The days of bridesmaids all having to wear the same dress in the same colour are over, but that doesn’t mean anything goes. Read on for our 11 rules to dressing your bridesmaids…

1 Tall order

Slim, tall girls look great in one-shoulder maids’ dresses that break up the slender silhouette. Some layered draping and waist-defining details, such as a sash or bow, will also help to create extra shape.

2 Pass the buck

When it all becomes too much and you think you might throw your (eagerly saved up for) ivory Louboutins out of the window, then it may be time to delegate. Got that one friend who always looks perfectly polished and fashionably on trend? Great, get her on the bridesmaid case, give her your vision board and let her run with it – just make sure she comes to you for final approval on everything!

3 All in the detail

Don’t leave your maids’ accessories to the last minute or, worse still, their own choices! Make a plan from the start so your girls don’t end up with wildly different accessories on the day – especially hairpins, hair ties, clutch bags, etc – a mismatch situation here can lend up looking messy.

4 Colour check

Try to stick to a specific colour group when choosing your shades. Different colours are OK, as long as they belong to the same family and complement each other. See Motee Maids for beautiful hand embellished made to order bridesmaid dresses.

5 Go bold

Is your bestie your one and only maid? Then go for a bold colour when it comes to her dress – the contrast with your crisp white dress will be stunning and she’ll feel extra special on your big day, too. TH & TH offer a gorgeous collection of silhouettes and fabrics for bridesmaids.

6 Ahead of the curve

Beautiful curvy figure bridesmaids look great in empire-line dresses that lengthen and flatter the body. Add in an asymmetric hem or thigh split for that extra wow factor. If cleavage control is high on the list, then add a wrap dress into the mix.

7 Stay unique

Keep the details of your dress exclusive to you and stay clear of bridesmaid dresses that echo elements of your dress style. You’re the star of the show after all! So if your dress has a sweetheart neckline, then avoid bridesmaid dresses with the same style.

8 Be decisive

Giving your maids free reign to choose their own dresses may seem like a good idea when you’re in wedding planning mode – trust us it’s not! Make sure you have plenty of time to go bridesmaid dress shopping and have a clear idea of what you want before you go. Make a vision board with magazine cutouts, set up a Pinterest page and share it with your girls – anything to get those ideas flowing. Don’t go too Bridezilla on them, but remember it’s your wedding pics you have to look at in years to come so the dresses need to work well together.

9 Less is more

Outshine, upstage, overshadow – we don’t want any of that happening when it comes to your maids. If you have more than five maids, then consider going for a similar style and colour when it comes to their outfits. Think of those wedding photos – if your 10 maids are all wearing different styles and shades it’s going to be difficult for you and your groom to stand out among them.

10 Pretty prints

Plain fabrics are beautiful, but don’t rule out prints as being too ‘loud’ for a wedding. Florals are very on trend and look oh-so-pretty for adding a pop of colour to spring and summer celebrations. And floral fabrics are a great choice if you’re looking for bridesmaid dresses that last well beyond the wedding – this will appeal to maids who are paying for their own dress. Add a leather jacket, boots and your girlfriends will love rocking their versatile new wardrobe addition long after your big day.

11 Small wonders

Your perfectly petite maids will benefit from a deep V-neckline – it has an elongating effect. Draping and full-length gowns will give the illusion of height, while short, above-the-knee styles also look great on anyone petite.