Elegant Mother of the Bride Dresses

Bonnie Gown – Pewter
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Mila Gown – Emerald
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Crane Cape Dress by Amsale
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Ballina Dress by Reformation
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Silk Wrap Midi Dress by Zimmermann
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Mac Duggal Emery Dress
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Jenny Gown – Emerald
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Mac Duggal Maya Dress
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Pryce Off-the-Shoulder Column Dress
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Allover Beaded Cap Sleeve Sheath Dress
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Tadashi Shoji Odette Dress
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Jenny Yoo Ellis Velvet Open Back Dress
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Plus Size Mother of the Bride Dresses

Plus Size Chiffon Capelet Sheath Dress
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Plus Size Embroidered Illusion Gown
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BHLDN Leila Satin Charmeuse Dress
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Jenny Yoo Ryland Velvet Maxi Dress
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Sequin Lace Capelet Jersey Sheath Dress
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Plus Size Mesh Illusion Sleeves
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Gold Mother of The Bride Dresses

Long Floral Beaded Gown with Flutter Sleeves
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Drape Back Detail 3/4 Cape Sleeve Draped
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Beaded Sweetheart Neck Short Flutter Sleeve Mermaid Gown
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Kensie Stretch Sequin Keyhole Neckline
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Ruched Sequin Trumpet Gown
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Sequin Floral Sheath Gown
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Tea-Length Mother of the Bride Dresses

Plus Size Beaded Cocktail Dress In Biscotti
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Sleeveless Mikado Fit & Flare Midi Dress In Ivory
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Kay Unger Illusion Boat Neck Bodice 3/4 Sleeve
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Mac Duggal Short Floral Sleeve Bow Waist
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Wildflower Embroidered A-Line Dress
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Tea length lace and chiffon mock two-piece
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Petite Mother of the Bride Dresses

Alex Evenings Petite Size Jewel Neck Sleeveless
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Alex Evenings Petite Size Sweetheart Neck
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Alex Evenings Petite Size 3/4 Sleeve Sequined
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Pisarro Nights Petite Size Boat Neck 3/4 Sleeve
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Summer Mother of The Bride Dresses

Postcard Puff Sleeve Dress by Zimmermann
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Sweet Posy V Neck Ruffle Gown by Needle & Thread
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Selena Gown – Coral Venetia Petals
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Starfruit Maxi Dress by Farm Rio
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Long Floral Beaded Gown With Flutter Sleeves
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Short Sleeve Floral Embroidered Gown
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Short Sleeve Beaded Blouson Gown In Blush
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Floral Flutter Sleeve Knee Length A-Line
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High-Neck Floral A-Line Gown with Keyholes
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Brooke Gown – Blush Watercolor Floral
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Jessica Gown – Amaranths Spray
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Sexy Mother of the Bride Dresses

Twist Front Satin Gown With Cutout In True Blue
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Ines Gown – Steel Blue
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Off Shoulder Dress With Floral Embellishment
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Winslow Dress by Reformation
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Fairfield Dress by Reformation
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Off-The-Shoulder Crepe High-Low Gown
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Still shopping? Find the best sites for bridal party dresses & jumpsuits here.

Who better to guide us through beautiful ways to say “Will You Be My Bridesmaid?”

Will You Be My Bridesmaid Card Set by Little Carabao Studio

You have your love and the sparkly ring, but one thing remains—asking your leading ladies to stand by your side on the big day.

Of course, popping the question in style is an absolute must. Whether you plan to gather all your gals together at once or to ask your BFFs individually, a handwritten note to each future-bridesmaid adds such a personal (and classy!) touch.

I’ve always been a sucker for beautiful stationery, so I couldn’t help but put together 20 of the best “will you be my bridesmaid” cards.

Take a peek below at 20 cards that will charm your best girls…as if they weren’t already smitten with you enough!

