How to Style Your Wedding Party
Modern weddings may include a bridesman or groomswoman, groomsmaid, or even a man of honor. Contemporary couples want their best friends to stand with them, regardless of traditional gender roles. Loosening up on how to style your wedding party doesn’t have to mean sacrificing elegant and appropriate wedding photos and cherished memories of the big day.
Unify with a Theme or Color
Everyone in the wedding party wants to look good for the happy couple and help to make their big day a success. Two unhappy bridesmaids in dresses that flatter the other four attendants will sour the photos and the event. Instead of shoehorning everyone into identical gowns, provide guidance about color, style, or theme. For example, a more formal evening wedding wants floor-length gowns for the women attendants, but they don’t all have to feature the same neckline, waist, or skirt style – simply incorporate a selected color.
Traditional religious venues may have specific rules. However, except in the most conservative houses of worship, these locales aren’t likely to prohibit variations in the cut of the bridesmaid’s dresses (although they may frown upon overly tight gowns or too much cleavage.)
Variations can appear with sleeve styles, wrap and empire styles, halters, or illusion necklines. Even two-piece styles can work. Tiers, ruffles, and variations in hems from mermaids to hi-lows are also good options.
There is more flexibility in a less formal setting. Outdoor weddings can inspire a variety of styles and colors, from Hawaiian prints on the beach to flowy, flower girl styles in a forest or meadow. Backyard weddings can subtly draw in themes that unite the wedding party with shared school colors or garden themes. In any of these settings, a mix and match of colors and prints can look wonderful and keep attendants comfortable.
It is fine to ask for a specific color or palette. Some gowns might feature the color in a solid, or ombre fabric, while others will include the special shade in florals or prints. Another way to change things up and allow some individuality within a coordinated theme is to specify a color, but not shade. Some of your attendants may look fabulous in saturated color, while others glow in a soft pastel version.
Another way to provide a unifying idea is to skip identifying a specific color and ask for glamorous or romantic touches instead. Evening weddings will sparkle with sequins or beads. Lace provides a romantic and elegant touch for weddings at any time of day.
Mixing lengths is another way to provide comfort and flexibility to wedding parties. Each attendant has a comfort zone with length as well as style. Taller bridesmaids may prefer a long gown, while petite women often prefer the proportionality of a waltz or knee-length dress.
Floral arrangements incorporate both the palette and the personality of the event. Formal events may use tighter arrangements of traditional roses, where outdoor or more casual breakfast and luncheon events use looser arrangements of wildflowers and foliage.
Mixed Gender Wedding Parties
Best friends come in all genders. Wedding parties are free to mix it up. On the bride’s side, a man of honor or bridesman can select a suit in the same color family or tone (neutral, earth tones, pastels) or mix colorful trousers and a sport coat with a patterned lining to coordinate or complement the prints and colors in the bridesmaids’ dresses. Bow ties and suspenders add a fun touch and another opportunity to add some color and character to the wedding party. Informal summer weddings might see creative uses of Bermuda shorts and the no-socks look.
On the Groom’s side, groomswomen can coordinate with color but also have a wide range of choices. If the gentlemen are traditionally dressed in tuxedoes, the groomswomen or best woman can also wear a tux. However, an elegant black evening gown would do just as well. A formal, black jumpsuit also works to blend in without trying to erase the gender difference.
Parents of the Partners
None of this would be happening without the parents of the happy couple. Their views on bridal party attire are best expressed by their own choices. Dads may find delight in going along with colorful suits and ties, or a more casual no-tie look. On the other hand, walking their child down the aisle may be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to go with a full-on, classic black and white tux for the evening, or a morning coat, cravat, and top hat before the wedding luncheon.
Mothers of the bride have unique challenges in selecting dresses. Fortunately, there is a myriad of choices. Terani mother of the bride dresses provide a wide selection of styles and colors. Mothers of the bride have choices from floor-length to cocktail style dresses. Choosing a Mother of the Bride dress involves a delicate balance of the mother’s personal style and comfort with the happy couple’s choices of color palette and personality for the event. Trends in Mother of the Bride dresses can accommodate many different styles, tastes, themes, personalities, and body types.
Accessories, Hair, and Makeup Accent the Theme
Clutch bags, shoes, hairstyles, and makeup all play a major part in setting the tone theme for a wedding. Casual summer weddings with flowy dresses and male attendants in shorts may find female attendants wearing sparkly sandals and free-flowing hair. Evening events call for glamor, with sequined bags, heels, and polished shoes, or even evening pumps for the gentlemen.
The most important thing to keep in mind when styling your wedding party is that the focus should be on the couple who are pledging to spend their lives together. This is their event, and the attendants are there to play supporting roles. Best men or women should be given guidance about apparel to take the pressure off selecting their outfit, so they can concentrate on formulating a memorable toast. Maids and men of honor provide stress relief for nervous brides. Their outfits for the event should not heighten the tension but relieve it instead. Wedding preparation can last a year or more. The day itself is sure to be long and exhausting. Keep comfort in mind so that all participants can focus on the meaning of the event.
