 will pick the same thing, so the 3rd person is the odd ball, unless it's your MOH then it's seems perfectly normal that she's a little different. Are you giving the men options as well? Though theirs might not be as obvious, there are different tux or suit cuts/styles as well as vest and tie fabrics.

OliveOilsMom

I was in a wedding in early July, we all had different fabrics in the same DB color.

ahyatt87

I did this. My bridesmaids were all in the same shade of purple, but different dresses. They were also all different shapes and they all got to chose a dress they liked and fit their shape.

vmj23

I did...my 3 girls were a wide range in age and different personality. they def wouldn't have all looked good in the same dress. I picked the color and let them pick what they wanted. They all choose the same shade of gray (from davids) in 3 different styles (all short dresses, but 1 was even a diff material than others). They picked their own shoes...each ended up in a diff color show, but I think all still looked great in pics. I don't want to post any pics on here, without their consent but I prefer the mismatched looked.

ciferri053015

Thanks ladies!  I definitely prefer the mismatched look too, I just have to figure out HOW I'm going to mismatch them lol

shaylagirl

I just had a MOH (my best friend) and a BM (my sister).  Not only did we not do matchy-match, we didn't do matchy-match in colors, fabrics or length. 

OliveOilsMom

ciferri053015 said:

Thanks ladies!  I definitely prefer the mismatched look too, I just have to figure out HOW I'm going to mismatch them lol

Just find a store or designer that falls within their budget and that you like.  Give them the color and let them choose! 

manateehugger

I found designer price ranges, asked everyone for a budget, picked a designer I liked that fit into all their budgets (Alfred Sung), sent them a link to the designer's website and had them pick any dress within my fabric, length, and color restriction.

Worked out great.

starlite21l

We're planning on doing this!  I've picked the designer and color and each girl is picking their own style.  We're going for this kind of look (bottom right)

http://www.stylemepretty.com/gallery/picture/1406209/

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/22588435606431981/

southernbelle0915

If they all have pretty low budgets, Target has BM dresses in a bunch of different styles. You could say: "knee length and chiffon in Cool Mint... go!" They could pick any of these for under $60:

http://www.target.com/p/tevolio-women-s-chiffon-strapless-pleated-dress-fashion-colors/-/A-14856493#prodSlot=medium_1_5

http://www.target.com/p/tevolio-women-s-chiffon-illusion-sleeveless-dress-fashion-colors/-/A-14709046#prodSlot=medium_1_1

http://www.target.com/p/tevolio-women-s-halter-neck-chiffon-dress-fashion-colors/-/A-14206441#prodSlot=medium_1_6

http://www.target.com/p/tevolio-women-s-chiffon-cap-sleeve-v-neck-dress-fashion-colors/-/A-14708950#prodSlot=medium_1_18

http://www.target.com/p/tevolio-women-s-chiffon-v-neck-pleated-dress-fashion-colors/-/A-14714317#prodSlot=medium_1_23

dragonavicious

I am doing this too. I wanted a dark teal color and since my bridesmaids had budget constraints I went with David's Bridal but there are lots of other options out there. If you use a more common color, like bright red or navy blue, it will be easier for you to do it cross designers. 

For me, I let my bridesmaids have free reign but I also chose some for them to try on (knowing which ones I thought would look good for their body type) They ended up choosing the ones I thought they would, but I didn't care if they did. 

My sister also did this a few years ago. She chose the dresses for us. They were the same color but different. If I find any pictures I will post it. 

drina0218

I did this. We'll see in 24 days what it looks like lol. Definitely outline color, fabric, & length if you have a preference. It actually make it easier for your girls to have some perimeter to work in and is less stressful to make sure they don't feel awkward with their choice. The one odd thing is that say you are buying at DB (like I did) and you have 6 girls and 5 of them choose the same dress.. then it might look a little strange.

drina0218

southernbelle0915 said:

If they all have pretty low budgets, Target has BM dresses in a bunch of different styles. You could say: "knee length and chiffon in Cool Mint... go!" They could pick any of these for under $60:

http://www.target.com/p/tevolio-women-s-chiffon-strapless-pleated-dress-fashion-colors/-/A-14856493#prodSlot=medium_1_5

http://www.target.com/p/tevolio-women-s-chiffon-illusion-sleeveless-dress-fashion-colors/-/A-14709046#prodSlot=medium_1_1

http://www.target.com/p/tevolio-women-s-halter-neck-chiffon-dress-fashion-colors/-/A-14206441#prodSlot=medium_1_6

http://www.target.com/p/tevolio-women-s-chiffon-cap-sleeve-v-neck-dress-fashion-colors/-/A-14708950#prodSlot=medium_1_18

http://www.target.com/p/tevolio-women-s-chiffon-v-neck-pleated-dress-fashion-colors/-/A-14714317#prodSlot=medium_1_23

