How to Match Bridesmaid Dresses to Your Wedding Dress

Making sure that the bridesmaid dresses complement the bride’s dress is a huge part of creating a cohesive look for the whole bridal party. It’s easy to get hyper-focused on other big decisions about bridesmaid dresses, like if bridesmaids should all wear the same gown or the bridal party dresses should all be the same color, but what about how the bridesmaid dresses will look when they’re all lined up next to your wedding dress? Coordinating bridesmaid dresses with the wedding dress is key to bringing everything together.

How to Choose Bridesmaid Dresses That Complement the Bride’s Gown

Looking for complementary bridesmaid dress styles does not mean looking for an exact match to the wedding dress! An exact match would mean that the bride doesn’t get to visually stand out on her own big day! Don’t think of coordinating bridesmaid dresses as having to find mini replicas of the wedding dress but with color. Complementary styles are ones that tie important wardrobe details together in order to create a cohesive look for the bridal party or to highlight the bride’s look on her special day. Let’s take a look at some ways you can coordinate complementary bridesmaid dresses to match your wedding gown’s vibe.

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• Fabric: Take a closer look at the fabric of your bridal gown. Most bridal fabrics are also used for bridesmaid dresses, so chances are high that you can have your ladies explore a variety of styles made with the same fabric. For example, if you’re wearing a lace wedding dress, you can coordinate with lace bridesmaid dresses in a color that suits your bridal theme. Will you be in a classic white satin wedding dress? Satin bridesmaid dresses come in a variety of styles and colors, but the matching heavy-weight bridal fabric is a great way to coordinate with the wedding dress. Learn more about the most common bridal fabrics in Avery Austin’s guide to wedding dress fabrics.
  
• Silhouette: Another great way to create a complementary look between bridesmaid dresses and your wedding dress is to consider the silhouette. You can match the wedding dress and bridesmaid dresses with the same silhouette. Imagine the bridal party in a row, all decked out in coordinating sheath gowns. On the other hand, if the bride is wearing an a-line or ball gown wedding dress, imagine how all eyes will be drawn to her when she’s next to bridesmaids with sheath silhouettes. In both cases, there are complementary looks, but one method takes on more of a cohesive, matching vibe, while the other helps to emphasize the dramatic bridal silhouette.
  
• Colors: No, we’re not suggesting that you match white bridesmaid dresses with a white wedding dress. Sometimes matching is not the best way to create a complementary look! When it comes to color, creating a unique contrast or coordinating colorful details can go a long way to complementing the bride’s wedding dress. Traditionally, the color contrast is put into effect when brides choose a classic white or ivory gown and their bridesmaids wear gowns in any other color. A twist on this happens when the bride wears a different color. Imagine a bride wearing a black wedding gown. This would be the perfect time to contrast with white or ivory bridesmaid dresses, as it would really put the spotlight on the bride! Another unique way to play with color is to consider any other pops of color that a bride might incorporate into her ensemble. Some white bridal gowns feature color in the train or bodice, or brides plan on incorporating colorful accessories that stand out against the white dress. This is a great opportunity to coordinate that color with the bridesmaid dresses.
  
• Features: Take a closer look at some of the defining features of your wedding dress, such as the neckline, sleeves, waistline, back details, or embellishments. Think about how you can match bridesmaid dresses to your wedding dress with one or more of those features or create a purposeful contrast to draw attention to your bridal gown. Have a bold, plunging neckline on your wedding dress that you want to stand out? Choose bridesmaid dresses with high necklines or other demure styles to emphasize your neckline. Planning on a wintry vibe? Match the wedding dress and bridesmaid dresses with elegant long sleeves.
  
• Accessories: Even if you decide not to coordinate or match the bridesmaid dresses to your wedding gown, you can still coordinate a complementary look among the bridal party with the right accessories. Let’s go back to that winter bridal theme we mentioned in the last example. Think of the type of accessories that could pull everyone’s look together for that theme: shawls, muffs, cloaks, gloves, etc.
  

These are just some of the ways that you can go about choosing bridesmaid dresses that complement the bride. In each instance, we focus first on what the bride is wearing, and then plan out the complementary bridesmaid dresses from there. However, there are two other things to keep in mind when you decide to coordinate bridesmaid dresses with your wedding dress. Consider the formality of your event and the theme (if you plan one). Let’s take a look at how these two can affect your choice of coordinating bridesmaid dresses.

• Consider the Formality: Planning a super elaborate affair with fancy table arrangements under crystal chandeliers and all the works? In this case, simply coordinating bridesmaid dresses with yours by fabric, features, and the like is a good start, but you’ll also want to make sure that the gowns they wear are suitably formal. This might mean floor-length styles with luxurious detailing or embellishments. On the other hand, if you’ve got a simple outdoor event in mind, you’ll likely want to match your wedding dress and bridesmaid dresses to a more relaxed vibe. This might mean short bridesmaid dresses with minimal adornments, for example, that complement the wedding dress with lacy fabric, charming cap sleeves, or belted waistlines. However fancy or informal you want your wedding day to be, your complementary bridal party styles should match.
  
• Consider the Theme: Much like the formality, the theme should impact the type of matching wedding dress and bridesmaid dresses you choose. Hoping for a rustic or boho wedding in a classic barn or gorgeous garden setting? Lacy accents and billowing tulle skirts are likely on your mind for your wedding dress, so you might want to incorporate similar rustic or boho-themed details for the bridesmaid dresses too. Here are Avery Austin’s rustic wedding dresses if you need some ideas for this theme! Beach bound for your nuptials? Coordinate the bridesmaid dresses and wedding dresses to be stylish and comfortable under sunny and windy seaside conditions. Check out Avery Austin’s beach wedding dresses for inspiration.
  

Now that you know how to choose bridesmaid dresses that complement the bride, it’s time to start exploring your options! If you’ve already got your wedding dress picked out, jump right into Avery Austin’s collection of bridesmaid dresses and use the filters to explore matching or contrasting silhouettes, necklines, straps/sleeves, and fabrics. Still searching for your “yes” dress? Here is a collection of all of the gorgeous Avery Austin wedding dresses available, complete with similar filters so you can shop by your personal favorite features. With both bridesmaid and wedding dresses available, it’s easy to coordinate or match styles at Avery Austin, but if you’d love to have some personal support along the way, our bridal specialists would be happy to listen and help you plan out your complementary bridal party looks!