Key takeaways:

  • A quick guide to choosing flattering, affordable and coordinated bridesmaid dresses
  • The most important factors to consider before shopping
  • How to match your bridesmaids to your own gown
  • Style, shape and fit ideas for every figure
  • The most popular bridesmaid dress trends
  • Budget tips: who pays, how much and what to expect
  • How to mix and match colours, fabrics and silhouettes
  • The top bridesmaid dress colours predicted for 2026
Three bridesmaids sitting on the floor wearing blue satin bridesmaid dresses.

Top Tips on Finding the Right Styles and Colours for Your Maids

So you’ve found the perfect wedding dress, now it's time to choose the second most important dresses of the day. Getting your bridesmaid dresses right (while keeping everyone happy) can feel like a challenge. Before you head out on your shopping trip, here's everything to consider to make the process simple and stress-free.

A bride and her bridesmaid browsing bridesmaid dresses on rails in a wed2b store.

What to Consider When Choosing Bridesmaid Dresses

  • The style of your wedding dress
  • Your overall wedding aesthetic (modern, minimal, vintage, boho, classic)
  • Your colour palette
  • The venue setting
  • The season and weather
  • Your maids' body shapes
  • Their personal style preferences
  • Your budget and timeline

How to Coordinate Bridesmaid Dresses with Your Wedding Dress

Of course, the most important dress of the day is yours. So, your maids’ dresses need to coordinate beautifully with this. Start by thinking about the aesthetic of your wedding dress. Is it minimal, classic, vintage or something different? Whatever the general feeling, your maid’s dresses need to channel the same vibe, whether that’s sleek modern lines or floaty bohemian lace. Also, what accessories are you wearing? For example, if you’re wearing a glitzy belt, then reflect your look with bridesmaid’s belts in colours that match their dresses. 

Three bridesmaids in burnt orange satin dresses posing with the bride.

Bridesmaid dresses to suit your colour palette and theme

Your maids’ dress are likely to be the first pop of colour your guests see and will set the tone for the rest of the day. So, make sure the colour works well with the rest of your decor. If you’re not sure where to start, a colour choice based on the time of year - such as rusty reds for autumn or pretty pastels for summer, is a great way to narrow it down. Check out our seasonal colour ideas blog for help on choosing the right shade.

Three bridesmaids wearing matching silver grey chiffon bridesmaid dresses.

Read more: How to choose seasonal bridesmaid dresses: Colour ideas for every season

Popular bridesmaid dress styles

Bridesmaid dresses do, literally, come in all shapes, sizes and colours. That said, the most popular choice is often elegant and full length, in light chiffon or rich satin. Necklines also range from classic spaghetti straps to contemporary asymmetric styles, pretty angel sleeves or softly draped versions. Alternatively, a selection of cute tea dresses looks great at a vintage celebration, while chic black mini dresses are a fabulous choice for city centre, black tie event.

Three bridesmaids wearing black bridesmaid dresses posing with the bride.

Bridesmaid dresses for different body shapes.

Next on the list is finding dresses that will make every maid feel comfortable and suit their figure. The days where every maid was expected to wear exactly the same dress in the same colour are long gone. And most bridesmaid collections (including ours) have complementary dresses in various designs, that offer different levels of coverage, fit and support. Talk to your maids about the styles they like to wear and find out how they feel about…

Four bridesmaids wearing green chiffon dresses in different flattering styles.
  • A fitted silhouette vs a floaty shape
  • Sleeves vs sleeveless
  • Spaghetti straps vs wider straps 
  • Neckline choices, such as low, halterneck or asymmetric 
Four bridesmaids dressed in hot pink chiffon gowns, each in a different style.

Plus size bridesmaid dresses 

At wed2b all our dresses come in a range of sizes from 4 to 22, so we have every maid covered. Also, if one of your maids is pregnant or is likely to have just given birth, factor this into your decision too. Empire line dresses are great for pregnant bridesmaids or buy a longer version of a dress so it will fit over a bump. Chat to your maid and find out what she would prefer to wear. Our instore experts can also give you a list of local alterations specialists who can make any changes required.

A plus-size bridesmaid posing with the bride in matching wedding-day styling.

Budget and availability

It’s widely accepted that the couple pays for the bridesmaid dresses. So, be clear about your budget from the start and whether you would like a financial contribution from your bridal party. Your maids will have lots of ideas about what they could wear, so being very open about how much you have to spend on the whole look, including shoes and accessories, is essential. Also, make sure you start looking with plenty of time to spare. At wed2b our bridesmaid dresses are made to order in just 14 weeks, so allow enough time with a bit extra for choosing accessories or making alterations.

