How to Mix & Match Bridesmaid Dresses

Tips for styling your bridesmaids with individual flair

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Mix and match bridesmaid dresses are probably one of the most enduring trends in weddings. Not only are they fresh and modern, but they're also inclusive of all your girls' shapes, styles and colouring. But unless you're a professional stylist, putting together a collection of mix and match bridesmaid dresses can easily go from a chic line up, to mis-matched mess. But, as always, we're here to help!

Photo by Gillian Higgins via One Fab Day

How to Mix and Match Bridesmaid Dresses

While you want each bridesmaid to rock a look she loves, it's helpful to keep cohesion, whether it's styling within a colour palette, wearing similar dresses with different necklines, or keeping the dresses all the same length, tone or texture.
Mix and match dresses do allow your bridesmaids to go off and find their own dresses, but ask them to share their ideas on WhatsApp so you can reference them against the other dresses. (A separate dress group is a good idea so you can stay on topic!)
Because mix and match dresses allow maximum flexibility, talk to your bridesmaids about the styles and colours they are most comfortable with to help you with your search.
For maximum ease, look to brands that offer mix and match styles as part of their collection, or even those with an in-house stylist, to help you style the dresses together, we've got some recommendations at the end of the page!

To help you create your own wedding-day look, we've rounded up some ideas for styling mix and match bridesmaids dresses, along with more tips, and ideas for where to find the kind of dresses your pals will love wearing.

1. Bridesmaid Dresses in the Same Colour with Different Necklines

This can be the easiest way to style mix and match bridesmaid dresses if your girls are shopping separately or in different countries. It can be helpful to stick within a certain brand if you're looking for an exact colour match, as 'blush pink', 'dove grey' or 'forest green' will mean different things to different people.

2. Bridesmaids in a Mix of Dresses & Jumpsuits

We're big fans of bridesmaids in jumpsuits. Brands like TwoBirds and Rewritten have jumpsuits as part of the main collection, making them even easier to tie together with the dresses if you want the same shade. We love that any ladies who don't want to wear a dress can still look the part!

Dresses by Reverly | Photo by Haley Ozier via One Fab Day

3. Bridesmaids in Ombre Dresses

This is one of the most popular ways to feature mix and match bridesmaids - choose a spectrum of shades within the same hue for a romantic ombre look.

Dresses by Naked Official and Misha Collection | Photo by Hannah Blackmore Photography via Karen Willis Holmes

4. Bridesmaid Dresses with Contrasting Tailoring

This look features similar styles, the same colour and texture, but with necklines and tailoring unique to each bridesmaids' shape and style. These dresses are just so chic!

5. Different Bridesmaid Dresses within a Colour Palette

Your colour palette for your bridesmaid dresses doesn't have to be limited to a narrow spectrum, but keeping things either muted, bright or pastel will help them tie in together.

6. Similar Bridesmaid Dresses with Different Silhouettes

Lots of bridesmaid collections offer dresses in the same colour and texture, but with entirely unique silhouettes. This is a great way to achieve uniformity while still giving every bridesmaid a style she's comfortable in.

Dresses, Custom made | Photo by Purple Tree Photography via One Fab Day

7. Different Bridesmaid Dresses with the Same Pattern

Patterns and prints in bridesmaid dresses are something of a growing trend, but they can look heavy in pictures. Adding in contrasting dress styles makes them look so much more modern.

Photo by Maui Maka Photography via Bridal Musings

8. Bridesmaid Dresses with Clashing Colourblocks

Why not give each of your girls a colour that's unique to her? This is a great option for brightening up a city wedding or setting the tone for a colourful bash.

9. Bridesmaid Dresses with the Same Texture

Texture is often used for mix and match bridesmaid dresses, but most keep it simple with fabrics like chiffon or a jersey blend. Think outside the box for something different; broderie anglaise, laser-cut lace, crochet, silk slips, chic scuba, brocade, sequinned, or maybe even denim!

10. Bridesmaid Dresses That Mix Patterns and Tones

If you love the idea of patterned dresses, but they can look a little busy in pictures (especially if you have a lot of bridesmaids). Try mixing contrasting colours and prints, or keeping the look cohesive with a central palette or theme.

11. Same Bridesmaid Dress in Different Colours

A great way of giving each girl her own look without having to double (or triple!) your dress search, is to give them the same dress in different colours - especially handy if you're trying to pick a colour to suit a blonde, a brunette and a red head!

12. Same Colour Dress in Different Textures

Sticking to the same colour gives a sense of uniformity but playing with textures like plisse, sequins and silk add a fabulous sense of fun.

12. Stylised Dresses in Contrasting Shapes

This line up look impossibly glamorous! These 1920s-inspired dresses are anchored around stylistic similarities, the pewter tones, the beading, the fringing, but each one is entirely unique, making them mix and match perfection.

13. Contrasting Dresses with a Loose Theme

These dresses shouldn't work well together, but they do! That's because they were styled around the theme of sunny garden shades - giving your bridesmaids a brief like this, will allow their dresses to be individual, yet in sync.

Where to Buy Mix & Match Bridesmaid Dresses

While the beauty of mix and match bridesmaids' dresses is that you can buy them from several different sources, there are lots of bridesmaid dress designers who do the hard work for you, with dedicated mix and match collections, convertible bridesmaids' dresses or contrasting styles in a whole spectrum of colours and textures.

Here's a list of some of our favourite places to find mix and match bridesmaid dresses in Ireland, in the UK and online. Make sure to check your local bridal boutiques, too!