Planning a wedding requires many decisions, but one of the most stressful is picking bridesmaid dresses that both you and your bridesmaids will love. As a wedding photographer with years of experience, I know that bridesmaid dresses are a crucial part of your wedding. Not only do they impact the flowers you choose and other details, but they also help set the ambiance for the day and create memories that will last forever. You want everyone to look and feel their best, but ultimately, it's essential to choose what you like since it's your special day!

To make the process easier, we've compiled a list of top tips and things to consider when selecting bridesmaid dresses. Our goal is to help you choose the perfect dresses that match your vision and style, while also ensuring your bridesmaids feel comfortable and confident. Follow these tips and make the process a breeze!

Most importantly, you’ll want to find dresses for your bridesmaids that will complement your wedding dress. What type of dress are you wearing? Is it modern? Is it A-line and embellished with beading and embroidery? You’ll want to choose a style for them that coordinates with your gown; however, you don’t want their dresses to match your gown exactly. If the two styles match too closely, you won’t stand out from them, and afterall all you want to stand out on your wedding day, not blend in.

One detail that should never be shared between you and your bridesmaids is the neckline. If your dress has a sweetheart neckline, choose a plainer, less dramatic neckline for them such as a straight neckline. If your bridal gown has sleeves, choose a sleeveless style for you bridesmaids.

If your dress is modern, try bridesmaid dresses that have a classic silhouette in classic fabrics. We recommend avoiding lace and chiffon, as these fabrics don’t really work with a modern look.

If your dress is embellished, try to mimic the embellishments without completely copying it. For example, if your dress has beading and embroidery, you might want to opt for bridesmaid dresses that are embellished with pleats or layers of fabric.

When choosing fabrics, if your bridal gown is chiffon, avoid chiffon bridesmaid gowns and instead opt for satin or silk. On the other hand, if your bridal gown is satin, you may want to choose a lace or chiffon fabric for your bridesmaids.

Considering the season is a must when it comes to the style and especially color of the dresses. Winter and fall tend to have people opt for more rich, dark colors like deep reds, greens and blues. Spring and summer bring more light and open the door for pastels, nudes, pinks and purples. If you’re looking for black-tie glamour, you’re going to want to go with more traditional colors like black or white.

Ballroom, church, beach, rustic, garden, city hall, formal- what kind of wedding are you having? Each of these venues call for different style bridesmaid dresses. Your venue sets the tone, ambience and aesthetic and it’s a must that your dress as well as your bridesmaids dresses mirror that.

This is completely a matter of personal preference and there is no right or wrong! Everyone has a different body type so finding a dress that looks and fits right of everyone can be challenging. If you are looking to switch it up amongst the group of girls, mixing hemline heights lets everyone choose what works best on their body. You can change it up within the group and keep them in short dresses and let your maid of honor stand out in a longer dress—or vice versa. You can also go with the same color different style approach.

The one thing to keep uniform though is the formality of their dresses- make sure they all look like they’re going to the same place! It’s also important if you choose different dresses to make sure their accessories and bouquets are the sane, to help tie everyone in together.

It’s important to be realistic about how much your bridesmaids are willing to spend! Keep in mind that it’s almost a definite that their dress will need alterations, which is an added cost.

With so many dress styles, designers, and fabrics to choose from, it’s easy to find gorgeous bridesmaid dresses to fit any budget.

Though choosing colors and fabrics can be overwhelming, you will find the perfect dress and stick to these tips- it will help you! Start looking at some inspiration photos, consider what is a reasonable price based off of the girls’ budget, and start deciding on fabric, color, formality, and silhouette. With so many dresses to choose from, it is a definite that your bridesmaids will look beautiful.

And last tip: be sure to keep your bridesmaid dress timeline top of mind. If your wedding is less than six months away, you need to place the dress orders ASAP!