Bride holding up a bridesmaid dress while showing it to her two bridesmaids.

Trending bridesmaid dresses you’ll love…

Then, once you’ve considered all of the above, it’s time to have some fun finding dresses that capture the vision of your day. These are the colours and styles that we predict will be gracing aisles all over the UK next year…

Bride and three bridesmaids smiling together while taking a selfie.

Classic floor-length gowns

Sophisticated, floor-length styles are always our first pick for bridesmaid dresses that stand out from the styles your besties might wear at other events. Full-length skirts have an extra touch of elegance that’s hard to beat and will ensure your girls’ outfits also have a different feel from your guests’ fashion choices, too. 

Three bridesmaids in elegant floor-length dresses posing with the bride.

Modern mix and match bridesmaids dresses

Mix ’n’ match is also a trend that’s set to last. It looks great and, depending on your choice of colour and styles, can create a crisp, contemporary look or a lovely relaxed boho feel. It’s also super practical, meaning you can choose different styles and colours to suit your maids’ figures and skin tones. Not great at choosing colours? Don’t worry. Our experts can help and all our dresses come in complementary shades that are designed to work together. You can also mix ’n’ match fabrics too, contrasting floaty chiffon with luxurious satin.

Two bridesmaids trying on bridesmaid dresses inside a wed2b fitting area.

Trending colours for bridesmaid dresses in 2026

Three bridesmaids wearing soft butter yellow satin bridesmaid dresses.
  • Butter yellow - Add a touch of sunshine to your day with dresses in soft butter yellow, the fashion-savvy way to do a pretty pastel.
  • Dusty blue - Perfect for everything from your floral arrangements to your stationery, dusty blue is a stylish alternative to blush pink for classic or vintage themes.
Two bridesmaids showcasing three different styles of light blue chiffon bridesmaid dresses.
  • Chocolate - Rich and luxurious, this is the cool girl’s alternative to black. Perfect for autumn or winter, pair it with deep reds, warm oranges, plum purples and splashes of gold.
  • Deep burgundy - A great choice for winter, a deep burgundy or wine colour is a chic, on-trend nod to the season’s classic reds.
  • Neutrals - Alternatively, don’t go for a ‘colour’ at all and keep it beautifully neutral in black and champagne. Style it with classic white flowers and understated accessories for a contemporary feel.
Four bridesmaids wearing elegant dark red bridesmaid dresses.

wed2b Infinite bridesmaid dress collection

And, of course, your first stop should be wed2b’s Infinite Collection, which ticks all the boxes when it comes to bridesmaid dresses. With 10 flattering styles in a choice of lightweight chiffon or luxe satin there’s something to suit every figure and style preference. What’s more, we‘ve done all the hard work on colours for you. There are 23 different shades, so there’s guaranteed to be one to match your theme. Plus, they’re all designed to work beautifully together. So, curating the perfect selection of mix and match colours will be easy peasy. Simply drop into your nearest store today to find out more and see our range of accessories, too. Your maids will thank you, we promise!

A row of wed2b bridesmaid dresses hanging on rails inside the store.

FAQs

  • How far in advance should you buy bridesmaid dresses?
    Once you’ve chosen your colours and designs, all wed2b bridesmaid dresses are made to order and will be ready to collect from 14 weeks. It’s easy to mix and match dress styles in the same colour too, as your dresses will all be made to order and cut from the same dye lot of fabric.
  • Can my maids wear different bridesmaid dress styles?
    Of course, we actively recommend it! If they’re all happy wearing the same design that’s great. However, we have 10 different designs available in sizes 4 to 22, so you can accommodate everyone's different shapes, sizes and tastes. 
  • Who pays for bridesmaid dresses?
    Normally the couple pay for the bridesmaid dresses, especially if you’re asking them to wear a style and colour of your choosing that they most likely won’t wear again. 
  • What bridesmaid dress colours are most popular?
    Blush or dusky pink is an enduring and classic choice, while sage green and navy blue have proved very popular in recent years. 
Bride examining a satin bridesmaid dress closely with her two bridesmaids beside her.

Click here to check out all our affordable bridesmaid dresses, then try on your favourites at your nearest wed2b store. Here’s what to expect when you visit, too. Lastly, for more inspiration, check out our Instagram, Facebook or TikTok accounts.