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Photo: Bella Bridesmaids New Orleans | Brocato Photography
Selecting the bridesmaid dresses your besties will wear on the big day is one of the most exciting parts of wedding planning! You’ll choose colors, fabrics, and silhouettes.
You’ll also need to decide if your maid of honor will wear a different dress from the other bridesmaids.
It’s customary for the MOH to wear a slightly different look than the other bridesmaids, which makes many brides ask the question:
Should my maid of honor wear the same dress as the other bridesmaids?
Need help finding the perfect look for your wedding party?
This is what you need to know about maid of honor dress vs. bridesmaid dress selection for your wedding day:
Are Maid of Honor Dresses Different from Bridesmaid Dresses?
Maid of honor dresses can be different from bridesmaid dresses, but they don’t have to be. It’s entirely up to you if you want your maid of honor to wear the same look the bridesmaids wear or don a unique design.
And it doesn’t stop there.
You can have every member of your wedding party wear a completely different look if you prefer a creative, mixed and matched vibe.
It’s your special day, so you decide!
If you’re having a maid of honor and a matron of honor, each can wear a different style. Or they can dress the same.
Browse our online collection of hundreds of gorgeous bridesmaid dresses from top designers!
The Maid of Honor Should Stand Out
Photo: Bella Bridesmaids Indianapolis | Jessica Strickland
Your MOH should have a look different from your bridesmaids', but that doesn’t mean she needs to wear a different outfit. Her look can be unique in silhouette or color, or you can opt for more subtle distinctions that will make her stand out.
The trick is to make her look more special, not less.
To make her stand out on the big day, have your maid of honor wear a:
Different Silhouette
Consider a variation of the neckline and/or sleeve length, but in the same color/fabric as the other bridesmaids.
Different Fabric
Consider having your MOH wear the same style or a similar style in a fabric with more texture than the bridesmaid dresses.
Different Dress Color
Consider styling your MOH in the same dress as your bridesmaids, just in a slightly deeper or lighter shade.
Pattern
There are so many romantic floral prints to choose from. You can make your MOH stand out in a pretty pattern that complements the solid color(s) of the rest of your wedding party.
Did your bestie just ask you to be her maid of honor? Learn exactly what that special role entails!
How to Make Your Maid of Honor Stand Out in the Same Dress
Photo: Bella Bridesmaids Columbia | Stee Garman
If you prefer that your entire wedding party wear the same style in the same color, there are plenty of other ways to put a different spin on your MOH’s look.
Your MOH can stand out from the other bridesmaids with something as simple as:
- • A bigger bouquet
- • Bolder jewelry
- • A different hairstyle
- • A different hair accessory
Maid of Honor and Bridesmaid Dress Pairings That Might be Perfect for Your Wedding Day
There are so many gorgeous bridesmaid gowns to choose from that it’s easy to find unique bridesmaid and maid of honor looks that complement one another perfectly!
Here are some bridesmaids and MOH dress pairings that you’re sure to love:
Jenny Yoo Landry
Jenny Yoo Jenny Yoo Bridesmaid Dress Landry Print
Jenny Yoo Bridesmaid Dress Landry
With a gorgeous floral option, the Landry Dress lets you put all of your bridesmaids in the same dress. You can then have your MOH stand out in a romantic all-over print.
This bias-cut satin gown comes in various pastel florals that pair well with solid shades of trending wedding colors such as buttercup.
Amsale Rene/Abby
Amsale Rene Dress
Amsale Abby Dress
Do you want to make the distinction between your MOH and bridesmaids subtle? That’s entirely possible with the Rene Dress for your bridesmaids and the Abby Dress for your maid of honor.
Both are crafted from rich faille and share the same A-line silhouette and strapless neckline. These gowns complement one another, but the distinctive bow on the Abby dress adds the special touch an MOH deserves.
Bella Bridesmaids by Dessy BB138/BB136
Bella Bridesmaids by Dessy BB138
Bella Bridesmaids by Dessy BB136
When you mix and match silhouettes from the same designer in the same color, giving your MOH and bridesmaids distinct looks is a cinch.
The Bella Bridesmaids by Dessy BB138 and BB136 gowns are crafted in crepe in a trumpet silhouette with a front slit. One features a one-shoulder neckline, and the other a modern square neckline.
Available in 20+ colors to coordinate with any wedding theme or color scheme, either can be easily worn by any member of your wedding party.
Dessy 3181
Dessy 3181 Dress (in celadon)
Dessy 3181 Dress (in sage)
Even if you want your entire wedding party to wear the same design, you can still make your MOH stand out just by having her wear a slightly different color.
The Dessy 3181 dress is available in more than 45 hues, with lots of similar colors in light and dark shades that complement each other beautifully.
Consider these pairings:
- • Celadon with sage
- • Ballet pink with rose
- • Cloudy blue with larkspur blue
After Six 6918/6917
After Six 6918
After Six 6917
The After Six 6917 and 6918 dresses are perfect examples of how designers purposely create collections that mix and match with ease.
Both velvet bridesmaid dresses feature beautiful bow accents in contrasting satin twill. With a different bow placement, you can set your maid of honor apart from the rest of your squad.
Prefer that your MOH wear a dress in a different fabric than the rest of the wedding party?
Consider mixing and matching either (or both) of these After Six dresses with solid satin twill gowns in the same color, like the Alfred Sung D821 dress or the Bella Bridesmaids by Dessy BB121 gown.
Your maid of honor can absolutely wear the same dress as your other bridesmaids. But she should stand out as your bestie and your right-hand woman on the big day.
That could mean carrying a special bouquet, wearing different bridesmaid jewelry, or walking the aisle in an entirely different gown. Either way, create a look that makes her feel confident, comfortable, and important throughout every moment of your wedding day.
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