Our evaluations and opinions are not influenced by our advertising relationships, but we may earn a commission from our partners’ links. This content is created by TIME Stamped, under TIME’s direction and produced in accordance with TIME’s editorial guidelines and overseen by TIME’s editorial staff. Learn more about it.
Finding great options for your bridal party to wear shouldn’t fill you with dread, or require a trip to a boutique where you may get the hard-sell for a dress your bridesmaids can’t wear again. We’ve rounded up the best online retailers selling bridesmaid dresses, from fashionable designer frocks to simple, airy shifts just made for a beachy bridal party.
There’s something for every kind of nuptial, from a beachy casual destination to a formal black tie during the holidays in Anthropologie’s bridal party collection. From elegant and eclectic slinky sheaths to fun and fairy tale-worthy tulle gowns, these bridesmaid dresses are guaranteed to make an impression at the altar and the afterparty. And because Anthropologie knows how to curate flattering gowns, your bridesmaids will wear them again. Shopping tip: Anthropologie also made our list of the best places to buy a wedding dress online.
J.Crew doesn’t sell wedding gowns anymore, but it still carries a chic line of dresses suitable for bridesmaids and other wedding party members. The J.Crew Wedding Shop offers a range of elegant floor-length slip dresses, designed with everything from sequins to floral crepe. Its mini-slip dress in layered organza or cotton poplin is charming and simple, but stylish enough for the ceremony.
Note, these are suggestions by the brand to use as bridal party attire, but J.Crew’s affordable designs won’t disappoint the bride or her bridesmaids. (Or even the groom and his groomsmen—J.Crew made our list of the best men’s clothing brands.)
If you want a brick-and-mortar option in your back pocket while you shop online for bridesmaid dresses, it’s worth ducking (virtually or physically) into a Nordstrom store. There, you will find beautiful gowns and frocks (from designers like Badgley Mischka and Shona Joy) galore to fit all your bridesmaids. Seasonal, stylish looks abound at Nordstrom, and because of its large inventory (over 200 bridesmaid dresses), it is easy to check out a few styles and compare them. Bonus: If you live near one of 300-plus Nordstrom stores, they offer to tailor when you purchase your bridal attire online or in person. It’s also no surprise Nordstrom made our list of the best places to buy dresses online and best places to buy shoes online (check out their formal shoe selection particularly, especially for finding the best wedding shoes).
Revolve sells fashionable frocks by name-brand designers, like Shona Joy and Alice + Olivia for your bridesmaids. These bridesmaid gowns are stylish and sophisticated, and you can search for dresses based on venues like black tie or beach weddings to find the perfect style for the big day. The best part? This retailer also offers free two-day shipping, so if you’re in a rush, Revolve can solve your time crunch.
Glamorous vintage-inspired gowns designed in Los Angeles from Unique Vintage are a great option for making a fashion statement. At Unique Vintage (one of the best size-inclusive online shops for dresses, in our opinion), your wedding party can channel retro and vintage vibes in dresses of varying lengths and styles. Slinky gowns and frou-frou mini frocks can all be found at this Burbank, California-based boutique either in-person or online. Selections start at approximately $72 and go up from there. Don’t forget to browse their accessories section.
Sometimes, you just don’t need another bridesmaid dress hanging in your closet, and if so, Rent the Runway can help. Choose from over 480 curated bridesmaid dresses from designers and brands like Reformation, ALC, and Monique Lhuillier. Rent it, wear it, and return it after the wedding because if you’re a member, you can keep the dress until you want to return it. If you don’t have or want an RTR membership, you only have up to eight days to wear the dress, so plan accordingly.
Slinky and stylish wedding party dresses from Lulus can ensure your bridesmaids don’t break their budgets. These affordable designs are mainly floor-length (at the time of publication, we only found four midi options and no mini dresses) in a range of colors and fabrics. Many of the dresses have modern cut-outs, slits, and plunging necklines, so if you are looking for a demure design, you may have to scroll through to find a good fit. Otherwise, these affordable options in many styles can help your bridesmaids not overspend on their outfits.
