Planning your wedding is kind of like designing your own movie. You’ve got your leading roles (that’s you two), your setting (dream venue, check), your soundtrack (we’re definitely crying during the first dance), and then your supporting cast: your bridal party.
Bridesmaids and groomsmen are more than just well-dressed hype people. They’re the inner circle, the people who’ve walked with you through your love story, and now get to stand with you when you say forever. So it’s only natural to want them to look good. Coordinated, confident, and like they belong in the same visual universe, even if their styles, skin tones, or personalities are beautifully diverse.
So how do you pull that off without feeling like you’re micromanaging the vibe or defaulting to one single color swatch for everyone? The answer lies in intention. With a little planning and a touch of creativity, you can coordinate bridesmaids’ and groomsmen’s colors in a way that feels cohesive, elevated, and true to your wedding style.
Let’s talk about how.
Start With Your Wedding Vision (Not Just a Color)
Before you even get into color wheels and fabric swatches, zoom out for a second. What do you want your wedding to feel like?
Is it a romantic garden celebration with soft florals and champagne tones? A modern, moody evening filled with candlelight and deep burgundy accents? A sun-drenched coastal elopement with breezy neutrals and ocean blues?
Understanding your wedding aesthetic gives you a much better starting point than trying to chase “trending” colors. When your vibe is clear, the colors naturally follow.
And remember—your wedding palette should complement your flowers, your venue, and your season. Let it be a thread that ties everything together.
Choose a Base Color Palette (and Stick to It)
One of the best ways to create harmony across your wedding party is to work within a color story, not just one specific shade. Think of it like a curated paint palette: maybe it’s soft blush, warm taupe, sage green, and ivory. Or deep navy, charcoal gray, champagne, and black.
This gives you flexibility while still looking coordinated.
Your bridesmaids can each wear a slightly different dress tone within that palette—mauve, dusty rose, or even a warm cinnamon—and your groomsmen can echo those tones in their ties, pocket squares, or even full suits.
Color doesn’t have to be perfectly matched. It just needs to feel intentionally related.
Anchor the Look with a Neutral or Metal
If your palette includes bold or multiple colors, it can help to anchor the party with a shared neutral or metallic element. For example:
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All groomsmen wear black or navy suits, but their ties reflect the bridesmaids’ dresses.
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Bridesmaids wear mismatched jewel tones, but all carry bouquets wrapped in the same gold velvet ribbon.
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Everyone wears champagne shoes or matching accessories.
This creates unity, even with variety. It’s those subtle visual cues that keep the party looking cohesive in photos.
Use the Florals as a Bridging Element
Here’s where we get excited. Your wedding flowers are the ultimate color connector.
Let’s say your bridesmaids are in soft sage and terracotta, and your groomsmen are in classic tan suits. Your bouquets and boutonnieres can blend the two beautifully—like incorporating peach-toned roses, rust ranunculus, and dried grasses in both.
You can even take it a step further by adding a floral pin-on corsage to bridesmaids or a mini bouquet lapel wrap for the groomsmen. These little touches feel thoughtful and photograph so well.
Plus, when you go to preserve your florals (which you absolutely should), you’ll have those memories tied to every detail of your day.
Don't Forget About Texture and Fabric
Color isn’t the only element to consider: texture plays a huge role in the final aesthetic. A sage green silk dress gives off a very different vibe than sage green chiffon or velvet.
If you're mixing dress styles and suit details, think about how the fabrics interact. Soft textures like tulle or georgette tend to feel more romantic, while velvet or structured crepe can feel modern or dramatic.
For groomsmen, think about how the fabric of the suits, shirts, and ties match the formality and tone of the bridesmaids’ dresses. Linen for a beach wedding, wool for a winter wedding, satin ties for something more elevated.
It's all about the balance.
Give the Groomsmen Style Options Too
Bridesmaids often get multiple dress choices or shades, but don’t forget about the groomsmen! If you’re aiming for a visually dynamic look, let the guys mix things up too.
That might mean:
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Varying tie colors within your palette.
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Mixing suit jackets and pants (navy + gray, for example).
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Playing with textures like tweed, velvet, or linen.
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Letting each groomsman choose their own boutonniere style (within a floral theme).
Let them have fun with it. When everyone feels confident, it shows.
Avoid “One-for-One” Matching
It’s tempting to say, “Okay, if one bridesmaid wears burgundy, one groomsman will wear a burgundy tie.” But overly symmetrical matching can feel a little stiff.
Instead, aim for a gradient. If your palette includes sage, rust, and ivory, distribute those tones thoughtfully across the entire group rather than in direct pairs.
In other words, think of your wedding party as one whole, balanced arrangement—not two separate sides that need to mirror each other.
Coordinate With Skin Tones, Hair, and Comfort
Here’s where personality and inclusivity come in. Not everyone feels their best in the same shade or silhouette.
If you’re going with mismatched bridesmaid dresses or varied groomsmen accessories, give your people some room to choose what flatters them most within your selected palette.
You can even create a shared Pinterest board or moodboard with example colors and ask everyone to send you a few options before they purchase.
The more confident and comfortable your crew feels, the better they’ll look (and the more fun you’ll all have).
Plan for the Photos
Your bridal party photos are going to live on your walls, in your album, and on Instagram for years to come. So think about how the colors will photograph together.
Try this trick: Create a mock-up in Canva or Pinterest with your bridesmaids’ dress colors, suit tones, and bouquet elements. Look at it in black and white too—if it still looks balanced and harmonious, you’re golden.
Also consider your backdrop. If your ceremony takes place in a garden with lots of greenery, you might want warm neutrals or rich colors that pop against it. For an urban rooftop wedding, dusty hues and sleek textures can look ultra-chic.
Add One Signature Color for You Two
Finally, tie it all together by choosing one signature color that’s just for you and your partner. Maybe it’s the color of your bouquet ribbon and your partner’s boutonniere. Or your shoes. Or your vow books.
This small, elevated detail becomes your thing, a subtle nod that you’re the center of the story.
In the End, It’s All About the Feeling
Yes, the colors matter. But what matters more is how it all feels. Does it reflect you? Does it honor the people you love? Does it photograph like a dream, but also look gorgeous in real life? Does everyone feel celebrated?
If the answer is yes then you’ve nailed it.
And when you’re ready to turn those bouquets, boutonnieres, and petal-wrapped ribbons into forever keepsakes, you know where to find us. At Blossom & Rhyme, we preserve the beauty and meaning behind your wedding day through handcrafted floral heirlooms that last a lifetime.
Planning your wedding party aesthetic? Check out our guide to floral preservation, or reach out to create a custom keepsake that ties it all together—beautifully, meaningfully, and forever.