Virtual showroom
Book an appointment
Stores
Photo: Bella Bridesmaids | Sarah Harvey
Shopping for bridesmaid dresses in person isn’t just a great way to spend an afternoon with your girls.
It’s also a great way to discover new silhouettes and necklines, touch and feel the various fabrics in person, and even find new colors to fall in love with!
Choosing THE dress is one of the biggest (and most exciting!) decisions you’ll make for your wedding day. And once you know what you’re wearing, it’s time to enjoy another super fun shopping moment…
Picking out dresses for your wedding party!
Like color and silhouette, you’ll want to consider which dress fabric you want your bridesmaids to wear. The fabric you choose should complement your wedding dress, look great in your wedding color(s), and feel appropriate for the season.
Here’s our guide to the best bridesmaid dress fabrics for your wedding day:
Charmeuse
Dress: Social 8210 in Olive Green
Photo: Bella Bridesmaids Baton Rouge | Butterflies of Hope by Katelyn
Charmeuse is one of the best fabrics for bridesmaid dresses because it boasts a sophisticated shine and excellent drape.
Glossy on the outside and matte on the inside, charmeuse has a satin-like appearance. Yet, it’s lighter in weight, making it a great satin alternative for a spring or summer wedding.
Chiffon
Dress: Various Dessy Group Chiffon Styles in Icelandic
Photo: Bella Bridesmaids Madison | JF Photography Studio
Of all the bridesmaid dress fabrics, chiffon is one of the most popular options for brides searching for a lightweight fabric. It’s even more popular for weddings in warmer months.
Chiffon dresses are often layered, as the fabric is semi-sheer and delicate. In addition, it’s soft, airy, and flowy, and it doesn’t cling to the body. Chiffon also comes in various textures and finishes, including crinkle chiffon, which has a natural wrinkle.
At Bella Bridesmaids, you’ll find chiffon bridesmaid dresses from various dress designers with fabric names like:
- • Bella chiffon
- • Crinkle chiffon<
- • Flat chiffon
- • Inna chiffon
- • Lux chiffon
- • Plush chiffon
Discover all Bella Bridesmaids has to offer for your big day! Explore our dress collection, featuring hundreds of bridesmaid dress styles.
Crepe
Dress: Amsale Bridesmaid Dress Sloan in New Ice
Photo: Bella Bridesmaids Philadelphia | Lisa Mayberry
Crepe fabric features a matte finish with a slightly crinkled, gauzy, and pebbled texture. Crepe can be woven or knit from a variety of natural or synthetic fibers, and while it is lightweight and stretchy, it also offers some rigidity.
Perfect for wearing year-round!
You’ll find a variety of different types of crepe at Bella Bridesmaids, including:
- • Ballad crepe
- • Crepe de chine
- • Fluid crepe
- • Knit crepe
- • Lux crepe
- • Pebbled crepe
- • Satin back crepe
- • Stretch crepe
Faille
Dress: Amsale Dorian in Ballet & Amsale Jaylin in Ballet
Photo: Bella Bridesmaids New Orleans | Emily Songer
Faille is a woven fabric with a subtle ribbed texture and on the heavier, stiffer side. These features make it a good option for dresses with a tailored structure or sculptural elements, such as puffed sleeves or pleats.
Faille has an elegant, formal finish and feel. And although you can wear it at any time of year, its slightly heavier feel makes it a great choice for fall and winter weddings.
Georgette
Dress: Sachin & Babi Kayla Gown in Sunset Hydrangea
Georgette is similar to chiffon, but it’s not as sheer and has a slightly crepe-like surface texture. While it's a bit heavier than chiffon, it remains lightweight and airy enough to wear in warm weather months.
Jersey
Dress: Mac Duggal Dress 30725 in Blue
Jersey is a lightweight and stretchy knit fabric, often made from different fiber blends. For example, poly/spandex jersey (sometimes referred to as silk jersey or silky jersey) is ultra-soft to the touch and comfortable to wear.
It’s a versatile fabric choice that your girls can wear in any season.
Lace
Dress: Mac Duggal Dress 8050 in French Blue
Lace fabric is a classic choice when it comes to wedding dress fabrics for brides, but it makes for gorgeous bridesmaid dresses as well!
Lace fabrics are innately sheer and open, so they are almost always backed or lined for modesty and coverage. Depending on your chosen silhouette and colors, you can wear lace bridesmaid dresses in any season.
