Are you worried about picking bridesmaid dresses that aren’t ugly? Hideous? Cringe-worthy? Want the most flattering bridesmaid dresses for all shapes and sizes? Don’t worry — you’ve got this! I’d like to point out that by reading this blog post, you’re already showing an interest in making sure you find the most flattering bridesmaid dresses so everyone can look and feel their best. That’s awesome to be a positive bride and that’s a great way to be. Did you know some brides purposefully pick out unflattering bridesmaid dresses for their bridal party to ensure they are the best looking in the wedding party? Can you believe that?! That sounds crazy to us.

You DO know that all eyes will be on you; picking out flattering bridesmaid dresses isn’t going to take the spotlight from you a bit. We promise!

On the other hand, some brides are picking out bridesmaids dresses that are ugly, but it’s not their fault. They don’t know where to buy flattering bridesmaid dresses in all shapes and sizes that will make everyone happy. It’s not like every bride knows where to shop for bridesmaid dresses on day one. And since every shape is different. picking dresses that are flattering for all shapes and sizes can sound like a tough task.

As a newly engaged bride-to-be, you can’t expect to know where to find everything yourself, so relax. We’ll help you with picking flattering bridesmaid dresses that aren’t ugly: these are beautiful, affordable, and will compliment everyone’s body shape and size. Your bridesmaids might like these dresses so much they’ll wear them again. And I think that has to be the ultimate compliment.

Here is the easy guide to follow when picking dresses that are universally flattering for all sizes: plus size, fuller figures, tall bridesmaids, petite bridesmaids, big chests, small chests, and more. Every body shape and size is different; why choose one dress and try to make everyone fit the mold? It just doesn’t make any sense!

1. Choose flattering bridesmaid dresses in nice colors and silhouettes.

Rule one in picking bridesmaid dresses that aren’t ugly: choose a cut that is as flattering as possible.

This can be tough, as flattering bridesmaid dresses for big busts, plus size, or fuller figures aren’t usually found in a standard dress. The silhouettes look different on all shapes and sizes: some strapless styles look better on one person than another, and some fabrics just do not give any movement or stretch which do not make flattering bridesmaid dresses for plus size attendants.

So, here’s a great option: these infinity bridesmaid dresses by DivineBridalShop are available in regular and plus sizes.

Convertible dresses like these are one dress worn multiple ways to accentuate each wearer’s unique assets. This makes the most flattering bridesmaid dresses for plus size, regular size, strapless-lovers, halter-wearers, one-shoulder styles, and more! These dresses are one option by AtomAttire and they look phenomenal! The price tag is amazing at only $47+.

If you are choosing dresses that have the same color and cut — and you aren’t interested in two-piece separates or a convertible style — consider the shapes and styles of your bridesmaids and communicate with them.

Communication is key to picking bridesmaid dresses that aren’t ugly.

If you find a few styles you love, send screenshots to your bridesmaids’ phones to get feedback. They’d much rather give you their ideas and insight and help you pick out bridesmaid dresses that aren’t hideous. :) And don’t get mad if they don’t like it; use the feedback in a constructive way to find dresses that might work best with the entire wedding party.

Color is everything, too: darker colors like black, deep brown, rich purple or navy blue tend to have a slimming effect in photos.

2. Let everyone pick their own flattering bridesmaid dresses.

The best part of being the bride? You get to pick everything! But we think you’re probably one of those cool brides who aren’t so hellbent on making sure she has the final say… right? And you want your bridesmaids to totally rock those dresses and look + feel gorgeous? ;) Great! Then, simply shift the task to them.

If you delegate the job of picking flattering bridesmaid dresses in all shapes and sizes TO your bridal party — within reason and with a few rules, of course, outlined below — you’ll never worry about a bridesmaid liking the dress because THEY picked it!

As an extra bonus, each bridesmaid gets to find a dress they love, have control over how much they spend and will feel confident in the dress THEY chose.

Here are some simple rules to give bridesmaids the reigns, in order to follow the proper flow, formality, and theme of your wedding.

BRIDESMAID DRESSES IN SAME COLOR, DIFFERENT STYLES

Pick a bridesmaid dress color from one retailer — i.e. auburn moon from Dessy, very popular for fall — and have bridesmaids choose any dress from the collection, as long as it is in that exact shade. (P.S. As a bonus, all of these are under $150!)

For instance, here is an example of three bridesmaid dresses that are uniquely flattering, yet in the same complementary shade.

Left to Right: Shirred Skirt Halter Dress, Blouson Bodice Chiffon Dress, Tie Back Trumpet Gown

(See more examples here.)

Here is another example in morning sky, a pretty shade of blue.

