in keeping with the intimacy of our wedding, S and i decided early on to forgo traditional bridal parties. instead, we each selected a family member (my cousin, his younger brother) to stand beside us at the altar as an attendant, and concluded that the rest of our favorite people would celebrate alongside us as guests. though i know this is a more nontraditional route to take, in the end it was the best decision for us and if i can impart any lasting wisdom on fellow and future brides, it’s that the wedding should be a reflection of you and your groom’s relationship and personalities, regardless of what tradition or obligation dictates.

normally, the struggle is real when trying to find a style of bridesmaid dress that flatters a variety of skin tones and body shapes, so i was happy that we ultimately only had to please one lady instead of nine. still though, the search for a not-too-formal-not-too-casual gown that would be appropriate for a “winter” (using that term loosely in san diego) wedding, compliment my neutral color palette, and most importantly would be comfortable and well-loved by the babe that would be wearing it was not easy. in fact it took two swings and misses with online stores before we finally ended up with dress number three –the perfect flutter-sleeve maxi dress from anthropologie in a gorgeous shade of green.

speaking of anthropologie, given the details we hoped to find in a gown (slight bohemian vibe, neutral color palette, and above all else -comfortable!), it was the perfect store to peruse for contenders each time a new collection arrived. though their bhldn line is also a great option for brides, bridesmaids, and even mothers-of-the-bride, the dresses were ultimately a tad on the formal side for the vibe of our affair. nevertheless, i’ve gathered a few different styles (including dresses with prints & jumpsuits!) from both stores and linked them below should you find yourself in need of a not-as-traditional bridesmaid dress for your big day. these days anything goes, so give yourself permission to step outside of the box.

top photo circa 1994 at my parents’ wedding. also proof that i’m a natural redhead.