The Little Known Secrets For Wearing Your Bridesmaid Dress Again -

Can you really wear that bridesmaid dress again? I’ll tell you how.

If you’ve been in a few weddings or even if it was only once, you probably know bridesmaid’s dresses have a reputation of being for one-time use only. Depending on the color or style some dresses are harder to rewear. While this is often the perception, there are dresses with plenty of opportunity to be worn again.

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Let’s face it — bridesmaid dresses are expensive. And as the number of wedding invitations from friends and family grows (yay!), I am eager to expand the wearability of the dresses that are already in my closet.

Last weekend I successfully rewore a bridesmaid dress. I purchased the Revelry Jade Satin Dress in rust in the Spring of 2023 for a friend’s wedding. This dress has proven to be the perfect dress to rewear for future formal events. I couldn’t be more excited to share the tips that helped me restyle this dress as we enter the 2025 summer wedding season. Let’s transform those bridesmaid dresses hanging in your closet!

bridesmaid dresses online — Dressed worn as a bridesmaid in September 2023

wedding guest dresses — Dressed worn as a bridesmaid in September 2023

Something to keep in mind…

Check the wedding invitation to ensure that the bridesmaid’s dress you want to rewear is not part of the bride’s color palette for her bridesmaids. You don’t want to accidentally wear the same color (or possibly dress) as the bridesmaids for the wedding you are going to.

Accessories

Adding accessories is the easiest way to improve any outfit. Bridesmaid dresses are no exception.

Add a jacket or blazer to add proportion to the dress. This is a great option for satin or chiffon dresses.
Adding chunky bangles and bracelets can go a long way to personalize the dress
A gold or silver chain belt can compliment a satin dress really well and make the dress feel less formal

Alterations

While thinking about outfits for this wedding I considered altering a different bridesmaid dress. This is a great idea for floor length bridesmaid dresses or dresses with lots of surface area.

If you have a floor length dress, you can have the tailor cut it to mid-calf or knee length
Depending on location of zippers and stitching, you may be able to remove the sleeves in order to create a sleeveless or strapless look
Consider adding a slit to enhance movement and glamour

Hair and Makeup

These are my favorite style elements to play around with! One of the most obvious changes I made when rewearing my bridesmaid dress is in the way I styled my hair. When I wore this dress as a bridesmaid, the bride requested sleek low buns from all of the bridesmaids. This time around, my hair was big, bouncy and surrounding my face.

For the weddings I’ve been in, the brides have often requested sleek low ponytails or buns. When wearing the bridesmaid dress again for a future event, I like to wear a hairstyle that is completely different. You can add pins or hair combs to jazz up the hairstyle.
Makeup is a great way to deviate from the prescribed preferences of the previous bride, and push the boundaries for an entirely new look. As a guest you can play around with eyeshadow colors and shimmers, brighter blush or even bold lip colors.