The Ultimate Guide to Patterned Bridesmaids Dresses: Tips for Choosing the Perfect Prints

Patterned bridesmaid dresses are a fun, playful option for today’s modern bride. While the trend used to be a wedding taboo once uon a time, mismatched bridesmaids’ dresses have now secured their place in today’s wedding designs. Whether you are choosing to change up the color, length, fabric, or style of the dress, adding some diversity to your party’s attire is fun, unique, and more personal–not to mention absolutely gorgeous.

We’ve covered a few of the do’s and don’ts when choosing mismatched bridesmaid’s dresses for your party before. Today, I’m taking it a step further and giving you a few guidelines for choosing patterned bridesmaid dresses.

Patterned dresses are a great way to show off your personality, and can add a touch of whimsy and creativity to your big day. There are a few key things to keep in mind while figuring out the perfect patterned look for your wedding party. Bookmark this blog for the best tips for mastering the trend of pretty patterned bridesmaid dresses.

Consistency Is Key

The key to putting together a foolproof ensemble for your bridesmaids is to try and keep the pattern consistent. Too many mismatching patterns can potentially end up looking chaotic, and you want your bridal party to look like they belong together.

One way you can easily do this is to assign one pattern to the whole bridal party and let them choose varied silhouettes. You can also expand on this by helping your girls pick different prints, but keeping the color of each dress the same.

Pick A Palette

Another option for keeping your party’s patterns in line is to choose a color palette and opt for prints that keep within that palette. You could go for a general theme like pastels, or a tighter palette like shades of green. Don’t be afraid to branch out a little and experiment with colors until you find shades that look great together. (The website Canva has a great color palette tool if you’re looking for inspiration!)

Once you’ve picked your palette, you and your bridesmaids can look for dresses that keep within that palette so that everybody looks unique but cohesive. You can expand on this option by sticking to the same colors but picking prints in different sizes, styles, and scales.

Designate a ‘Maid to Sport the Pattern

If you are in love with the idea of incorporating patterns into your party but are nervous about too many shapes and shades competing with each other, consider selecting one person to rock the design and then coordinate the rest of the dresses from there. You’ll have lots of room to mix and match with different colors! Having a few bridesmaids in solids will add some additional depth and visual interest to your party pictures.

Play With Scale

Another option for creating a cohesive look with lots of individuality is to choose prints in different scales. For example, some bridesmaids could wear large florals while others could wear ditsy. This look works best if you have a limited color palette for the main background of each dress. An easy way to do this is to start with one pattern and then build on that print with another pattern that complements its color and design.

Choose A Theme

Once you’ve decided on the pattern you want to go with, you’ll want to settle on a theme for your printed dresses. The kind of wedding you’re having can help immensely when making this decision. Need ideas? Here are some popular examples to get you started:

Floral: Floral prints are classic, timeless, and leave you with tons of options when shopping for dresses. They’re perfect for a wedding during any time of the year but would look particularly stunning during a spring, barnyard, or outdoor wedding.

Geometric: Geometric prints are fun, funky, and modern. They look great for summer weddings and add a bright pop of interest. These prints are perfect for an artsy bride.

Tropical: Leafy tropical prints are a great idea for a beach, destination, or island wedding.

Minimize the Bouquets

If any of your girls are rocking floral bridesmaid dresses, it’s best to contrast it with a simple bouquet for each person. Consider keeping the bouquet in one consistent, neutral color that complements any print.

Overall, think of patterned bridesmaids’ dresses as you would with any other mismatched dress scenario: keep one (or two) things consistent throughout the party. In this case, it is the pattern (and potentially the color) you choose. The rest can be up to the bridesmaids. Then all you have to do is sit back and relax, and see firsthand just how creative your bridal besties can be!

Are your babes wearing patterned bridesmaid dresses? Show us on Instagram or TikTok @lulus using #lovelulus––if you’re still searching for the perfect styles head to our Bridesmaid Dresses shop!