Will You Be My Bridesmaid Cards

Now Act Surprised Card by Lucky Notes via Etsy

Handmade Will You Be My Bridesmaid Set by Little Carabao Studio via Etsy

Bridesmaid Proposal Photo Card by A Wild Bloom Printables via Etsy

Watercolor Will You Be My Bridesmaid Cards by Your New Friend Sam via Etsy

Bridesmaid Proposal Scratch Off Card by Warwick Sunday via Etsy

Matron Of Honor? Proposal Card by Abbey Ratcliff via Etsy

Plantable Flower Seed Paper Bridesmaid Proposal Card by Seed Wedding Favors via Etsy

Ain't No Party Like A Bridal Party Card by Lucky Notes via Etsy

Bridesmaid Proposal Box by The Dancing Wick via Etsy

Will You Be My Maid of Honor Handmade Card by August and White Design via Etsy

Vellum Foiled Bridesmaid Proposal Cards by Leigh Louise Creative via Etsy

Beyonce Bridesmaid Card by A Couple Puns via Etsy

Minimalist Bridesmaid Definition Card by JCEdits via Etsy

Ombre Hairtie Bridesmaid Set by Love Mia Co via Etsy

1970s Style Will You Be My Bridesmaid Card by Blush and Blossom Paper via Etsy

I Got The Ring But I Need One More Thing Card by One More Glass of Wine via Etsy

Friends Bridesmaid Proposal Card by Golden HR Graphics via Etsy

Funny Bridesmaid Proposal Card by Letters and Lines Art via Etsy

Funny Bridesmaid Cards by Coffee Then Chaos via Etsy

Personalized Scratch Off Bridesmaid Proposal Card by Bride O via Etsy

There you have it—20 of the most lovely cards I've ever laid eyes on!

Which cards do you fancy the most? I'm partial to the handmaid paper bridesmaid suite – would just as beautiful as your wedding invitation suite!

Once you've popped the question to your girls, here are our favorite places to shop for bridesmaid dresses.

So far this week, we've talked boho styling, unique or uniform dresses, and what it's like not to have a bridal party at all.

And today, it's all about the hair!

Photo by Brumley And Wells via Style Me Pretty

As with the dresses, you can choose to go as uniform or unique as you like for your bridesmaids' hair.

Some brides love the idea (and ease) of all their girls looking the same lined up in a row, while for others, they'd rather let their friends rock their own looks (especially if your bridesmaids have different hair types or lengths).

The most important thing though is to chat with your friends about how they'd like to wear their hair, and what they'll be most comfortable with.

While you may dream of a line of long mermaid braids or stiff buns, it's not fair to pressure your friends into growing/cutting/dying/straightening their hair for your wedding day vision. Adapt their gorgeous, natural locks into a look you'll both love.

While brides themselves often err on the side of caution with classic style, bridesmaids can be a bit more creative and playful with their looks, with plaits, flowers, pony-tails or half-up styles. Be sure the look you pick is something your hairstylist will have time to do (especially if you have several bridesmaids).

To help you decide, we've rounded up 20 gorgeous bridesmaid hairstyles for inspiration – we bet there's at least one your ladies will love…

1. Short Hair Upstyle

Hair by Nika Zaiceva, Photo by Antonova Kseniya via Burnett's Boards

2. Softly to the Side

Photo by Jose Villa for PPS Couture via Bridal Musings

3. Flowers in Her Hair

Hair by George Maraskas, Photo by Fiorello Photography via Bridal Musings

4. Adorned Braid

Hair by Team Hair & Makeup, Accessory by Bel Aire Bridal, Photo by KT Merry Photography via Bridal Musings

5. Pony Tail Twist

Hair by Frantzeska Koukoula, Photo by Alexis Rose Photography via Bridal Musings

6. Beehive Braid

Hair by Harriet Cook MUA, Photo by Jessica Withey Photography via Bridal Musings

7. Coiffed Curls

Hair by Team Hair & Makeup, Accessory by Bel Aire Bridal, Photo by KT Merry Photography via Bridal Musings

8. Roll Under

Hair by Face Time Beauty Concierge, Photo by Judy Pak Photography via Style Me Pretty