Bella specializes in wedding-party attire and offers a dazzling array of ready-to-wear and designer creations from Amsale and Jenny Yoo, among others. Because Bella specializes in weddings, bridesmaids will find a wide selection of dresses in almost any combination of colors, styles, necklines, and fabrics on the website. They also carry bridesmaid maternity dresses, chic jumpsuits (not all bridesmaids wear gowns), and more.
Bella dresses are made to specifications, and different makers have different lead times. It can take up to six months to get your dress, so the store advises you to contact them before you buy so that you can find out the lead time for a particular designer.
These bridesmaid dresses don’t disappoint, thanks to their chic and varied designs. Choose from soft pastels to bright pops of color for your dress, and search across 20 styles and silhouettes from sheath to shirred in mini, midi, and maxi lengths. Petal & Pup also carries a range of trendy and fashionable clothing, so while you shop for your bridesmaid dress, you can snap up anything else you might need for a destination wedding.
ASOS sells a beautiful and budget-friendly bridal party collection. Search for over 1000 affordable and fashionable dresses for every bridesmaid's body type, including plus-size designs and maternity options. (ASOS made our list of the best places to buy maternity clothes, if you need more than just event dresses.) Find dresses suitable for day and night events and a bevy of bridal party looks, from a floral, flutter-sleeve frock to a satin halter.
If you shop here, you can try on your future bridesmaid dresses without leaving your home, thanks to Kennedy Blue’s At Home Try-On option for only $10 per dress with free shipping and returns. You have to return the dresses within three days, but being able to sample your dress before you buy will likely be a relief.
The dresses at Kennedy Blue are all made-to-order gowns, so you will need to plan (it can reportedly take months to ship), but if you try before you buy, you will not have to worry less about a surprise fitting issue.
We love that Kennedy Blue offers sizes up to 32 plus maternity gowns in 56 colors, and it offers a fun online quiz about your bridesmaid style to help you select the dresses of your dreams.
We used our expertise to take a deep dive into bridesmaid attire and researched and rounded up the retailers who curated the best styles and designs. We considered the variety of dress styles, colors, sizes, designers, prices, and shipping times, and return policies to make our list. We spoke to our friends and colleagues about which bridesmaid dresses they loved (or hated) and where they bought them. We also read (and re-read) customer reviews and ratings to bolster our choices for the best place to buy bridesmaid dresses online.
When buying bridesmaid dresses online, consider a few factors because nothing is worse than being forced to wear an uncomfortable dress for hours and hours. If you’re lucky, the bride will have jumped on the trend of having the bridesmaids choose their own dress.
Here are some tips on what to look for when buying bridesmaid dresses online:
These days, you don’t have to keep your bridesmaids in the same dress—break with tradition and allow them to choose what they wear. Mismatched or mix-and-match bridesmaid outfits are trending. Let them wear what they want. If you need a bit of fashion cohesion in your wedding party’s attire, you could give them a color or palette.
Take careful measurements (bust, hip, and waist, plus sleeves and hollow to hem, i.e., collarbone to where you want the hem to finish) before you buy a dress to find the right size. If your dress is being made to order, you must send your measurements to the designer.
It’s extremely stress-inducing (both for you and the bride) to find out your dress will arrive after the wedding. Consider how much time you need to secure your gown and tailor it to fit. Note many made-to-order dresses can take months to create and ship.
Give yourself at least six months if you’re planning to wear a made-to-order dress.
Like most clothing for special occasions, it’s worth ordering a few sizes to find your best fit, even after you take your measurements. Formalwear can usually benefit from tailoring as well.
According to Zola, an online wedding registry, the average bridesmaid dress is around $150, but that doesn’t include the cost of alterations or the shoes and accessories that may have to go with it. (Sidenote: Zola is also a great place to start your registry, and made our list of the best places to buy wedding photo albums.)
Traditionally, the bridesmaids are responsible for buying their dresses. We suggest brides consider allowing their wedding party to have some say on what they’ll spend their money on. Buying a high-quality, well-made dress you love and want to wear again may make it worth the splurge.
The information presented here is created by TIME Stamped and overseen by TIME editorial staff. To learn more, see our About Us page.
