In ancient Rome, bridesmaids dressed similarly to the bride to confuse would-be bandits who set out to kidnap or rob her. In other cultures, brides have put their maids into ugly dresses to ensure that they would not be prettier and steal the spotlight.

Today’s bridesmaids’ dresses complement their personalities as well as the brides’ gowns for a win/win situation. “Brides have been pushing the boundaries, especially in the last five years. They can choose whatever look they want; it can be unconventional, and it’ll be accepted,” says Annie Bonaventure co-owner, with Kristi Flores, of Bella Bridesmaids, Lafayette, part of a female-owned franchise scattered across the U.S.

The two have worked in the bridal industry for over 20 years making brides’ visions come to life. Bonaventure has worked as a makeup artist and hairstylist for over a decade. Flores was a manager and bridal consultant at bridal stores in Houma and Lafayette for nine years.

Since 2022, they have focused on dressing the bride’s besties. These are their takes on what’s hot in the world of bridesmaid fashion.

Popular Hues

One of the popular trends in recent years is mixing and matching, whether it’s the same dress in different shades of the same color or the same color in different styles..

Colors trending this year include seasonal palettes like light or ice blue and muted pastels (think dusty shades instead of brighter Easter pastels) that can be worn year-round. One Bella client had her bridesmaids in a muted pastel palette for a November wedding. Rust, terracotta and copper are bringing uniqueness to fall and winter weddings. This season also sees a move towards bold bright colors including hot pink.

For an elegant monochromatic look for their best girlfriends, brides are choosing champagne and taupe colors and, within the last year, ivory. On the opposite end of the spectrum is the classic black dress. “Black is elegant for an evening wedding, and we’ve been seeing more requests for it,” confirms Bonaventure.

Inspired by nature, floral patterns are having more than a moment, adding a feminine look and a striking visual for photos. Bonaventure calls to mind a dress by Dessy in a blue and white cottage rose-like print that she is “dying to see on a bridal party.”

Style Check

With an inventory of over 600 gowns, the shop touts the largest selection of bridesmaid dresses in the area. Clients can choose from nine lines including industry leaders like Dessy, Amsale, Jenny-Yoo and Sachin & Babi. Several of them, like Lula Kate, are currently exclusive to the store.

Brides in Acadiana are showing they want a variety of colors and dresses with texture, ruffles and prints. “A lot of clients are creating a collection where all the dresses match in color but wildly different, yet cohesive, styles,” reports Bonaventure. “While some brides-to-be will let bridesmaids pick their own style, we still have a good many who pick one dress for their maids. What they want are statement pieces – something that’s not often seen.”

“We’re seeing tons of bows, either on the front or back of the dress, a lot on the shoulder – both big and small,” adds Flores who recommends them on satin twill or a more structured fabric that keeps the shape.

As for the length, there’s been a slight variation of tea lengths, but, for the most part, brides in South Louisiana still favor full-length dresses for their wedding suites.

Fabrics

Textured fabrics are everything this year, according to our experts. Thicker fabrics like faille, jacquard and satin twill (which is a little thicker than satin and known to be more forgiving) are bringing another level of interest. Some customers are opting for velvet for ceremonies in November through February.

For Bonaventure it’s about the quality of fabric. “I like a timelessly elegant look, and I’m obsessed with Lula Kate, a newer designer, bringing in a higher quality fabric. I feel like this is what a Southern bride is going to want.”

One customer who served in six weddings in one year complimented the quality of her Bella gown saying “it held up better into the evening than other dresses she’s worn and looked more flattering in photographs.”

Tying it All Together

This year Bella Bridesmaids partnered with Something Borrowed Blooms to offer a wide range of silk bouquet collections that are styled in hand-tied, garden cut or round arrangements, lately catering to more requests for colorful flowers in a whimsical look.

Jewelry is a way of either unifying different styles of dresses or giving distinction to the same dresses. Bella Bridesmaids recently began handling a collection of earrings from jewelry designers Mignonne Gavigan and Anabell Aram. “We have many gold pieces and popular pearl hoops. It’s a great gift that the bride can purchase for her bridal party,” notes Flores.

While online shopping is convenient, there’s nothing like the peace of mind that comes from a concierge service, like that at Bella Bridesmaids, providing a stylist experienced in measuring clients and knowing where fabrics should fall. “Customers can see the dresses up close, and we make the experience of trying on the gowns as stress free as possible,” assures Bonaventure. Size options range from 0 to 32 with modern maternity styles available for the expecting bridesmaid. The store’s virtual showroom acts as a digital extension of the in-store experience, especially for out-of-town members of the bridal party. With over 45 Bella Bridesmaids across the country, customers can try on their favorites or be fitted at a store near their location.

With this season’s new genre of sensational bridesmaid fashion, not only are bridesmaids rewearing their dresses, non-bridesmaids are purchasing them. Customers flocked to the annual Bella Bridesmaids sample sale in January for Mardi Gras ball gowns, and the store has booked more appointments for proms and Sweet 16 dress fittings in the last two years.