Unlike other traditional bridesmaid dress colours like sage green or powder blue, pink can be somewhat divisive, with some maids perhaps considering it a little namby-pamby, unable to hold its own in photographs or on Insta. That mindset was pre-Barbie. Post-Barbie, pink is very much back on the menu for brides wanting to make the right kind of statement, whether you subscribe to the 'more is more' attitude of fuchsia or the more subtle, but no less impactful, blush.
And if you need some inspo for your mood board before you take everyone shopping, or start your online search in earnest, look no further than the Oscars. America Ferrera, who was nominated for her rousing performance in none other than Barbie, kept up appearances with a stupendous pink dress by Versace. Shimmering and sizzling in equal measure, it's exactly the kind of gown you'd want to choose if you've decided on a black tie dress code - pavement-sweeping with its small train and most definitely primed for evening.
Earlier in awards season, Greta Lee wore a pink dress that couldn't be more ideal for the directional bridesmaid - sleeveless, high-necked, cut to float a few inches above the floor and by Alaïa. The dress' shade, meanwhile, was a pastel that packed a bit of punch - the brand calls it 'rose quartz' - and proves, definitively, that pink can look modern.
For my first trip down the aisle as a bridesmaid, my friend chose a pink dress from Monsoon (a clever style that could be styled multiple ways). And I have to say, it's been one of my absolute favourites in my career as a bridesmaid (!). The pink was a true mid-pink, slightly darker than blush but punchier than pastel, and it was so easy to style up with accessories. I also bought a pink bridesmaid dress a few years later for my sister's wedding - this time a high-necked, hot pink and backless number from Ghost - that, sadly, never saw the light of day because of Covid.
Instead, I wore a puffy-sleeved dress the colour of Peptol Bismol - more pink! - when her plans shifted to a slightly more informal town hall ceremony. I love that dress - and have since worn it to multiple weddings (in summer and winter) so my golden rule would really be to choose something that your friends will be able to wear again and again. Luckily, pink isn't a colour that people immediately associate with bridesmaid dresses so it shouldn't be hard to find something that has longevity.
Without further ado, keep scrolling for our pick of the best pink bridesmaid dresses...
Grazia's Round-Up Of The Best Pink Bridesmaid Dresses At A Glance
Editor's choice: Rewritten Brooklyn Satin Slip Maxi Dress
Best high street pink bridesmaid dress: Nobody's Child Satin Trixie Bridesmaid Midaxi Dress
Best halter-neck pink bridesmaid dress: Maids To Measure Tilly Satin High-Neck Scarf-Tie Halter Dress
Best midaxi pink bridesmaid dress: House of CB Charmaine Corset Satin Maxi Dress
Pale Pink Bridesmaid Dresses
www.monsoon.co.uk
Monsoon has some of the best pink bridesmaid dresses on the high street, but this embellished style, made with recycled polyester, is my favourite for a boho wedding.
Editor's Choice
www.johnlewis.com
Rewritten's slip dress can be worn three ways: with the waist belt cinched around the middle, with the belt worn as a sash around the neck or without anything at all. Clever, no?
www.coastfashion.com
With its off-the-shoulder neckline and butter-wouldn't-melt pastel hue, Coast's midaxi dress is one of the chicest pink bridesmaid dresses we've found.
www.arket.com
For a hot-weather ceremony somewhere lovely and warm, a slip dress is probably the safest option, especially when it's as dreamy as Arket's.
Baby Pink Bridesmaid Dresses
www.selfridges.com
For a sexy option, Love Island-approved House of CB should be your first port of call. Gorgeously fitted and available in a spectrum of pinks, from hot to pastel hues, these dresses are guaranteed to turn heads.
www.harveynichols.com
For a black tie dress code, Solace London's strapless gown has got to be the one.
www.net-a-porter.com
Self-Portrait has long been a fashion-editor favourite for occasionwear - and this crystal-embellished cocktail dress is a modern take on a pink bridesmaid dress that your friend can pull out again and again.
Blush Pink Bridesmaid Dresses
www.nobodyschild.com
If you're looking for a midaxi dress - with a hemline that hits somewhere between the mid-calf and ankle instead of brushing the floor - Nobody's Child should be your first port of call for its pretty yet wearable bridesmaid dresses.
www.reiss.com
Reiss' twist-shoulder midi dress is simple but effective.
www.stories.com
Another brilliant option for an abroad wedding? & Other Stories' slim midi dress, which can be dressed up with strappy heels or down with ankle-tie sandals.
www.thereformation.com
Reformation's fluid silk dress, with its trending cowl neckline, would make a fantastic bridesmaid dress.
Hot Pink Bridesmaid Dresses
Pink doesn't have to mean pastel. Instead, dial up the drama with something hot pink, like this one-shouldered gown from Adrianna Papell.
www.ghost.co.uk
Another hot pink take on bridesmaid dressing courtesy of Ghost, whose satin frocks are the definition of a safe bet when it comes to weddings.
www.maidstomeasure.com
Maids To Measure is such a popular destination for affordable bridesmaid dresses - and this scarf-tie halter-neck dress is one of our favourites in the hottest of hot pinks.
Mid-Pink Bridesmaid Dresses
Best on the high street
shop.mango.com
This is one of the best finds in the pink bridesmaid dress department on the high street.
kitristudio.com
Kitri's keyhole cut-out dress is a non-traditional pink bridesmaid dress, but perfectly appropriate for a town hall wedding - and your friends will definitely be able to rewear it to future ceremonies (bonus!).
Who usually pays for the bridesmaid dresses?
Ooo good question! The bride would traditionally have covered the cost of the bridesmaid dresses, but as more people start to either ask their maids to choose their own dresses or even wear something they already own (novel!), these days - anything goes. You'll soon get a sense of whether or not you'll be expected to pay for your own dress. But remember, this isn't the bride trying to save on costs - although that's obviously an upshot. It's more that by asking you to pay, she's letting you know that you can really choose something that you love.
What colour shoes go with pink bridesmaid dresses?
This obviously depends on the shade of pink. Because a peppy mid-pink or hot pink, for example, would look wonderful paired with a contrast shade like lipstick red. A blush pink, however, might not be able to hold its own against such a bold choice in the footwear department. So if you're going soft and subtle, a metallic sandal might be a safer option. With my puff-sleeved pink dress, pictured above, I wore a gold latticed sandal for my sister's wedding - with sheer tights because it was winter! - and then with black soft leather ballet pumps at subsequent nuptials.
Natalie Hammond is Grazia’s Senior Fashion News Editor. She loves winter, hates summer and can often be found writing about the weather (and what on earth to wear).