Print Bridesmaid Dresses – 11 Bridesmaid Dress Trends for 2011 (4 of 11)

Printed fabrics have been gaining popularity for formal dresses over the past few years and in 2011 we will see prints on bridal parties more than ever.   From floral to geometric, print bridesmaid dresses are perfect to add color and life into your wedding party. Think about using a print to add detail and interest.  If you are working with a custom dress designer then you will have limitless prints to choose from and so many ways to use them.  We’ve laid out a road map for some of the best ways to pull off a print.

First, lets talk about choosing a good print.  The best place to start is to consider the location and season for your wedding.  This is more important when working with a print, because most solid colors can work with any location, but choosing a print can be tricky, especially if there are patterned carpets or lots of details at your venue.  However, with some careful planning and consideration to this, a print can help to fit perfectly into a detailed environment, and actually look nicer than a solid, but it has to be done just right.  Think about the details of your location, are there any styles that might match well?  A garden setting might lend itself well to a floral or organic looking print, and a clean geometric print might be perfect for a modern church with clean lines.  Also, it is important to consider the colors.  The colors need to fit well with your location, because you’ll be taking a lot of pictures against that background.  If the print totally clashes with the Baroque patterns in the carpet at your reception hall, then you will have a huge issue! So once you’ve chosen a print, how should you use it when dressing your bridal party?

The first and most common way is to dress the whole bridal party in the same print.  It’s a nice clean look, and keeps in line with the tradition of having the bridesmaids dressed alike if this is important to you.  If you go this route, we recommend clean simple jewelry and accessories.  We also recommend having the florist create a beautiful bouquet of mono-tone flowers.  This helps to highlight the print, and keep the look from becoming too busy.

Another great way to use a print is to dress your maid of honor in the print, and use it as an accent for the rest of the bridal party.  This is a great way to set your maid of honor apart and make her feel extra special as well.  The rest of your girls could then wear a solid color that coordinates with the print well, and have the print as an accent, such as a waist wrap, or other detail.  If you want to mix it up and add even more color, consider pulling a different solid color from the print for each of the maids.

If you love the thought of a print, but still want to go with solid colored dresses, consider using it as an accent.  Waist wraps, or a belt or bow on the dress can be a colorful way to add in just a splash of print.  You could also go for a cute pair of printed heels, a printed handbag, shawl, or a printed fabric flower on the dress or as a hair accessory. Whichever way you choose to use a print, it is sure to give your wedding an intriguing on trend look for 2011.

To start planning the perfect print bridesmaid dresses for your wedding schedule an appointment with an Avail & Company designer.  We’ll be happy to walk you through selecting a print and planning the perfect use of it.