9. Easy Top Knot

Photo by Jenn Byrne Photography via Bridal Musings

10. Textured Pony Tail

Photo by Verbina Ksenia via Bridal Musings

11. Half Up Plaits

Photo by Mary Margaret Smith via Style Me Pretty

12. Side Swept Waves

Hair by Kasia Fortuna, Photo by Kate Nielen Photography via Bridal Musings

13. Simple Side Braid

Hair by Alexis VonKuykendall And Lorien Meillon, Photo by Rebecca Yale Photography via Style Me Pretty

14. Plaited Upstyle

Hair by 1011 Hair and Makeup, Photo by Marianne Wilson Photography via Bridal Musings

15. Effortlessly Undone

Hair by Charleston Events Hair & Make-up, Photo by Live View Studio via Grey Likes Weddings

16. All Natural

Hair by Nivi Grimball, Photo by Judah Avenue via Munaluchi Bridal

17. Wrap with Ribbons

Photo by Alicia Pyne Photography via Style Me Pretty

18. Loose & Silky

Hair by Kelly Hopkins, 1213 Hair Studio, Headpieces by Liv Hart, Photo by Laura Gordon Photography via Bridal Musings

19. To The Side

Photo by Elizabeth Messina via Munaluchi Bridal

20. Through the Loop

Hair by Beauty on Demand, Photo by Kate Grewal for Kelsey Genna via Bridal Musings

Lots of gorgeous locks! I really love the braided styles, there's something so pretty and youthful about them, don't you think?

Don't forget to follow us on Pinterest for more hair and beauty inspiration for your big day.

Find more Bridesmaid Style Advice here. 

So we figured, seeing as we've been talking all things bachelorette parties and bridesmaids over the last few weeks, it was the perfect time to reflect on what makes a magnificent maid of honour too.

Photo by NavyBlur

Being asked to be a bridesmaid is a big deal, your friend is giving you the honour of being part of her inner circle on her wedding day.

And with great privilege, comes great responsibility.

No your bride can't expect you to be at the end of the phone for a 3am floral brainstorming session, splash out $400 for your own dress (that you'll never wear again), or ask you to cut your hair/tan your skin/lose or gain weight for her wedding day.

But, if you've said yes to the job, she should be able to rely on you to lend a hand, show some interest, and throw her one heck of a bachelorette party!

Still not sure what's expected of you as a bridesmaid? We've come up with 10 commandments for being your buddy's best lady in the lead up to her wedding.

1. Be Interested

Photo by Joielala via 100 Layer Cake

Your friend is no doubt excited about her big day, and chances are she wants to talk about her plans. But with all the chatter of so-called “bridezillas” over the last few years, (we hate that word!) brides have been getting a bad rep. They often feel talking about their wedding could be selfish or boring, so will refrain from waxing lyrical about dress styles and catering options.

Encourage your friend to talk about her wedding, ask questions, and be interested. She'll feel so much better about explaining her inner conflict over stationery fonts.

2. But Talk About Other Things Too

Photo by Ali Harper via Southern Weddings

Just as it's helpful to ask your friend about her wedding, it's also important to ask about her work/family/new shoes, and to chat about what's going on with you too.

She could be getting hit with lots of wedding questions, and feel like her whole life is revolving around this one day. So from time to time, make sure you talk about anything other than her wedding plans.

3. The Perfect Shopping Buddy

Photo by CJ Williams Photography via Bridal Musings

Your role as a wedding dress shopping confidant is a tricky one, you need to strike a balance between being constructive, but not putting your best friend off the dress of her dreams.

Take a look at her dress board on Pinterest, or ask her about what she has in mind before you go shopping, so you don't blurt something out, like “Ugh, beading” or “Strapless dresses are so boring” when that's the style your friend's heart is set on.

That said, do suggest alternative styles she may not have considered, which you think would look great on her, and if she tries on a dress you don't like, unless you think she's in love with it, gently tell her that another one was more flattering/gorgeous/suited to her.

But at the end of the day, remember, it's about about her style and taste, not yours.

