After revisiting my parents’ wedding album recently, and my mama’s crazy floral bridesmaids dresses (she even rocked them in orange and brown!), it got me thinking about wedding trends from the past that are still popular in the present, and how different or similar they look today. Here are 5 of my faves, then and now…

1. Pastel Palette Bridal Party

Hats have been replaced by floral crowns, and gloves with basket flowers made way for larger loose floral bouquets, but when it comes to pastel palettes of the past and present nothing much has changed (and if you imagine the dresses above without sleeves they are pretty damn similar to the ones below!). See these pastel bridesmaids dresses for a similar style (they are convertible, so can be made into a variety of styles to suit different figures).

2. Floral Prints

Back in the day floral bridesmaid dresses had so much fabric, you looked like you had been eaten alive by curtains. Now, a better balance of fabric and skin means a floral print is still super popular, and I reckon it looks even better with a mix of fabrics in a similar print size or colour.

3. Pink Taffeta

I wore my first pink taffeta dress to my Aunties wedding. It had puffy sleeves and a tapered skirt and I wore as much hairspray in my mullet as humanly possible. At the time I thought it rocked (and secretly I still do) haha. Today, pink taffeta still makes an appearance, and although the movie ‘Bridesmaids’ clearly made it frightening, there are some gorgeous looks out there (like below) that are a little more classy. Again, mix and match styles and colours for a less ‘bridesmaidy’ look.

4. Tulle Layering

While Tulle has always been a major player in the bridesmaid world, layering tulle in soft colours has made a big come back! The tulle halterneck dresses above totally rock my world, and without the extra layering around the neck, the dresses from the past and present are almost identical (check out that sweetheart neckline!). Consider a tulle skirt to achieve a similar look

5. Lace Love

Lace bridesmaid dresses have never really gone out of fashion, they have simply changed in style over the years as lace became affordable and more designs became available on ‘the high street’. Lace is still one of the most popular choices, with some bridesmaids even rocking white!