Wow, who knew Target had BM dresses?! Cute stuff!

novella1186

I'm doing this! I specified length, color palette, and said "no satin" but any other fabric was fine. I don't have photos yet; my wedding is not till May 2015. However, one of my BMs found a website called Weddingtonway.com that we all had fun with because you can choose fabric swatches, colors, etc and then all the girls can find their own dress based on that. None of my BMs have ordered a dress yet because there's still plenty of time, but we all live in different cities (some of us are in different countries) so it was fun to be able to collaborate online, and if you go with that option you'll at least know the colors match. I don't particularly care if my BMs match or not, but whatever  

goldchocobo.defunct635829490514903826

PDKH said:

I found designer price ranges, asked everyone for a budget, picked a designer I liked that fit into all their budgets (Alfred Sung), sent them a link to the designer's website and had them pick any dress within my fabric, length, and color restriction.

Worked out great.

Im doing this with my BMs too.  Mori Lee, Claret in color, chiffon, floor length.  They all found something they are thrilled to wear

Knottie80294724

I was also thinking about doing this.  We had all the same color dresses but different styles at my older sisters wedding!  Looking for good store suggestions for bridesmaid dresses

manateehugger

@Knottie80294724 If you haven't, ask your BM's budgets. Then find a designer that fits that price range and is carried in a couple stores near you. 

I lived by google, yelp, and weddingwire reviews to pick out stores and vendors. 

MrsAndrewSeals

I am doing mismatched bridesmaids as well and ran into the same issue where they kept saying "it's YOUR day." My bridesmaids vary in age from 13-30 so obviously what looks appropriate on one will look silly on the other. I told them all navy blue, knee length and chiffon. They each got a dress from a diff store so they are all diff shades of navy and they all have an element of chiffon. I love it because they are all comfortable and age appropriate!!!!

merhead

I'm doing it in my wedding in a few weeks. The ages are varied in mine as well ... as well as the shapes of the women. They have touched base with me throughout the process to clarify my vision, but I really wanted them to pick something they liked, that they would wear again, that looked good on them, and within their budget. That means trusting them to pick their dress. I think initially they were worried about having that much control, but they have warmed up to the freedom it has provided them, and the statement it makes to them that it is THEM I want more than what they are wearing.

itsdrnotmrs

I am having different dresses! I have chosen four different style dresses from David's Bridal, and let them pick. They are all "marine" color, long length, and "mesh" type fabric. They are not all choosing the same dress so that's good! One is empire waist (one may be pregnant, and one will be 4 mos post partum), one has more coverage, one has a higher neckline, this way they can all pick what they are most comfortable in. They all are less than $150 and come in sizes 2-22+. I also said if someone hates them all, pick something else in that color and length and we can make it work.

Evalert

I just set the following parameters: must be full-length, same color, chiffon, and same designer (Bill Levkoff in this case). Luckily, even with those limitations, there are lots of options!!

PrettyGirlLost

I gave them five colors to choose from and said pick a knee-length dress in one of those 5 colors.  I don't care what designers they choose or what fabrics they choose.  There were two brown shades, two pink shades, and a champagne type shade.

So far 3 have ordered dresses from an online site (one pink, two brown), one found a dress in a consignment shop and is having it hemmed to be knee length (pink), one got her dress at David's Bridal (brown), and another got her dress from J Crew (champagne).  I have no idea what is going on with the other 4. . . guess I will find out when I get to the Church in 7 weeks, lol!

lauraga211

I'm doing this.  I have bridemaids ranging in age from 39 to 49 and my 14 year old niece, all different shapes and heights.  So I decided to let them choose their own style as long as the dresses were all floor length, satin, and chocolate brown.  Well, when we went dress shopping, one style looked good on 3 bridesmaids and another style looked good on the other 3!  I'm even letting them choose their own style of shoe but all agreed to wear a nude patent leather pump. 

KPBM89

I let my girls pick their dresses within certain parameters (David's "coral reef", short, satin or satin like material).  Three of my six got the same dress, two of them got one style, and the last got a different style and wore the straps it came with.  They all looked fantastic because they chose styles that they were comfortable in.  I also told them any shoes, jewelry, hair style and nails they wanted.  They got tons of compliments on their different looks!  It was awesome to see their personal styles represented.