Picking out bridesmaids dresses can be a rather tricky undertaking, but an even trickier task is figuring out how to incorporate patterns in your bridesmaids dresses. So given all the other wedding planning issues you could direct your attention to, why should you attempt a potentially complicated task like pattern mixing? With a photographer’s perspective, I’d like to highlight a few reasons.
The first reason is that when the patterns are chosen thoughtfully, they photograph really beautifully! Long gone are the days when all bridesmaids dresses have to match perfectly. In recent years, you’ve probably seen the popularity of having bridesmaids dresses be the same color, but with different necklines and silhouettes. A more daring move is giving bridesmaids the option to select their own dress within a single color palette, so for example, you might end up having various shades of blush. With both of these options though, people are often choosing to have the dresses be solid colors. This makes it so that if you do choose to have your bridesmaids dresses be patterned, you won’t have to worry about being unique. Your wedding party pictures will have an added dimension and stand out from the rest!
Another reason is that you’ll be more likely to keep your ladies happy. A common complaint amongst bridesmaids is having to buy an expensive dress that they’ll only get to wear once. One perk of choosing a patterned bridesmaids dress is that it will look less like an obvious bridesmaids dress, which as we noted above, often tend to be solid colored. This increases the likelihood that your lovely friends will be able to wear their dresses again. Also, if the dresses are shortened, they could easily pass as cocktail or tea dresses.
A while ago, I had the privilege of shooting a campaign for Joanna August’s gorgeous line of bridesmaids dresses. Their offerings are a great example of how there is a pattern to fit any type of wedding. Let’s take a look:
Floral prints would fit right in if you’re having a garden wedding. With the popularity of floral dresses, you’ll have an abundance of prints to choose from and your bridesmaids will have no problem transitioning these versatile dresses to ones they can wear for other occasions.
I love the celestial print on these dresses! The metallic finish adds a touch of glitz and whimsy, and I can totally see these dresses being at home in a glamorous hotel wedding.
These watercolor prints are soft, feminine, and add dimension without being distracting. If you want a subtle pattern, look for dresses with small scale prints or with colors that don’t have too much contrast.
If you were feeling lost about how to incorporate patterns in your bridesmaids dresses, I hope this post inspired you to take the leap! Well-chosen patterned dresses photograph beautifully and will be appreciated by your bridesmaids. It’s little details like these that can make your wedding truly unique. Contact me to see how I can help make your wedding day stand out from the rest!
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