5 Bridesmaid Dresses You Can Actually Wear Again
Beautiful bridesmaid dresses make for a perfect wedding photo, but it seems a shame to buy a gorgeous frock and only enjoy it once. So, why not opt for a high street dress that your bridesmaids can re-wear across other occasions? In this guide, we'll teach you how to find versatile dresses that will look stunning at your wedding and at a garden party, a dinner date, a holiday and more so it can be part of your bridesmaid's capsule wardrobe for years to come.
3 Tips for Choosing Bridesmaid Dresses They Can Actually Wear Again
1. The Choice of Dress
The shape of the dress should be in the midi or maxi range to maintain a formal look and have your bridesmaids feeling comfortable and elegant, especially if you’re shopping on the high street. We suggest treading the line between structured and floaty for a uniform look.
The dress should be well-fitting but with enough room for graceful movement up and down the aisle and – of course – dancing the night away in the evening.
That being said, there’s nothing wrong with a mini dress if that’s what you’d prefer for your wedding party – just make sure your bridesmaids are all comfortable with wearing a shorter dress confidently.
Our guide to different dress lengths can give you a further helping hand when it comes to deciding on your chosen hemline.
2. The Materials
The trick to choosing bridesmaid dresses that can be worn again is the use of materials. Try to steer clear of anything using taffeta or chiffon and stick to one material like cotton or viscose.
These materials usually make up the majority of someone’s wardrobe, meaning pretty much everyone wears them. This also guarantees your bridal party will feel comfortable from day to night.
3. The Colour of the Dress
These days, we’re seeing more mixed colours with bridesmaids. For instance, the maid of honour may have a different coloured dress but with the same style, or even alternating colours that’ll have a lovely look at the altar and in wedding photos.
The only caveat to choosing different colours is the choice of dresses is more limited in terms of what you can easily access in colourways. If you’d prefer to go traditional, with the same colour for each bridesmaid, your choices are limitless!
Joe’s Top 5 Dresses for Bridesmaids that Can Be Worn Again
If you’re still struggling despite our tips above, here are some examples of versatile bridesmaid dresses and how they can be worn for a range of other events.
1. Floral Dresses
Floral dresses look fabulous at a wedding. Representing life, growth and beauty, they’re a perfect fit for the wedding spirit. You can match them to your bouquet or the floral decor of the venue for a gorgeously cohesive look.
How to Wear a Floral Bridesmaid Dress Again
Enjoy the floral flair of your bridesmaid’s dress again and again. They’re fabulous for garden parties, allowing you to blend stylishly with the foliage. Or why not wear it to your next brunch with the girls? A vibrant floral look was just made for sipping mimosas!
2. Boho Dresses
Boho dresses give your bridesmaids a breezy, free-spirited look perfect for beach weddings and other outdoor nuptials. Pair them with strappy sandals, flowing hairdos, and wildflower posies to create the hippie-chic wedding of your dreams.
How to Wear a Boho Bridesmaid Dress Again
A sensational boho bridesmaid dress is made for so much more than a wedding. Once the happy day is over, put your boho dress in your suitcase for your next holiday. It’s an ideal gown for tapas, dinners in Spain, or evenings at an Italian piazza.
3. Tea Dresses
If your wedding has a vintage twist, try tea dresses as your bridesmaid frock of choice. This dress style, popular in the twenties, thirties, and forties, is so stylish at a smart casual ceremony. A little longer than a typical midi dress but not quite a maxi either, it’s easy to dress up for a wedding and dress down afterwards for anything else.
How to Wear a Tea-Length Bridesmaid Dress Again
Your tea-length dress will become your new go-to for lunches and, as the name suggests, afternoon teas. You could even dress it down enough to become your new favourite work dress. Just swap the bridesmaid heels for sensible pumps!
4. Velvet Dresses
For a luxurious look at a wedding, velvet never fails. Plus, the warmth of the fabric makes it a favourite choice for winter bridesmaid dresses. Add cosy and classy accessories like a fur stole and elbow-length gloves, and you’ll have bridesmaids who look as graceful as can be.
How to Wear a Velvet Bridesmaid Dress Again
Your velvet dress will become a firm favourite for evening parties and date night dinners. The sumptuous fabric always leaves you feeling your best, especially when you add a matching shoe and handbag combo.
5. Dotty Dresses
A ditsy, dotty dress is just adorable. The pattern is fun and eye-catching, perfect for making your bridesmaids stand out from the crowd. Plus, spots and dots are such a versatile style; they’re easy to wear for plenty of occasions to come.
How to Wear a Dotty Bridesmaid Dress
Make your dotty dress stand out at your next occasion by enhancing the vintage vibes. Add a bold bow to your hair and some Mary Jane shoes to lap up the compliments at your next party.
Accessories For Bridesmaids
Bridesmaids don’t just need dresses - some gorgeous accessories are in order to mark them as part of the Bride’s chosen crew.
If you’re looking for something to give your beautiful bridesmaids as a token of your appreciation, a piece of jewellery or other accessory is the perfect gift—it also doubles up as wedding bling.
You also shouldn’t forget a clutch bag for each bridesmaid to carry those essentials like phones and, of course, any makeup that might need to be reapplied.
Find remarkable bridesmaid dresses that can be worn again and again and again with Joe Browns. Worried about how your other wedding attendees will scrub up? Our guide to wedding guest outfits can give them a helping hand. We’ve even got a Mother of the Bride dress guide for Mum too! We’re simply full of fashion inspiration here at Joe Browns.
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