The Best Bridesmaids' Dresses of 2017

We've all heard the story of the bridesmaid buying and wearing a dress that she hates. But that no longer seems to be the norm. There are so many stylish choices on the market, and 'maids even have the option to have garments custom-made. When it comes to bridesmaids' dresses, the boundaries are expanding fast, leaving whoever's picking the outfits out with a whole world of possibilities. Need proof? Look no further than the best bridesmaids' gowns from the real weddings that we featured in 2017. The past 12 months have introduced us to an array of incredible pieces, and we're highlighting some of our favorites.

2017 was the year of mismatched bridesmaids' dresses. Whether attendants wore a mix of styles picked by the bride, or chose their own gowns with the guidance of a pre-determined palette, the combinations were all interesting, unique, and—most importantly—beautiful. In terms of other trends, black was a popular color, as were soft shades of blue, purple, and pink. Some lucky bridesmaids got customized garments, and others sparkled the wedding day away in gowns with shimmering embellishments. Overall, the dresses varied by silhouette and hue, but all had one thing in common: they knocked the ugly gowns of yesteryear out of the water.

The following styles made the top of our list for 2017 for a variety of reasons, from impressing us with surprising details to wowing us with how stunning they looked when grouped together. Once you see these picks, you'll never think of bridesmaids' dresses the same way again.

We're awestruck by these bridesmaids' dresses, and how they stunningly complemented the bride's (middle) gown. "I wanted us to wear white, ivory, and brass tones that were really bold," the bride explained. "Each dress had its own character—lively and full of spirit." The whimsical garments (including the wedding dress) were the work of Maria Korovilas, and are sold at Lex & Lynne Bridal.

We love the different shades in this mix of Jenny Yoo, Amsale, and Adrianna Papell dresses from Prim. The solid purple gowns looked lovely next to the shimmering styles, and the colors paired beautifully with the bouquets that complemented them. 

Formal dresses don't have to be stuffy. These amazing gowns—with all their shimmer and their gorgeous silhouettes—were elegant and contemporary.

The gray-blue color of these halterneck bridesmaids' dresses was incredibly unique. The gowns had leg slits and were custom Natalie Deayala Collection pieces.

This bride (second on the left) worked with her man of honor (middle) to design her bridesmaids' black dresses. He matched the women by wearing a Vera Wang suit. The chic garments had ties at the shoulders and contrasted nicely with the bride's floral gown.

For this wedding, bridesmaids got to pick their own outfits, as long as they stuck to specific shades. "My friends and sister have great style, so I knew that they would choose something beautiful," the bride shared, and she was right. They wound up dressing in a cool color palette, and each attendant's personality shined through.

We were hard-pressed to find a mix of patterned and solid dresses that went together this seamlessly. The floral prints were fun and fresh, and the gowns were all from Reformation.

These bridesmaids' dresses came in soft hues and memorable shapes. If we were these attendants, we'd definitely wear the pretty styles again.

Major props go to this genius bride, who expertly picked traditional Indian outfits in a range of colors so that when they appeared together, they had an ombré effect. The bridesmaids and bridesman got to wear shades that truly spoke to them. Each ensemble was designed by Bhaavya Bhatnagar.

These bridesmaids had their pick of Reformation gowns that went with the wedding's color scheme. The similar styles were united by their plunging necklines and flowy compositions.