Guides for Brides logo
Fairs & Events Planning Tools
bridesmaids dresses

Choosing Your Bridesmaids Dresses


Alison Hargreaves Guides for Brides Bio
Alison Hargreaves Updated:
7th of November 2022

Picking the bridesmaids dresses can be a daunting task, especially if you have a large bridal party with girls of all shapes and sizes, but if you stick to a few simple rules, then both you and your bridesmaids are bound to end up happy!

Pick your dress first

We recommend that you pick out your wedding dress before you start shopping for bridesmaids, as it can help narrow down the choices of style, fabric and silhouette. The last thing you want is your bridesmaids in full-length heavy satin gowns if you've chosen an easy breezy boho style in chiffon! You want your bridesmaids' style to complement your own. 

Consider the season

Your chosen wedding season can make a big difference to your bridesmaid dresses. Firstly, it can help you choose a colour - we love pastel shades for Spring, brights for Summer, jewel tones for autumn and metallics for Winter. Secondly, and more importantly, you want your bridesmaids to be warm in Winter and cooler in Summer, so pick your fabrics and sleeve lengths accordingly. 

Mix and match

The easiest way to ensure that all your bridesmaids feel comfortable in their dresses is to allow them to choose different styles to suit them. This can be a subtle change, such as wearing the neckline differently or choosing shorter or longer lengths, or you can set a chosen colour and let bridesmaids choose entirely different dresses. If you like the look of matching dresses but don't want to upset your bridesmaids, why not consider multiway dresses? Alternately, dress the maid of honour and flower girls in different colours to the rest of the bridesmaids so that they stand out. 

You pay

Traditionally in the UK, the bride pays for the bridesmaids dresses. Our rule of thumb is that if you're specifying that they wear a certain style, then you should always pay. However, if the budget is very tight, you may want to ask your bridesmaids if they wouldn't mind paying for their own dresses - on the basis that they choose something that they'll definitely wear again. Don't forget the accessories, either - be clear upfront as to whether this is something you have room in the budget for, and if you don't, let your maids choose their own jewellery and shoes. 

Check out some stylish bridesmaid inspiration here!

Alison Hargreaves Guides for Brides Bio

About the author


Alison Hargreaves

Alison has been advising brides, grooms and bridesmaids for more than 25 years. She has an unrivalled knowledge of the British wedding industry and frequently appears on podcasts and expert panels. She regularly attends international wedding conferences to keep the UK at the forefront of wedding planning trends.

Read More

Search for venues & suppliers near you


  • All Locations
  • Overseas