4. Fall into Line (A Little)

Photo by Reverie Supply via Style Me Pretty 

A few weeks ago we talked about the mix and match bridesmaid trend, and how we love when brides embrace their girls' individuality. Brides should really take your style into consideration, but sometimes they'll be set on a certain (pink chiffon) aesthetic for their day.

But even if you get to choose your dress from her palette, maybe you don't like wear lilac, blush OR taupe (black is more your style), or perhaps you don't like to wear dresses at all.

While your bride can't ask you to wear heels you can't walk in, or dye your signature pink hair brown, when it comes to the dress, it's just for one day, so it's often better not to stress your pal out about it.

As long as she doesn't make you wear something three sizes too small, do your bridesmaidly duty and suck it up, put it on, and smile!

5. Spoil Her

Photo by Elizabeth Messina via Munaluchi Bridal

Make your friend feel special in the lead up to her wedding, especially around her engagement and in the final weeks of planning. Make every get together an excuse for bubbly, send her excited texts in the lead up to her day, or take her out for a stress free day of shopping.

From getting a facial together to hosting a BBQ for her and her partner, weddings aren't just one day, it's a whole exciting time, so show your bride you're happy for her and want to celebrate every step of the way.

6. Throw Her Hen Party, Not Yours

Photo by Studio 1208 via Bridal Musings

So your idea of a perfect bachelorette party is downing shots, and hitting the dancefloor draped in flashing L plates, awaiting the arrival of your (fake fireman) stripper.

Perhaps the bride in your life wants something a little more low key.

A weekend on a farm, a spa break, or a karaoke slumber party, think about the elements that would make your friend's perfect day, night, or weekend, and incorporate them into a personalised hen party she'll never forget.

7. Make Yourself Useful

Photo by Brumley And Wells via Style Me Pretty

The most helpful thing you can do for your friend is to get jobs ticked off her list, rather than give her one more task, of finding something to delegate to you.

Don't just tell your bride to let you know if she needs anything, offer your services for specific tasks or take something off her hands entirely.

Tell her you can address and post the invites, assure her you'll steam her dress on the morning of her wedding, collect the boutonnières from the florist or look after making up the activity packs for the kids. It's practical help like that, that's invaluable in the lead up to the wedding.

8. Go Team

Photo by The Melideos via Ruffled

This kind of goes without saying, but try to get on with the other bridesmaids. You might not know them very well, you might not be very close, and you might even find yourselves competing over “best bridesmaid” bragging rights.

But the last thing your friend needs on the morning of your wedding is to break up your squabbling over who gets to button up her dress for the photographs!

Stay in touch throughout the planning, (set up a group email or message thread), work together on the bridal shower or hen party, and try to be nice to each other, even when it would feel better not to be.

9. The Little Extras

Photo by Katie Julia via Wedding Sparrow

It's the little touches that takes a great bridesmaid to the next level of awesomeness. And those touches don't have to cost a thing.

Make your friend a playlist for the morning of her wedding (or steal ours!), create a book for her with words of wisdom, recipes and stories from the women in her life, go with her to a perfumery and concoct a signature scent for her wedding day, or make a survival kit with everything you could need for a wedding day mishap.

Your attention to detail will put your friend at ease – how could she be nervous on her wedding day when she knows you've got every eventuality, covered?

10. To The Bitter End

Photo by Jen Huang via Magnolia Rouge

You might normally be the first one to duck off on a night out, but when you're a bridesmaid, you're on the clock as long as your bride is still up and at 'em.

Hit the dancefloor if it empties out after a not-so-great song, make sure your mate eats something and has plenty of water, and try not to drink too much yourself. Of course you should relax and enjoy the party, but just remember, your friend might need a hand unhitching those 47 buttons down the back of her dress at the end of the night.

Photo by Kaysha Weiner Photographer via Bridal Musings

If you follow those steps, you'll be sure to excel at your new job as best bridesmaid ever!

But of course, that's not all you can do to be a great bridesmaid, so please do share your advice in the comments below.