PRO TIP: Ask your bridesmaids to all wear long-length dresses OR short length dresses. It looks more uniform in wedding photos.

BRIDESMAIDS DRESSES IN SAME DRESS, DIFFERENT COLORS

This one is trickier to do unless you choose a color that is easy to replicate, like navy blue or black. Simply ask bridesmaids to wear any dress they’d like — either floor-length or cocktail dress, depending on the formality and style of your wedding — and let them pick any dress they’d like in that color. I like the idea of navy blue or black since everyone already owns a little black dress that they already love to wear and it is so easy to accessorize. It’s easy to get an exact match, rather than asking everyone to wear “blush pink” which may vary in shade depending on the material or retailer they select.

A navy blue dress is also a great purchase: most people already own one, and if they don’t they should. I wear my navy blue dress frequently as an alternative to a little black dress. A navy dress is easy to find anywhere, is available in a long-length or knee-length style, is affordable, and is definitely a style they’ll wear again.

I was a bridesmaid in a beautiful wedding where the bride chose a navy blue bridesmaid dress. The style is short and convertible (similar to this), and the bridesmaids still get plenty of wear out of it thanks to its versatility!

Here’s an example of the convertible dress in Sofia Blue (similar to navy):

Now, here’s an example of it in black. Can you imagine picking bridesmaids dresses that aren’t ugly AND are so incredibly versatile to wear again + again? Bride of the year!

And for the sake of showing how awesome it is when picking bridesmaid dresses that are universally flattering, here are the thirteen ways you can style this dress. It is a special design by Carlos Saavedra and is a two-piece bridesmaid dress that can be worn 13 ways, as illustrated below (shown in the popular Dusty Rose color). This is exclusive to Dessy and the price is great: $139, made of luxe jersey, wrinkle-resistant, great for travel, and — here’s my favorite part — MACHINE WASHABLE. I love it when you have a no-fuss dress that looks great, right from your own washing machine.

Like this style? Shop here on Dessy.com.

3. Don’t pick bridesmaid dresses that are too cheap.

Finding affordable dresses for bridesmaids is a great thing. The convertible dress we mentioned in #2 is under $150. and some we mentioned are even cheaper than that. These are all great price points to follow. We highly encourage picking flattering bridesmaid dresses that aren’t ugly AND don’t cost an arm and a leg!

(TIP: Have a pricey style in mind, and your heart is set on it? We recommend bride pays for them if they’re expensive, or defrays a portion of the cost to make it more affordable for bridesmaids.)

But there’s a difference between scoring a great discount on a beautiful bridesmaid dress or choosing dresses from the bargain bin online from some sketchy retailer. Besides the fact of buyer beware online, if something seems too good to be true — i.e. glowing reviews, all during the same time frame, zero reviews, weird return policies, etc. — then it probably is. And remember, very cheap dresses will likely LOOK very cheap. If you’re worried about picking dresses that won’t make anyone cringe, you might need to spend just a bit more to get a style that will look flattering on everyone.

You can get dresses by The Jersey Maid priced at $55+ with FREE shipping. They are affordably-priced but will look beautiful on your bridal party!

Read reviews before you buy, and if the reviews seem automated, they probably are. If you’re set on a certain bridesmaid dress even though it’s quite a discount, you can always order one dress just to check the quality before going all in and ordering all of them at once.

NOTE: Cheap doesn’t always mean a bad thing — there are plenty of retailers on Etsy, like AtomAttire or TheJerseyMaid, and frankly all of these convertible dresses that offer very amazing low cost bridal party dresses that look lovely AND boast rave reviews! Woot woot! Some businesses just know how to make it affordable and take care of their customers. Win-win.

Here are some places to buy dresses that look great on your bridesmaids. These are bridesmaid dresses that aren’t ugly — not ever!

Where to Buy Flattering Bridesmaid Dresses

Shop stylish + flattering bridesmaid dresses for all body types here:

– Dessy, starting at $139+

– AtomAttire, starting at $47.99+

– TheJerseyMaid, starting at $55+

– Divine Bridal Shop, on sale at $48+

– The Dainty Yard,

– RadiantRooster, on sale $55+

– ScholleDress, $39+ plus free shipping and free bandeau

In conclusion, we hope this helps you feel more confident when picking out bridal party dresses. The attendants you chose are your best buds, so chances are they’ll love any dress you pick.

When the big day finally arrives, it’s going to be amazing and all the stress and thousands of questions will all be worth it. :)

Happy Planning!

xo
Emma

P.S. Win bonus points from your girls by including these in their bridal bags. Happy feet = happy bridesmaids, and that means more dancing all night long!