Who doesn’t have a bridal party with different style preferences for their bridesmaid and/or “bridesmen” look? It’s way common to find major differences between your friends.
Let’s celebrate these differences by offering inspiration and tips for your bridal party, and most of all, fun and memories for all. Plus, EPIC pictures!
Let’s start with choosing your bridal party. Wedding traditions in the midst of Covid-19 have loosened up a bit and that is all good. Especially for Brides-t-be who has a style that may not fit into a traditional wedding gown. So many choices here to choose from – all gals, mixed – gals + guys, an uneven number of bridesmaids vs. groomsmen, no bridal party, or having mixed ages of attendants. A trend that has been around for a bit is a mixed bridal party – gals and guys. I think this has stayed popular because who doesn’t have a guy friend that you’re close to and want in your bridal party?
Once you have your bridesmaids selected, it’s time to think about what they are going to wear. To save yourself some stress, decide on a look and color scheme before you ask your group to be by your side on your wedding day. For example, for your gals, different color dresses in the same color sash and shoes. For your guys, the same color bow tie or tie and pocket square ( my fav) or suspenders as the gals in the bridal party. One more tip at the beginning of your planning – check-in every couple of weeks with your group on their progress with finding their bridesmaid or “bridesmen” outfit. Onto the checklist …
1. The Dress vs. Jumpsuit vs. Separates
Whichever you select, this is the foundation of the whole outfit. You can either do the statement here or have the accessories be your statement. If you choose the latter, particularly for the guys that are standing up with you, read on for some coordination ideas with accessories for gals and guys.
Some of our favorite places for bridesmaid outfits and bridesmen outfits: BHLDN, Nordstrom, ASOS, Free People,
2. The Jewelry + Accessories
Personally, we love a good statement necklace, headpiece, or earrings for the gals and a bracelet, necklace, cuff links/tie tack combo for the guys. Make sure you check with your maids and men on their jewelry preferences. Also, keep in mind you will likely need to buy multiples of the same piece if you are going for the matching style and even if your not, it helps to give a cohesive pulled together look by pairing 2 of the same piece for your bridal party members. Another trend is to have the same style of jewelry in different metals, gold, silver or rose gold. Most of us have a favorite metal that we prefer and having a choice is always a good idea. Most shops, including Marti & Company, offer volume discounts for ordering multiples of jewelry for your bridal party.
For the members of your bridal party that have a minimalist style, how about a jacket? Which also works for the guys in your bridal party. For jackets, a matching look works or contrast in color also works. Your bridal party will love this choice because it gives them an accessory they can wear again.
Some of our favorite places for jewelry and other accessories Etsy, Kendra Scott, DoraMaeJewelry on Instagram, Sundance.com, and my shop Marti & Company. For Jackets, check Madewell, Target, and Gap. An added touch for the jackets – custom embroidery at your local Printshop. A source I have used & love is O’Henry’s Stitches & Prints, Cresco, Iowa.
3. The Shoes –
Whether you choose to go for matching shoes or letting the maids mix it up, make sure you keep their comfort in mind! They will likely be standing in these shoes and running around supporting you in these shoes 8+ hours. We are loving the block heel for that reason!
For a mixed bridal party, use the color, style, and texture of the shoe to give a coordinated look. Keep in mind that most metallics are considered to be neutral. Most of all, the shoes or boots need to be clean and in great condition to be wedding-worthy. Guys love their shoes as much as gals do. So ask for their ideas and include them in the shopping. If your bridal party is all guys – what fun!
Some of our favorite places for shoes: Target, Nordstrom, von maur, Zappos, BHLDN, and Macy’s ( Fabulous Sales!).
4. The Extras- Robe, Wedding Day Survival Kit
• The Robe
This is a new piece to add to the Wedding day outfit for your maids to get ready in and also take some cute photos!
Some of our favorite places for robes for guys and gals: Etsy
• Wedding Day Survival Kit – We LOVE this idea.
This is a nice touch that shows your maids and men you really appreciate them and want to make sure they are well prepared for the day. They are also super easy to make and you can grab all the items needed during a Target run.
Have fun outfitting your gals, and your guys too if you have a mixed bridal party. Let us know in the comment section if there’s something we missed and need to add to this list.
We’d love it if you’d like to share this post on your social media. Here’s the link: 2020 Trends: Non-traditional Wedding Party Looks