Debating on whether or not to have bridesmaids at all? Check out our case for ditching the bridal party altogether.

Check out more great tips on bridesmaids dresses + bachelorette parties. 

A pal getting married is such an exciting time in a group of friends.

Even though I'm not having bridesmaids, ever since I got engaged, my friends, who had never seemed like they were that into weddings before, have really gotten behind me, chatting about hairstyles and gushing over dress options like we were teenagers again.

And it's been a lot of fun!

Which is why this ‘Will You Be My Bridesmaid?‘ brunch shoot, by Colby Elizabeth Photography and Purple Summer Events, is such a special one.

With playful flower crowns, a pretty brunch spread, and cute DIYs, whether you're popping the question to your own gang of girls (or boys) or planning a bridal shower for a BFF bride, this shoot is brimming with sweet ideas and swoon-worthy style.

Scroll down to feel the friendship love (and then call your friends afterwards!), but first up, read a little more about the idea behind this bridesmaid brunch from Abbey of Purple Summer Events…

From The Stylist

This whimsical “Will You Be My Bridesmaid” styled shoot focuses on a piece of a bride's life we don't see very often: her friends, the importance of her lasting friendships, and how those friendships have contributed to her journey, her engagement, and her eventual marriage.

After all, none of us would get very far without our girls standing by us!

Dreaming up this shoot made me feel like a kid again.  Growing up, the part I loved most about fantasizing over my future wedding wasn't the prince who would one day sweep me off my feet, my flower centerpieces, or that aisle moment.  

Instead, I loved the thrill of daydreaming about my wedding with my girlfriends and in the end, hoping that those same girls would still be my best friends when it was finally my turn to get married.  

Happily, many of those same girls were still by my side when I got engaged, yet they were spread all over the country. When it came time to ask them to be my bridesmaids, I sent each of them a cute package to ask them to be a part of the wedding, but I didn't get to throw the girly soiree I had imagined.  

This styled shoot gave me the opportunity to finally plan the party I wish I could have thrown for my girls.  To the seven lovely ladies who stood next to me on my wedding day, this project is dedicated to you in celebration.

We hope you enjoy the sweetness and whimsy of this “Will you be my Bridesmaid?” brunch!

The Concept

As I began envisioning what this party would look like, I started playing with the idea of mixing girlhood with womanhood, blurring the lines a bit between the simplicity of childhood and the sophistication of adulthood.  

Even though we're at the age where many of us are getting married and moving into new phases of life, my girlfriends and I still like to do the same girls-only things we did when we hung out in elementary or middle school: eat nothing but sweets, braid each other's hair, laugh hysterically, and dream up wedding ideas.  

Hence the extra sweet girly details included in this shoot, including sprinkles, various sweets and candies, feathers, ribbon, and the blooming apple trees of Ya Ya Farm & Orchard as the backdrop.

The DIY Details

I wanted the party to appear handmade but classy, as if the bride played a hands-on part in every piece of decor.

DIY elements such as the glitter-coated feathers, the hand lettered calligraphy sign, and the burlap “She Chose Us” garland helped achieve that organic “home-grown” feel.

The Wedding Vendors

This vision would not have been complete without the help of all our contributing vendors and the ethereal quality of the resulting photographs from Colby Elizabeth Photography.  

Whimsical elements pictured include the handmade beetle plank farmhouse table from Old Wood Soul, the overflowing floral arrangements and crowns from Ladybird Poppy, the custom cookies, cake, and other sweet treats from Baker Loves Cake, the beautiful letterpress “Will You Be My Bridesmaid” cards from Chatham and Caron, and the table settings and other vignettes (pink velvet love seat, ladder, quilts, etc.) from Good Ol'-Fashioned Party.  

The models wore chic boho clothing and accessories from Rustic Thread and were styled to perfection by makeup artist Kacey Clark and hair stylist Brittani Estes. 

‘She Chose Us!' Isn't it sweet? So many fun ideas, and I just love the idea of throwing a brunch for your friends after you get engaged, it's a great way to show them nothing's going to change in your friendship!

