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

[Plife]

I’m having a Summer wedding in a beautiful manicured garden (weather permitting - it is abroad so very likely)

I have come across this image and think it’s just lovely. I had been looking at various shades of teal. So don’t know if I am drawn to this style just because I am over looking at blue dresses or if I genuinely prefer it.

What do you think? I will have 4 bridesmaids

I really don’t like many dresses labelled “bridesmaids” dresses so it appeals that I can just give each bridesmaid a colour and they can find a knockout dress in said colour

I think, to make sure the bride doesn’t get lost in all the other dresses, they could be one colour but different styles or shades of one colour different styles. Styles should still have some uniformity though (all long etc). Or different colours, same style. There are a few options away from the same colour same style.

What about this? For some reason I’m not so keen on having different dresses in the same colour family. Seems too contrived. Not as relaxed as the first images I shared. In my opinion. I prefer different colours.

I love bridesmaids choosing their own dresses and not having them wear the same thing. Plus it's less likely the dress will be stuck in a wardrobe afterwards.

I prefer it when they either have a set pallet (eg any dress in pink) or a set style (eg any longer evening dress in black) as that looks more coherent and it's clear they are BMs not guests.

If you're going with this look, you need to be clear what you would like eg would you prefer to check the dress before hand or do you trust them? How much are you willing to contribute towards the dress?

The fabrics need to be the same texture and they need to be unified by features like length.
The easier way to do it (but not cheap) is to get bridesmaid dresses from the same brand which should have complimentary tones of colour in the range. Letting them select dresses independently runs the risk of coming back with dresses of clashing tones/ saturation.

The hairstyles are all similar on the pictures that work more effectively.

Satin can be a very unforgiving fabric.

I like the mix of pastel colours but these bridesmaids don’t look like bridesmaids, they are wearing average looking dresses that you’d wear on a summer day so I do think they’d need something a bit more wow

I think it would be best to either do the same style dress but let everyone choose their own colour, or choose a colour and let them choose their own shade of that colour and style of dress. I went to a wedding once where the colour was green and the bridesmaids all had different style dresses in different shades of green (some might have had patterns as well, I can't remember now). It looked really good.

I think the reason why your first photo works is that it is very much a sugared almond palette and attention has been given to the flowers to make it look deliberate. So if for eg having selected a colour everything that bridesmaid has is in that colour - so shoes flowers and any jewellery or hair reflects that it should look considered. If you can then incorporate all the colours into other aspects of the wedding theme - eg venue/table flowers/corsages for groomsmen and mothers etc it will all start to look much more cohesive. I'd also set a few rules for the bridesmaid dresses - eg all floor length with elbow length sleeves (or strapless with a shrug that can come off later).

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.

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

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

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

Sorry, clicked on YABU by accident.

I think the bridesmaids look fab in that picture.

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?)

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.

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 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.

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.

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).

Totally agree re. bride blending in too.

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.

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 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💕💗