6 Beach Bridesmaid Dress Tips & Ideas

Choosing a beach bridesmaid dress can be tricky because there’s so much to consider like the weather, the formality (or lack of), and of course the overall theme you’re going for.  So in today’s post, I’m sharing six tips & ideas to help you choose a beach bridesmaid dress style that will help your BFF’s look shapely in the sand, remain cool in the heat, and will allow them to kick up their heels (or flip-flops) and dance the night away in style!

Related:  See more posts with destination wedding bridesmaid ideas

Beach Bridesmaid Dress Tips & Ideas

Choose a lightweight fabric

Chiffon is a lightweight fabric that is highly sought after by brides and bridesmaids for beach weddings. It is soft, silky (without being clingy), structured, and can be worn in every color imaginable. Sand will easily brush off of this smooth fabric and a dress composed of chiffon will blow gently in the ocean’s breeze. It will keep your bridesmaid cool without soaking up unsightly sweat like silk or jersey cotton tends to do.

Choose the Right Length

Short, knee-length or tea-length are ideal hemlines for a beach bridesmaid dress. It won’t make you feel weighed down or overdressed.  And it won’t drag in the sand or get wet in the surf.  Purchasing a dress that has a short, staggered hemline ensures movement, while a short sheath or A-line silhouette ensures a figure-friendly shape. You can even shop for a shorter dress style with a lace, beaded, or satin ribbon embellished hemline to accent these beach-friendly lengths.

Choose one defined embellishment

The biggest mistake some brides make concerning their beach bridesmaid dress style is selecting gowns that are too formal.  A beach wedding is a completely peaceful and casual setting, where an overly embellished dress can look out of place very quickly.  If you are looking at styles that have embellishments on them like bows, lace, flowers, pearls, rhinestones, or feathers; be sure to stick to one embellishment only and keep jewelry very simple and clean.

Mix and match silhouettes

Modern brides are allowing everyone in their bridal party to choose a beach bridesmaid dress that best complements their body types. When it comes to dresses and body types, one style does not always fit all.

If some of your bridesmaids are top-heavy, be sure to select a style with straps. For those with a pear shape, a fit and flare dress might look best.

If your friends are very tall and thin, a ruffled tulip or bubble hemline dress can help create volume and curves. I believe it’s important to select a style that your girls will feel comfortable, confident, and beautiful in as they walk down the sandy aisle.

If you’re a little more on the traditional side and insist on having a semi-uniform look, you can choose an almost identical dress style for each bridesmaid, but all with different necklines to accommodate their individual “assets”.  The dresses pictured below, are identical except that the one on the far left has a halter top, the middle one is strapless, and the one on the right has straps.

The Twist Wrap Dress by The Dessy Group is also an awesome way to get a coordinated look while still allowing everyone in the bridal party to choose a beach bridesmaid dress that best fits her body type.

Mix and match colors and prints

Consider not only mixing and matching style silhouettes but mixing and matching colors as well. Each bridesmaid may wear different hues of one tone. If you love green and blue, each bridesmaid can wear different shades of those colors like aqua, turquoise, teal, and even navy blue.

You can also have them wear two-toned complementary colors such as black and white, pale yellow and navy blue, or pink and blue. Or how about a solid or patterned print in one defined color? Don’t be afraid to get creative!

All White Beach Wedding

White bridesmaid dresses are a popular trend for beach weddings, but I have to admit I was never a fan…until I saw this next photo. My jaw dropped. I see tons and tons of wedding photos every day.  But this is so unique that had I not already been married, I might’ve had to steal this idea.

These bridesmaids are all dressed in short white dresses but they’re each wearing some killer shoes in different bold tropical colors, and a bouquet to match her shoe color (nice!). The bride is wearing a staggering hemline bridal gown with white shoes and a bouquet that pulls in all the colors of her bridesmaid’s shoes/bouquets. How cool is that?

Now, it’s pretty obvious that you can’t pull this off if your ceremony is taking place on the sand. But this is simply stunning for a gazebo wedding in a tropical location overlooking the beach.

If you are tying the knot on the sand, just have your gals wear flip-flops or sandals instead of heels. You can even throw in a few pashmina shawls to match. The Dessy Group has some really pretty sandals and pashminas in nearly every color under the sun.  So you have no excuse to not try this super modern, edgy, and unique look.

Want more eye candy still? Check out my Pinterest board on beach bridesmaid dress ideas  (and don’t forget to follow it) to see tons of photos that will help inspire you!

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What’s your favorite beach bridesmaid dress style?