Anyone else off to call their girls?

Thanks so much to Colby Elizabeth Photography, Abbey Purple Summer Events and the rest of the talented vendors for sharing this bridesmaid brunch!

Get more unique ideas for Bridal Showers + Bachelorette Parties. 

Real Talk: your bridesmaids probably don't want to wear matching dresses. Whether it be differing tastes & styles, skin tones, age, height, body shape or even discrepancies in each bridesmaid's budget, your girls are just probably not on the same page fashion-wise.

Photo by Bottega53 via Bridal Musings

That's not to shame any bride that wants a matching bridal party. Some of you girls have amazing bride tribes that are cool enough, laid-back enough or maybe traditional enough that they're game for the matchy-matchy gown look. And hey, we feature more matching bridal parties on Bridal Musings than not!

But if I'm real, I mean really real, I'd be pretty annoyed if my best gal pal made me wear the exact same gown as one of her bombshell model girlfriends. Does that sound vain? I don't care. Fashion is so much about feeling good about yourself and that can be hard when you're comparing yourself to the girl on your left…and the girl on your right.

Photo by Katie Beverley via Bridal Musings

So, here's my pitch:

If these ladies, your bridesmaids, are the most important women in your life…

If you love them dearly, each for exactly who you are…

Why not ask them what they want to wear? “Do you all want to wear the same gown or mix and match?” There's no reason you can't coordinate colors, fabric type or even find one of those fabulous collections where there are different necklines & styles of the same gown.

Photo by Keeper Creative

Best tips for mix & match bridesmaid dresses:

We have loads of inspiration and tips here on creating the best mix & match bridal party look, but we'll lay out the best tips below…

Avoid sticking to just one hue. Unless you opt for something like white, gold or black, don’t ask all your girls to pick up a dress in a single designated color. Chances are if you ask for five green dresses, one will stand out as the wrong hue. Many brands offer lots of styles in the same tone, so opt for one of them, and let your girls make their choice.

Dresses by Show Me Your Mumu

You can still offer your help & opinions. You might be tempted to give your girls free rein, but your bridesmaids will appreciate some direction. Make a Pinterest board of colors and textures you like, or show them the rest of your wedding inspiration, so they have an idea of the look and feel you’re going for. “A black dress” can be anything from an office staple to a gothic gown, so pointers are always helpful.

Connect your friends. Mix and match can be really handy if you’re not all available for a group shopping trip. Say you have six bridesmaids spread across the country so you’ve asked your girls to get dresses in either blush, mauve or taupe. So far, so easy! Just be sure to put them in touch with one another, to make sure your hues are evenly spread across the bunch.

Photo by Hana Alsoudi Photography

Sparkle or lace. Don’t be afraid to introduce patterns, sequins, ruffles or lace for a really fashion-forward take on the trend.

Try choosing one fabric type vs color palette. Another way to mix & match is to tell your bridal party to all choose silk dresses or another cohesive textile (say, cotton, organza, chiffon, etc) in their own choice of dress style & color. It's a great secret to having a very diverse-looking collection of outfits in different colors that somehow flawlessly go together.

Shop within a collection. Have you noticed when designers release new collections everything seems to go together? The pantsuits, the dresses, the jumpsuits and outfits? Ask your girls to pick out whatever outfits they love from one designer's collection. For example, Zimmermann's latest lookbook. Everyone will mix and match seamlessly, just as the designer intended.

Photo by Abby Jiu

Select some swatches. Make things easy for yourself and opt to get your dresses from a readily mix and matchable collection. (We've covered a number of such designers in our best places to buy bridesmaid dresses guide). They might already have examples of dresses that go well together, and you can order swatches to be sure.

Toss out the rule book. There are so many articles on rules for constructing a palette of mix and match dresses, like sticking to a maximum of three colors, avoiding more than two differences in a dress, and keeping the same hemlines. But the truth is, there are no rules.

Photo by Alex Tome

Find our favorite bridesmaid dress designers & shops here and get inspired on our Bridesmaids Pinterest board.