What do you think of this bridesmaids look (totally different dresses)

Much nicer then matchy matchy imo.

I love the pictures OP, and the idea.

the worry for me, Scottish Huge weddings would be what is the function of the bridesmaids?

so whilst all stunning, looks no different to a photo of the bride with her best friends, non bridesmaid. So…..

im not sure, mine were absolutely wonderful. But almost like stewards, or visible helpers. Mind that was twenty years ago.

if you are just paying for the dress? Perhaps cancel that, say wear what you want, but my gift to you as a special friend is the room, or whatever.

Intriguing. Have you got a picture?

I think it’s a great idea. Are you paying for the dresses etc @Plife?

Love the idea and I guarantee your bridesmaids will love you for it. They can pick something that suits their size and style.

Back in the 80s when I got married my sister refused to be a bridesmaid unless she could have a purple dress. My other adult bridesmaid wore a matching emerald green dress and the youngest wore one in cerise in a slightly different (higher at the top style). Sounds awful, but they looked lovely and quite different from the usual matching dresses.

I think it’s really lovely so long as the colours complement each other

I think it’s really pretty & if you and your bridesmaids like it that’s what matters.
for what it’s worth I do think it means the Bride/BMs don’t stand out. Either a matched colour different styles (which is what my 5 had) or same style different colours would in my opinion give a more striking/cohesive look.
But it will look lovely it’s your wedding enjoy💕💗

It’s nice, but I would not say they are “totally different dresses”.

They are variations on a theme. And the colours all compliment each other.

I like it and it works very well, if this is the look you are going for.

however, if you actually want “totally different dresses”, in theory I like it. But in practice you have to make sure they don’t clash horribly and just look like a mish mash.

I agree entirely with this. So it depends on how well you want to stand out in your photos. Tbh it wasn’t immediately obvious to me which one was the bride in the first photo! So careful guidelines are probably an idea to if you don’t want to be overshadowed by any of the bridesmaids - which they could do intentionally or unintentionally.

Totally agree re. bride blending in too.

As all these photos are demonstrating, this is an idea that seems simple, but is actually very hard to get ‘right’ (assuming, of course, that you care about it really working, rather than just suiting you and liking it).

I'm going to agree with pp and say that the problem is that the bride doesn't stand out. She's just another woman in a different dress. I know that sounds odd! Look at all the pictures again.
All one colour but different styles would be ok, or not floor length but a pastel palette?
I agree with the pp who said they look like prom photos.

I love the mixed colour look OP but not the 'mixed bag' look in @user1474014317's photo (sorry!)

I was going to say go for the mixed colours but do make sure the bridesmaids communicate with each other, otherwise the whole 'look' could be very different in reality.

My friend did exactly this and it looked so beautiful despite totally different body shapes, styles, skin tones, lengths… one even wore a suit! Just has to be tonal, I would say.

I went to a wedding before Christmas with 6 bridesmaids who had all been asked to wear predominantly purple or lilac

There was everything from one very traditional style BM dress in Cadbury purple to a 50s style purple polka dot dress and one absolutely gorgeous floral midi dress. It was a gorgeous look.

Their bouquets were all slightly different as well as the had sized them to suit. One of the BM's was nearly 6' and another must have been barely 5' so the subtle differences in the flowers actually made a massive difference.

I think all the different colours and styles overshadow the bride. Usually you dress bridesmaids the same so the bride stands out clearly. In these photos she blends in, as the white is similar to the pale pastel pink and light yellow. White against all pink or all yellow allows her dress to be centre of attention.

I'd think of how you want the photos to look, if you want a colourful informal style fair enough. But what if some bridesmaids get the shade wrong, or pick styles that are overly bare or dramatic? Tall or large bridesmaids will stand out awkwardly too.
As a bridesmaid I quite liked the hassle being taken out of it, bride chooses dresses, no disagreements as we're all wearing the same. You could choose 3 or 4 styles you like, that go well together in some way, and have light to dark tones of the same colour eg light blue to darker blue, so it doesn't look dated but avoids the bitty, thrown together look. Or decide on one style that everyone will be happy and at ease wearing, so your dress has contrast. Eg long, modest, structured bust with boob support, flattering to all sizes, shoulder straps wide enough to conceal bra so they don't have to worry about shapewear or falling out of it.
I don't feel bridesmaids should be trying to draw attention to their legs, figures, shoes or trying to look sexy (aren't they supposed to compliment the bride, not camouflage her?)

Sorry, clicked on YABU by accident.

I think the bridesmaids look fab in that picture.

I completely agree with you. I’d rather have identical than same colour/fabric and different styles.

I really like it, but then I think getting your friends to wear matching dresses is weird and a bit cringe

I think having 1, 3 and 4 would look fine, but 2 and 5 just don't fit in and it doesn't look like they're a group.

Couldn't you choose a basic style (eg from the above floor length a-line skirt) and say they can have anything within that. I'd probably also suggest you either go for pastels or bright colours as if you have one who goes for the other it will again look mismatched.

I think the other thing would be that they need to agree colours and either pair or be all different. if you have 4 and 2 are the same, it will look like the other two are hangers on.

I like it… let’s be honest everyone in the same dress is a terrible idea… we all have different bodies and no group of women all look good in the same style.

I also like different colors too, I think all of the pics in this thread look wonderful.

I love it too and it'll enable the bridesmaids to wear what suits them rather than some generic uniform.

I think it looks like a photo line up before a prom.

I‘m not keen on several adult bridesmaids in the same colour/different styles though either.

I agree.
It might work if all the women were the same height and figure size but throw in a mixture of four differently sized women and it will look awful with different colours as well as styles.