It's super common to have a pregnant bridesmaid in your bridal party! One of your girls may already be pregnant or find out that she is pregnant during your engagement. It's important to make her feel comfortable and included - so help her find the perfect maternity bridesmaid dress!

Kayli Moss Green Maternity Bridesmaid Dress | Photographer

Learn the answers to common questions about pregnant bridesmaids and maternity bridesmaid dresses. Find out how to order bridesmaid dresses when pregnant or during post-pregnancy. Plus, we'll show you the most comfortable (and stunning) styles for a pregnant bridesmaid!

Tips for Pregnant Bridesmaids: Maternity Bridesmaid Dresses

If you've never been a pregnant bridesmaid before, it may feel intimidating to pick out your perfect dress.  Luckily, we've been helping pregnant bridesmaids find their best fit for over 40 years!  We can't wait to share our advice with you, mama-to-be!

1) Choose Maternity Dress Styles with Empire or A-Line Silhouettes

Empire waist dresses are the most flattering dress style for a bridesmaid with a baby bump! It will drape over your bump, no matter how big or small. Tip: A great way to ensure that a pregnant bridesmaid in your party fits in with the group is to have everyone wear similar silhouettes - like a-line & empire!

2) Avoid Tight or Ruched Maternity Bridesmaid Dress Styles

As a rule, try to avoid ruching, (which is a design where fabric is gathered in a pleat). Contrary to popular belief, ruching will not hide your growing belly, and is difficult to get altered. You will also want to avoid designs that hug your midsection. These will not only be uncomfortable, but will require a lot of alterations. If you do choose a more fitted bridesmaid dress through the waist and hips, you’ll likely need to size up.

3) Pick A Comfortable Bridesmaid Dress Fabric

Chiffon fabric is the best option for all your bridesmaids - particularly a pregnant bridesmaid. If you do choose a chiffon bridesmaid dress, order an extra yard of liner. That way, you'll have extra fabric for alterations to accommodate your belly.

Kennedy Blue Bridesmaid Dress | Kacey Wyrick

When to Order A Maternity Bridesmaid Dress

The size of dress you order will be dictated by how far along you will be come the day of the wedding. Consider the recommendations below when ordering a maternity bridesmaid dress!

Maternity Bridesmaid Dresses For Pregnant Bridesmaids

There are several styles that moms-to-be can choose from when it comes to maternity bridesmaid dresses! They'll coordinate beautifully with the rest of the bridal party. Here are some customer favorites! Plus, check out the entire maternity bridesmaid collection here.

1) Flowing Dusty Rose Maternity Bridesmaid Dress

The Kennedy Blue Maternity Bridesmaid Dress 'Jewel' is a gorgeous chiffon option! It's extremely comfortable and allows ample room for a growing figure. Also available in 50+ colors to coordinate with the other bridesmaids.

2) Black Maternity Bridesmaid Dress in Satin with Flutter Sleeves

Are your bridesmaids wearing satin? Tate is the perfect satin maternity bridesmaid dress! The slit in the skirt makes it sexy & comfortable, while the flutter sleeves give extra coverage up top. Available in 15 popular colors!

3) High Neck Burgundy Maternity Bridesmaid Dress

For extra coverage and support around the bust, Lacey is a gorgeous maternity bridesmaid dress style. With fun details like keyhole accents and pockets, Lacey is functional and flattering.

4) Comfortable Velvet Maternity Bridesmaid Dress

Is your bridal party wearing velvet? We've got maternity bridesmaid dresses in velvet, too! The Drew Velvet Maternity Dress is one of the most comfortable options, and it has an adorable cowl neckline.

Maternity Bridesmaid Dress Sizing: How to Take Measurements

If ordering a maternity bridesmaid dress, you'll likely choose an empire waist style. That means, the most important measurement to consider is your bust. After all, the bust and under-bust is the only area where the dress will be fitted. Maternity bridesmaid dresses are meant to accommodate a larger belly.

However, if you choose a style that is NOT a maternity style, you will need to take extra precaution when choosing your size. In non-maternity styles, the waist and hip measurements will generally be important.

Do I Have to Order A Maternity Bridesmaid Dress?

This answer is NO! But hear us out. If you order a standard size dress and want it to fit correctly, alterations will be needed. Standard bridesmaid dress sizes are designed around average measurements. So, the material will not account for your baby bump. It will likely grab and pull uncomfortably, and even alter the appearance of the dress when worn.

Ginger Bridesmaid Dress | Emily Easton

If you will be 5 or more months pregnant at the time of the wedding, we recommend that you DO NOT risk ordering a standard dress size. If you must match with the rest of your (non-pregnant) bridesmaids, we carry styles that will better accommodate a bump. A few of our favorites include: Ginger, Parker, by Kennedy Blue!

Post-Pregnancy Bridesmaid Dress Advice

Before, during, and post-pregnancy, you deserve to feel beautiful. Whether you feel more confident wearing a maternity bridesmaid dress or standard dress is completely up to you!  That being said, it’s recommended that you order your bridesmaid dress 1 size up post-baby. This will allow a little more room for you to remain comfortable as your tummy begins to shrink in size.

How to Alter a Bridesmaid Dress for Pregnancy

So, what do you do when you’ve already ordered your bridesmaid dress and end up being pregnant?

Depending on the bridesmaid dress style and how far along you will be, will determine what can be done. A fuller skirt can typically be altered, but extra fabric may need to be ordered! Be sure to plan ahead.

Even if you think you’ve ordered the correct size, your body still may change in unexpected ways. Baby bumps are unique to every person! To make sure your bridesmaid dress will fit, plan to have alterations done 2 weeks before the wedding. Just make sure to contact your seamstress and make the appointment well in advance.

Ordering a Bridesmaid Dress While Trying to Get Pregnant

Think you MIGHT be pregnant by the time the wedding rolls around, but aren’t 100% sure that will be the case? Here is what to do!

If you are not pregnant at the time of purchasing your bridesmaid dress, but are trying to become pregnant, we recommend ordering 1 size up. If you do become pregnant, there will be enough room to grow into your dress. This depends on when you order your dress and plan on becoming pregnant. Do your best to estimate how far along you will be come the day of the wedding.

In the event that you’re not pregnant by the time of the wedding, your dress can easily be taken in to your original size. Remember, it’s easier to alter your dress down a size than it is to make it bigger!

Book a Bridesmaid Appointment at the Wedding Shoppe

Choosing a bridesmaid dress when pregnant is hard, especially when you go at it alone. While all our inventory is available online, we would love to assist you in-store.

At The Wedding Shoppe, located in St. Paul, Minnesota, our stylists can help take your measurements and ensure that you order the right size. Our staff knows how to select the most flattering style for every body type, including pregnant bridesmaids. Book an appointment and let us help you feel confident come the big day!

Choose Your Favorite Maternity Bridesmaid Dress!

At the Wedding Shoppe, we want to make every woman feel beautiful! With a versatile line of maternity bridesmaid dresses, it is easy to create a cohesive bridal party look. We hope that these tips on how to choose and order a maternity bridesmaid dress make your shopping experience all the more enjoyable.

Still looking for the perfect wedding colors? Find the trending wedding color schemes for this year - and pick out the perfect bridesmaid lineup!