How to Coordinate Your Bridesmaids and Groomsmen

 

Photo: Bella Bridesmaids Marlboro | Alyssa Carpenter

It’s so easy to find gorgeous bridesmaid dresses that your girls look amazing in. It’s even easier to choose suits or tuxedos to fit and flatter all your groomsmen.

But making your entire wedding party look like one stylish, cohesive group?

That requires a bit more consideration.

It includes selecting colors, fabrics, and accessories to tie your wedding party together.

This guide explains how to coordinate your bridesmaids and groomsmen for a picture-perfect wedding party on the big day.

How To Coordinate Your Bridesmaids and Groomsmen

 

Photo: Bella Bridesmaids Marlboro | Jessa Schifilliti

Coordinating a wedding party is easier than you may think. Follow this step-by-step guide to style a wedding party like a pro.

Step 1: Choose Your Wedding Color Palette

 

It all starts with choosing your wedding party colors.

Most couples pick a three, four, or five-color wedding palette, with one or two hues as the main/primary colors and two to four as secondary colors/accents. One of the colors in the palette should be a neutral tone to balance out the others.

Wedding party color combos can be monochromatic, such as shades of light blue and dark blue. They can also combine different colors or focus on two contrasting colors, such as sage green and blush pink.

To choose the perfect colors for your wedding, consider the level of formality, the time of year, the venue, and the location.

Step 2: Decide on Bridesmaid Dress Color(s)

 

Photo: Bella Bridesmaids Cleveland | Arastasia Photo

With your color palette locked down, decide how you want to incorporate those hues into your wedding party.

Do you want all your bridesmaids to wear the same color?

Will a mix-and-match look, where bridesmaids wear different colors, better suit your wedding day vision?

Both options can be striking!

Step 3: Order Your Bridesmaid Dresses

 

Don’t make any final decisions on groomsmen attire until you’ve ordered the bridesmaid dresses.

Once you are 100% sure what the girls are wearing, start styling your guys to complement the colors and meet the same level of formality as your girls.

For example, for a formal wedding with your girls in long gowns, guys can wear tuxes or suits.

For a very casual wedding, long-sleeved shirts and trousers without a jacket or tie will look best.

For semi-formal weddings with the girls in midi dresses, trousers with a sports jacket or a blazer will be perfect for the guys.

Shop our entire collection of bridesmaid dresses from top designers, like Jenny Yoo, Amsale, and Bari Jay!

Step 4: Choose Groomsmen Colors

 

Photo: Bella Bridesmaids Chicago | Erin Hoyt

Like the bridesmaids, you can have your groomsmen wear the same color or wear one or two different colors on your wedding day.

For consistency and cohesion, most couples dress all the groomsmen in the same attire. It’s important to keep the guys' colors consistent if you’re going for the mismatched bridesmaid look.

To choose the groomsmen's colors, consider the level of formality, season, and wedding venue.

Think black or dark grey for formal events and light grey or brown for semi-formal events.

Light blue, khaki, and beige are perfect for casual events year-round or for semi-formal spring wedding or summer celebrations.

Step 5: Choose Your Groomsmen Outfits

 

Aside from color, there are two main things to consider when dressing your guys — fabric and silhouette.

Selecting the right fabric is key to creating a cohesive look throughout your wedding party.

Groomsmen should match the same level of formality as the bridesmaids, so they should wear fabrics that have the same vibe and feel. For example, if your bridesmaids are wearing smooth satin or elegant faille, don’t dress the guys in lightweight linen.

Choose silhouettes based on the dress code and the formality of the bridesmaid dress styles. Tailored suits or tuxedos are ideal if the girls wear formal gowns. Dress pants with blazers work best if the girls wear midi, short, or long dresses in more casual fabrics.

Step 6: Accessorize Your Groomsmen

 

With all outfits decided, it’s time to choose the accessories that will tie your entire wedding party together.

That means pocket squares or groomsmen ties that match or complement the color(s) of the bridesmaid dresses. It also means accessorizing the jackets with boutonnieres that complement the bridal bouquets.

To complete the look, choose some stylish groomsmen accessories like patterned socks, cufflinks, or tie clips.

Ask all the guys to wear the same items for a more uniform look. Or give each groomsman the freedom to choose his own accessories and show a bit of his personal style. Either way works!

As for shoes, all groomsmen should wear the same color and style (or a similar one). They don’t have to be the exact same shoe per se, but they should all coordinate and have the same look and feel, in the same color and finish.

For a formal event, matte leather or patent leather can work, but you shouldn’t do both.

Shop all of our groomsmen accessories, including ties and bow ties!

Bridesmaid and Groomsmen Color Schemes We Love

 

Photo: Bella Bridesmaids | Jessica and Nick

Need some help narrowing down a bridesmaid-groomsmen color scheme for the big day?

Here are some hues we love for bridesmaid dresses, along with the most complementary groomsmen colors to pair with them:

Sage Green

 

Photo: Bella Bridesmaids Washington, D.C. | Michelle Jones

Sage green is incredibly versatile and works for every season, and we absolutely love it in an earthy palette with shades of olive, taupe, and cream.

Sage green dresses also make groomsmen styling easy since they pair well with black, charcoal, light grey, navy, beige, and tan suits.

Dusty Blue

 

Photo: Bella Bridesmaids Madison | Janet Lanza

Dusty blue balances beautifully against light gray and dark gray suits.

But we also love it in a moody palette with shades of navy and burgundy. Depending on the time of year, tan, beige, and navy blue suits are also great pairings.

Terracotta

 

Photo: Bella Bridesmaids Kansas City | Brittyn Elizabeth Conway

For a fall wedding or winter wedding, terracotta is a stunning choice. That’s especially true in a desert-inspired color palette with shades of dusty blue and slate grey.

You can also coordinate bridesmaids in terracotta with guys in tan, beige, or dark green suits for a warm, rustic look. For more classic appeal, opt for grey, black, or navy suits.

Champagne

 

Photo: Bella Bridesmaids San Francisco | Source

Champagne is sophisticated, elegant, and timeless, and we love it in neutral color palettes with black, white, and shades of grey.

Pair champagne bridesmaid dresses with black tuxedos for black tie events. Or pair them with black, light grey, or dark grey suits for cocktail or semi-formal weddings.

Brown

 

Photo: Bella Bridesmaids Nashville | Shannon Lee Miller

Brown is an incredibly versatile neutral, and it looks rich and luxe in a rustic palette with shades of terracotta and sand.

Brown bridesmaid dresses look amazing paired with groomsmen suits in navy, sage, olive, tan, beige, and light grey.

Black

 

Photo: Bella Bridesmaids Atlanta | Mary Catherine Echols

We love a high-contrast black-and-white color palette, as well as a stark all-black wedding party with black bridesmaid dresses and black suits.

For a timeless look with a bit more contrast, consider black dresses with suits in medium or dark grey.

 

---

 

Coordinating a wedding party is easy if you follow the right steps in the right order. Choose your wedding colors, order your bridesmaid dresses, and then decide what the groomsmen will wear.

And when you finalize the looks, have fun accessorizing with patterned ties, boutonnieres, and bouquets to tie it all together!

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and TikTok for 24/7 wedding inspiration!