Always a Bridesmaid? Always best dressed! Let’s all take a moment to thank the Gods of wedding fashion for finally cutting the poor bridesmaids some slack!

Gone are the terrifying patterns, unnecessary frills, and–honestly–UGLY bridesmaids’ dresses that condemned sisters, friends, and cousins to entire days trapped in sympathetic awkwardness.

These days, Brides have changed their tune and don’t seem to be purposely trying to torment their Bridesmaids...in most cases.

(To each their own.)

The dresses tend to be slimmer, more romantic in style, and flowy. They’re cut for a much more flattering fit, subtly textured or patterned, even personally chosen by the Bridesmaids according to a loose set of guidelines set by the Bride. There’s a much more flexible understanding that not all bodies fit the same dress, which allows for so much more fun in the wedding ensemble planning!

Brittany + Chris | Madeline Barr Photography

Dress length has strayed away from the shorter cocktail style, opting for floor-length skirts that add a higher level of sophistication and can be tailored to be shorter later if desired. A big trend that came about a few years ago and has stuck around was the varying shades or textures of a single color. This creates a cohesive look instead of a copy-paste mentality and adds depth to photos, transforming a wall of fabric into defined individual people.

Devon + Collin | Laurie Ashley Photography

The new rule of thumb seems to be: if it looks good with the bouquet, it goes! In some cases, the Bride can choose to have her Bridesmaids in several different colors or varying dress styles that still fit within her idea for the event. This allows the group to personalize their dress and choose which shade and cut compliment them better.

Brittney + Alfred | Fleeting Fox Photography

There are so many colors, cuts, textures that can all be combined to fit a Bride’s vision for her big day! Ideally, everyone understands that what the Bride wants should be all that matters. This is why we will always appreciate the Brides who factor in their Bridesmaids’ feelings to their final decisions.

Groomsmen

We have to be honest; groomsmen get the easy part of this whole wardrobe process. A classic suit is hard to beat, and when a group of sharp suits gets together, there’s timeless magic that arises.

Julie + Adam | Mike Thezier Photography

Whether the suits are a traditional black, shades of gray, handsome blues–or even the newest craze in shades of green, the variation of suit style over the years has been minimal. The old saying rings true here. If it ain’t broke, why fix it?

Ginny + Michael | Singler Photography

Groomswomen and Bridesmen

Recently, we’ve seen more Bridal parties incorporate Bridesmen and Groomswomen in the mix. We’re all for it, and these party members offer a whole new range of wedding ensemble possibilities to consider! We’ve seen suits in the same shade as the bridesmaids’ dresses, dresses that match the groomsmen, tailored women’s suits to match the groomsmen, and options in between.

Abby + Jimmie | Chris Ellis Photography

If you’re lucky enough to be in this position, feel free to play around with the possibilities and see what overall look the happy couple is aiming for. It’s still a somewhat undefined area, so dare to write the rules!

Brittney + Alfred | Fleeting Fox Photography