After putting down a deposit on your gorge wedding dress, it's time to start thinking about the second most important outfit of the wedding – yep, we're talking about the bridesmaid dresses. Sorry grooms, your tuxedos will have to take a backseat on this one.
Bridesmaid dress shopping is fun and exciting, but it can be very very stressful. As much as we adore our friends, they all have different styles, body shapes and opinions. But let's also remember, you can't please everybody.
Whether your chief bridesmaid is petite or you're searching for a plus-sized bridesmaid dress, there is an option out there for everyone. Whatever your theme is, sage green bridesmaid dresses, red or dusty blue, we've pulled together the very best picks.
The best cheap bridesmaid dresses, at a glance:
Editor's Choice: Navy Bridesmaid Corset Detail Cross Front Maxi Dress, £48 on PrettyLittleThing
Best plus-size cheap bridesmaid dress: ASOS EDITION Curve Satin Square Neck Maxi Dress in Dusky Blue, £110 on ASOS
Best floral cheap bridesmaid dress: Blue Foral Flutter Sleeve Asymmetric Ruffle Midi Dress, £39.99 on New Look.
Apart from finding a style that fits all your friends, budget is the next big consideration. You've just bought your dream wedding dress, booked your venue, and the budget you had in mind is starting to seem like a distant memory – but that doesn't have to be the case.
High-street wedding dresses are a fab option if you're on a budget. They're cheap, easy to get your hands on, and, if chosen right, incredibly chic.
To help cross one more thing off that very busy wedding list, we've curated a list of our favourite stylish but cheap bridesmaid dresses on the high street. We've opted for simple silhouettes that flatter all body shapes and have also thrown in a few sustainable options that won't cost the earth.
SHOP: The best cheap bridesmaid dresses
Best strapless dress
Coastwww.debenhams.com
Off-the-shoulder styles immediately add a classy touch to outfits. Mixed with the shine of the satin fabric this is a sure winner. It also comes with a back slit for ease of movement.
Pros
- Premium looking fabric
- Boned bodice for structure
Cons
- Straps can fall down
- No stretch in fabric
Best pastel colour dress
Club L Londonclubllondon.com
Looking for the perfect summer colour? This lemon sorbet shade makes for a gorgeous tone to compliment everyone. The satin fabric will also make it look much more expensive that the price tag says. You can also easily re-style for any other event in your calendar to get maximum cost-per-wear.
Pros
- Looks expensive
- Flattering drape
Cons
- Fabric can crease easily
Best embellished dress
Quizwww.quizclothing.co.uk
Sequins are a brilliant way to add that wedding feel to a dress. This option from Quiz combines a floaty chiffon skirt with a statement halter neck bodice.
Pros
- Light pink colour compliments many skin tones
- High waist line makes for a figure flattering shape
Cons
- Sequins can rub on arms
Editor's Choice
prettylittlething
Yep, even Molly-Mae's mum opted for a budget bridesmaid dress - this one being a multiway bridesmaid dress that can be worn in different ways. The cross front design and corset details are absolutely gorge, and we're loving the navy. Also available in dusty pink, emerald green and black.
Pros
- Four colours to choose from
- Thick fabric
Cons
- The halter neck may not be to everyone's taste
| Made from: | 95 per cent polyester, 5 per cent elastane. |
| Sizes: | Available in sizes 4 to 16 |
Best plus-size cheap bridesmaid dress
asoswww.asos.com
This simple square-neck number hits your curves in all the right places, and the dusky blue colour will flatter any skin tone. No wonder it's predicted to be one of the most popular bridesmaid dress colours for 2024.
Pros
- Four colours to choose from
- Machine wash
Cons
- Some found it not overly long in length
| Made from: | 100 per cent polyester |
| Sizes: | 22 to 30 |
Best one-shoulder cheap bridesmaid dress
Chi Chi Clothing www.chichiclothing.com
Obsessed? Us too. The one-shoulder design is a timeless classic, exuding beauty and elegance. It's cut tight, showing off your silhouette.
Pros
- Four colours to choose from
- Lined with self-fabric
Cons
- Blue shade is nearly out of stock
| Made from: | 100 per cent polyester |
| Sizes: | Available in sizes 8 to 16 |
Best sustainable cheap bridesmaid dress
omneswww.omnes.com
Made from 100 per cent recycled polyester, Omnes is a brand that champions elegant designs that are eco-friendly and budget-friendly. The Woolf dress is giving us '90s chic with a lace v-neck.
Pros
- Two colours to choose from
- Made using recycled polyester certified by the global recycle standard
Cons
- Very lightweight fabric
| Made from: | 100 per cent recycled polyester |
| Sizes: | Available in sizes 6 to 18 |
Best chiffon cheap bridesmaid dress
asoswww.asos.com
Chiffon is a fabric you can't go wrong with - it looks effortlessly expensive, whilst not being spenny at all. This dress is available in a sultry dark green or bright aster blue.
Pros
- Unique colours
- Thigh-high split for shape
Cons
- Very simple design
| Made from: | 100% Polyester |
| Sizes: | Available in sizes 6 to 16 |
Best fairycore cheap bridesmaid dress
asoswww.asos.com
This gorgeous bridesmaid maxi dress is giving us major fairy princess vibes and would be perfect for an outdoor summer wedding. It really shows you you don't have to splash out on loads of cash to make sure your bridal party is looking smashing.
Pros
- Flattering waist
- Gorgeous embroidery
Cons
- Structured waist may be constricting
| Made from: | 100% Polyester |
| Sizes: | Available in sizes 4 to 18 |
When to buy your bridesmaid dresses
A lot of planning goes into a wedding, and with many of us having to stick to a budget, you might be wondering when you should buy bridesmaid dresses within your wedding timeline.
Generally, around seven to eight months before the wedding is a good time to start narrowing down your vision, but buying them at that time could mean that they no longer fit when your big day arrives - a lot can happen in eight months, and the styles available can change, too.
You'll need to leave yourself some time once they've arrived for any alterations or exchanges, as well as ordering shoes/accessories for your bridesmaids.
All things considered, we generally recommend between three and six months until the big day as the ideal time to start buying bridesmaid dresses from the high street, depending on your budget and bridal party size.
How to save money on bridesmaid dresses
If you're shopping online for your bridesmaid dresses (especially if you're utilising the high street), you can take advantage of sales events like Black Friday or new season sales to save some money.
You could also look at places like Vinted or eBay to see if any former brides or bridesmaids are parting with their dresses (remember, they'll only have been worn once!).
Struggling to find one dress that ticks all the boxes? Consider going for the mismatched bridesmaid dress vibe, as it can make it much easier to find a dress for each member of your bridal party.
Rental bridesmaid dresses
Want your besties to look fab without costing the planet? Rental fashion for cheap bridesmaid dresses might be the answer.
Rental fashion is BIG right now, and it is an opportunity to lengthen the lifetime of garments. After all, why buy five dresses that'll be worn once when you can rent them for much cheaper?
Brands like Rotaro offer beautiful, designer and premium items for way less, so you can say yes to the dress while still being totally eco-conscious. Other brands include Hurr, the home of circular fashion.
Marina Avraam is the Deputy Commercial Content Editor for Grazia. Hobbies include (but not limited to) finding the best designer dupes, buying every iteration of the adidas gazelles and listening to celeb podcasts every hour of every day.