The Mismatched Bridesmaid Dresses Trend

One recent wedding trend that fits nicely around here with our quest for budget-friendly wedding options is the mismatched bridesmaid dress idea. It seems that creative brides are finding a number of ways to offer flexibility to their 'maids that meets a variety of concerns: budget, body type, complexion, and style preference.

This is not to say that your bridesmaids should be permitted to go all willy-nilly with their dress selections. The mismatched bridesmaid dress theme should definitely have some legit parameters going in, presumably with creative direction from the bride herself.

For example, you might tell your maids: "Everyone wear black!" or, "I'm going with a vintage springtime look, so let's all do chiffon pastels in the color and dress style of your choice."

Or, perhaps there is a designer out there who's showing a rainbow of dress styles with slight variation - say, off the shoulder, strapless, tea length, floor length, above the knee, etc, all of which would coordinate well with each other.

Below, some samples of what we mean by mismatched bridesmaid dresses. Consider how this trend could work for your wedding party!

Contemporary meets vintage with these artfully blended styles in muted tones.
Pic courtesy of http://exquisiteweddingsmagazine.com

Romance abounds: flowy, short dresses in an array of dusty, floral shades. Pic from http://visualartspeakers.com

Summer wedding daydreams, dressed in peachy cream. Notice the variety of open-toe shoes on display here.
Pic source: http://weddingbee.com

Affordable Wedding Dress NJ - David's Bridal Online

Image copyright David's Bridal

Not sure how many people know about this, but you can score a pretty affordable wedding dress if you shop David's Bridal's website. Right now, if you visit the site you'll be greeted with a popup inviting you to take $10 off your order of $60 or more (you can easily get a wedding veil, or maybe even 2 for that amount). AND, simply by ordering you'll be entered to win your bridal gown free.

In addition to this and whatever other sweet deals are offered on David's Bridal's website... you can always take advantage of the SALE page when shopping for either your wedding gown or your bridesmaid/mother of the bride dresses.

For example, they have an entire page of bridesmaid dresses under $60 (ooh, there's that $60 price point!). While I admit that I don't have a close-up view of the dresses, they appear nice enough for bridesmaid purposes, and that's a really good deal if you ask me. I wore an Alfred Angelo to the last wedding I was in, and I paid $150 (for a short dress, no less) and thought I had gotten a deal. I'm sure most frugal brides would gladly cut their maids a break by forgoing the designer apparel. Plus, if you have any doubt as to the quality, you can always visit the store, sample/try on the dresses, then go home and shop online.

They also feature a page of bridal gowns under $100. While these are clearly just a few featured bridesmaid dresses shown in white, you may just be that type of no-fuss bride who's hoping to rock an above-the-knee style. In which case, David's Bridal has got you covered.

Over on the Bridal Gown Sale page, you'll find an array of exciting choices - from the plus-size in flattering A-line spaghetti strap for $200, to the deeply discounted Vera Wang bride gown that dropped from $1140 and change to just under $650. (prices not exact, and subject to change - check the David's Bridal site for current accurate pricing and updates!)

Affordable Designer Bridesmaid Dresses - CB's Limited

Image courtesy CBsLimited.com

The last wedding I had to purchase a bridesmaid dress for was my brother's. The order was for an Alfred Angelo design, fairly common, but I didn't have a lot of bucks to blow so I shopped around a bit online rather than just buying the first one I found available at a local store like David's Bridal.

(Additionally, I am a totally lazy shopper - I can't deal with malls, loathe dressing rooms, detest standing on lines... wah, wah, wah!)

So basically, I was right at home (and I do mean literally - right in my own house!) taking my own measurements, typing them in the little box, whipping out my credit card and putting in my online order for a bridesmaid dress at CB's Limited.

One convenient feature that I remember about ordering from CB's Limited was that they wanted to know the actual date of the wedding you were going to be in. NOT the date that you wanted the dress, but the actual date you'd be in the wedding.

I was honest about that, and the dress definitely made it to me in perfect condition, well in advance of the date. I want to say like 2 months in advance, even.

So basically, I was rather happy with my CB's Limited purchase - and I would recommend them if you're going to be a bridesmaid and are required to buy a specific dress by a specific designer.

Check them out - http://cbslimited.com.