Guest Post: 2018's Top Ten Bridesmaid Dress Trends

There’s nothing more fun than a wedding. You’re surrounded by beauty and love, as well as your closest friends! When it’s your turn to be the bride, you’ll get to have a lot of fun picking out dresses for you and your bridesmaids, and 2018 has some fabulous trends for bridesmaid dresses that you’re going to love.

First things first—before you go ahead and start shopping for your girls, make sure you’ve decided on your wedding dress, the color scheme for the wedding, and the vibe you’re going for in the ceremony and reception. With this information in hand, you’ll be set with all the inspiration you need to find the perfect bridesmaid dresses that are fresh and fashionable this year!

Colors

1. Florals for Spring

Florals are perfect for spring weddings! Match the gorgeous blooms featured in your wedding by dressing your bridesmaids in delicate florals. Chiffon is the ideal material for a light, fresh vibe, and the colored details on your girls’ dresses are sure to pop against the contrast of your bridal white.

2. Pastels for Summer

For a summer wedding, you can go for a dreamy look with picture-perfect pastels. Pinks are always in for bridesmaids’ dresses, and this year we’re giving rose gold and blush a rest in favor of the warmer nostalgia rose. More of a purple-pink, nostalgia rose suits most skin types beautifully and brings a gentle depth and elegance to the occasion.

3. Striking and Deeper Hues for Fall and Winter

Add a hint of drama for fall and winter weddings by selecting darker colors—greys, navy blues, and even blacks can be surprisingly striking colors for your bridesmaids against the contrast of their bright and cheery bouquets. You can add a fun twist to the drama of the dresses by pairing them with bright pink or red shoes!

4. Something Blue

Why not make your something blue your bridesmaids? There are so many blues to choose from, so you are sure to find a shade that works beautifully with your color scheme. You can even mix it up by dressing your girls in a range of blues across a spectrum for a multi-dimensional effect.

Textures

5. Glitter and Glam

If you are a fan of all things shiny, 2018 is the year for you! This year, we’re seeing some gorgeous bridesmaid dresses in shimmer fabrics, dresses that feature gold sequins and glitter, and designs showing off intricate beaded embellishments. Shimmer and sequins are perfect for a fall or winter wedding where they hint at snowflakes and fairy lights in a subtle but elegant way. Beading is the ideal match for a princess-style wedding gown and looks fantastic with flowing chiffon in both long and short designs.

6. Velvet

Are you looking for an alternative from chiffon and crepe? Velvet evening-gown style bridesmaid dresses may be just the thing. The lush fabric will bring out the colors of the dresses and add drama and depth. You could even play with a side-slit so your girls can show a little leg as they glide down the aisle. 

7. Lace

Lace is a stylish detail that is right on-trend in 2018 and makes for an excellent embellishment if sparkles and glitter aren’t your thing. A solid dress with lace overlay is both chic and feminine. An alternative is to mix and match different lace designs to incorporate this year’s mismatched fashion while keeping with a similar theme. Two trends in one? Score!

Cuts and Designs

8. Show Some Shoulder

For this year’s designs, we’ve seen a lot of shoulder on our beautiful bridesmaid dresses. Halter-necks are almost universally flattering, and there are so many options for the neckline that you are sure to find one that suits your girls. Asymmetry is making a grand entrance to the wedding scene this year. Join in the fun with a series of one-shoulder dresses. If it’s going to be a little chilly on your big day, keep your bridesmaids’ arms warm with long, ruffled off-the-shoulder sleeves while showing some shoulder at the same time!

9. Stylish Separates

A great option this year is to combine separate tops and skirts, tops and dress pants, or even have a one-piece dress with the top and skirt in different colors. You can create some funky effects with this approach, showing off each bridesmaid’s unique personality with the combination of her choice while still keeping the common thread of having the same two fabrics somewhere in each girl’s attire.

10. Mismatched Gowns

Photography by Meghan Melia

The final and most stunning trend for bridesmaid dresses this year is mismatched gowns. The options for getting on board with this fashion are endless—same design in different colors, same color with different designs, similar colors with different lengths, or even having each dress completely different!

The best thing about the mismatched trend is that you really can find something that suits each bridesmaid’s unique shape and personality, and you’ll be giving her something she can wear again and again.

Now that you have some fresh ideas, you’re ready to head to the store or jump online and start browsing the beautiful range of bridesmaid dresses that are available. We wish you all the best for your wedding preparations!

Author Bio: Carolyn Clarke is a freelance writer and fashion enthusiast based in Los Angeles, CA. In addition to her full time job as a buying consultant for small boutiques, she also writes fashion advice blogs that have been published across a number of digital platforms. In her free time, she takes her dog running along the Malibu coastline.