Bridesmaid Dresses, Accessories and Formal Wear (2024)

FAQs

What is the bridesmaid dress rule? ›

Bridesmaids normally wear the same dress for the entire day, for both the ceremony and reception. There are often photos still being taken during the reception, so traditionally the bridesmaids wear their bridesmaids attire for the entire wedding. It makes it easier to tell which women are part of the wedding party.

Ultimately, a perfect bridesmaid dress should not only enhance the beauty of your bridal party but also make your bridesmaids feel comfortable and confident.

"We often see the maid of honor assist in covering the cost of the bridal shower (often in conjunction with a family member of the bride), covering her own costs and some of the costs of the bride for the bachelorette party (in conjunction with the rest of the bridesmaids), her own travel to and from the wedding, a ...

One of the old mainstay conventions is to have the number of bridesmaids in accordance to how large your wedding is; one bridesmaid per 50 guests is one practical ratio. Another rule of thumb is to match the number of groomsmen that the groom will be having, but as always, these rules are flexible.

A common approach when it comes to colours is having the maid of honour in the same dress as the bridesmaids but in reversed colours. So, if the bridesmaids are wearing pink dresses with purple sashes, the MOH might wear a purple dress with a pink sash.

Blush pink, a perennial favorite, continues to be a top choice for its romantic and universally flattering appeal. Elegant and versatile, navy blue is another classic that complements a variety of wedding themes.

If the dress is strapless or has a low back, an updo may be the best option to show off the dress. If the dress has a high neckline or intricate details on the back, a half-up, half-down style may be more appropriate.

While generous, that's still an exception to the norm. Generally speaking, bridesmaids are expected to pay for their own dresses and accessories; they may also be required to foot the bill for hair and makeup appointments and transportation to the wedding.

Some brides hold to the tradition of choosing the dress for the bridesmaids, while others allow the bridesmaids to choose their own dress. There is a simple alternative with a specific order to selecting bridesmaid dresses that keeps the process simple, and makes everyone happy.

There's no definitive answer of who foots the bill on bridal party glam. That said, the bride or the bridesmaids will pay for the bridal party's hair and makeup. Some brides cover the cost of glam as a “thank you” to their friends for supporting the wedding. However, this isn't always the case.

Do maid of honors give the bride a gift? ›

That said, practical gifts can also be meaningful, like self-care and wellness goodies to help ease wedding planning stress. Either way, a gift from the maid of honor to the bride is a thoughtful way to commemorate the milestone together.

This is completely up to you; if you feel comfortable footing these costs, go ahead! If not, it's perfectly acceptable to ask your bridesmaids to cover their own beauty bills (or at least split them).

Even though you're already spending a lot of your money and time as a bridesmaid, wedding etiquette indicates that you're still expected to give a wedding gift to the couple. Bridesmaids are supposed to get the bride a gift for some prewedding events as well.

If you want a more uniform look, then it makes sense to pick out a specific style of dress for your bridesmaids. But if you're going for a more relaxed feel, then letting them choose their own dress might be the way to go.

The Tradition: Historically, bridesmaids' dresses were considered part of the bride's overall wedding expenses. As the bride's closest friends or family members, bridesmaids were expected to shoulder the cost of their own dresses and accessories as a gesture of support for the bride on her special day.

Usually the Maid of Honour is dressed the same as the bridesmaids, but as huge advocates of a mix & match, they're many ways you can subtly have you Maid of Honour in a different dress to your bridesmaids.

In the US, the tradition is for the bridesmaids to each pay for their own dress, regardless of who is making the final call on what the dresses will look like. The bride should try to be flexible about the kind of dresses she chooses for her girls.