You’ll find all sorts of beautiful lace patterns and textures at Bella Bridesmaids, including:
- • Aria lace
- • Coby lace
- • Corded lace
- • Guipure lace
- • Marquis lace
Mesh
Dress: Adrianna Papell Platinum Bridesmaid Dress 40215 in Mahogany
Mesh is open and breathable, available in both woven and knitted versions.
Sheer and lightweight like net and tulle, yet softer to the touch, mesh bridesmaid dresses are often embellished with sparkling sequins or beading. Beaded mesh gowns are an incredibly flattering option for glitzy, glamorous, formal weddings, no matter the time of year.
Net
Dress: Wtoo by Watters Bridesmaid Dress Moore in Kaiyo
Net fabric is quite similar to mesh in that it’s sheer with an open weave. Also known as bobbinet or English net, net fabric tends to be slightly stiffer than soft, knit mesh fabrics.
For this reason, net is often best as a skirt or bodice overlay atop a softer underlayer, such as chiffon or stretch poly.
Read: The Bridesmaid’s Guide to Dress Alterations
Satin
Dress: Various Jenny Yoo Luxe Satin Styles in Chambray
Photo: Bella Bridesmaids | Ben Ramos
There are many different types of satin fabric, as it isn’t a specific fabric but actually a type of finish and weave.
Satin has a lustrous sheen on the outside and a dull, matte back, and it goes by many different names:
- • European satin
- • Fluid satin
- • Jolie satin
- • Lux satin
- • Satin twill
- • Silk satin
- • Slipper satin
- • Stretch satin
- • Tailor satin
- • Whisper satin
Satin fabrics are often soft and have a beautiful drape, although some can be slightly stiffer. Due to its sheen and luxurious appearance, a satin dress is best for formal celebrations rather than casual events.
Silk
Dress: Bari Jay Bridesmaid Dress 2403-M Mikado in Blush
Photo: Bella Bridesmaids Freehold | Justin Pedrick
Silk fabric is luxurious, sophisticated, and perfectly suited for a wedding. Silk fabric is woven from silk threads, but there are many variations of the fabric in terms of weight and texture.
Dupioni silk and Mikado are some of the stiffer variations of silk. Dupioni has a bit of grain and a lot of sheen, while Mikado tends to be extra-thick with a shiny finish.
Both are ideal for crafting structured, tailored silhouettes. They’re also great options for formal weddings, particularly in colder months.
Another variety of silk is Shantung, characterized by a medium weight, slight crispness, and a more natural, raw texture. Shantung also holds its shape, making it ideal for dresses with a structured silhouette.
The fabric is just one of many things you’ll want to consider. Learn about the others in 5 Things to Consider When Picking Bridesmaid Dresses.
Tulle
Dress: Jenny Yoo Annabelle in Eucalyptus
Photo: Bella Bridesmaids Knoxville | Abigail Malone
Tulle is similar in feel and finish to net and mesh. Depending on the fibers used and how it’s woven, tulle can be ultra-soft or quite stiff. Tulle bridesmaid dresses are usually layered, as the fabric is sheer.
The right fabric not only impacts the look and feel of a dress but can also make it more versatile — explore our favorite bridesmaid dresses you can wear again to find styles that blend comfort, elegance, and rewearability.
Velvet
Dress: Jenny Yoo Issa in Black
Photo: Bella Bridesmaids Birmingham | Tony Minifield
Traditional velvet is woven and can be somewhat stiff. Yet, most velvet bridesmaid dresses are actually made from knit poly fabrics (with or without stretch) that have a velvet finish.
They’re soft, have that wonderfully plush texture, and hold color exceptionally well. So, stretch velvet is always a great choice if you’re getting married in fall or winter!
Embellished Fabrics
Dress: Christina Wu Celebrations 22840
Looking for bridesmaid dresses with a bit of shimmer and shine?
Many fabrics detailed above are available with embellishments, such as beading and sequins. These are eye-catching options for formal events, regardless of the time of year, and exude ultra-glamorous vibes.
There are so many different fabrics to choose from that it’s impossible to say one is better than another. To select the best bridesmaid dress fabric for you, consider the season, the weather, and the level of formality of your wedding.
And if you can’t pick just one type of fabric (or one bridesmaid dress) for your wedding day, you don’t have to. Dressing different bridesmaids in a variety of silhouettes and fabrics can make for a spectacular bridal party!
Follow us on social media for even more wedding ideas!
