The best white bridesmaid dresses 2023 that will dominate the years' weddings (no, really)

Hold up: before you tut that only the bride should wear white on her big day, white bridesmaid dresses are actually an ancient tradition… According to legend, when weddings were bathed in superstition, bad fairies roamed the land and spent their time casting spells on virginal maidens. So, someone created bridesmaids to distract those bad fairies away from the actual bride. White bridesmaid dresses were invented as a decoy tactic. Sneaky, eh?

But white bridesmaid dresses fell out of fashion… or rather, brides preferred choosing from a whole rainbow of colours: sage bridesmaid dresses, champagne bridesmaid dresses and pastel bridesmaid dresses. Fast forward to 2023? Decking your squad out in the best white bridesmaid dresses is a fresh and eternally chic choice.

From a style point of view, choosing this simple non-colour is the easiest way to let your maids pick a dress style, shape and silhouette that suits their bodies and personalities - while ensuring the photos still look coherent. Whether they favour open backs, spaghetti straps, cowl necks, v-necks or flutter sleeves, if you’re rounding up a crew of women from around the world, it makes sense to shop for your bridesmaid dresses online and consider multiway bridesmaid dresses that work for every body shape.

Secondly, thinking practically, white is the easiest shade to dye if you do fancy a change after the wedding – which means they’ll get more wear out of the dress in years to come (ticking off our constant quest for sustainable style). It'd be easy to transform a white bridesmaid dress into an evening dress post-party, or into a black bridesmaid dress, for example, for another bride’s ‘do.

Sold? Sold. But if you're planning to dress your girls in white, which are the best white bridesmaid dresses? We searched high and low to bring you the ultimate edit of styles that will suit every body shape and bridal style.

ASOS is becoming the biggest online bridal destination for their epic selection of styles and sizes. Their Curve collection is particularly pleasing. The ASOS Edition Bardot Drape Dress has an elegant off-the-shoulder neckline and comes in sizes 16-30. Coast is a brilliant brand for bridesmaid dresses too. The Embroidered Long Sleeve Maxi Dress is available in sizes 18-26 and has a choice of five other colours if white isn't The One… Coast's inclusive sizing also covers petite figures too - the Halterneck midi dress is beyond chic for smart city weddings.

White bridesmaid dresses work all year round but if you're planning a summer wedding, ASOS's Linen Cami Midi Dress With Cut Out Detail would be a particularly romantic choice. We suggest any bride focused on the evening do should check out Retrofete's show stopping frocks. The Rebecca Velvet-Trimmed Sequinned Chiffon Dress or Sequinned Chiffon Maxi Dress will sparkle all night long.

If your budget stretches to a designer dress, Alex Perry's Strapless Crepe Dress is a classic and minimal choice your maids will love - although Topshop's slip dress is a significant (and far more affordable) choice. There are heart-motifs woven into the jacquard! If that doesn't signify wedding-ready, we don't know what does.

After something different? Shop high street bridesmaid dresses, floral bridesmaid dresses, short bridesmaid dresses, unique bridesmaid dresses, wedding day jewellery to complete your bridal look over this way and bridal hair accessories. Attending a wedding as a guest? We've got you covered with the best wedding guest dresses or if it's wedding guest jumpsuits you're after, look no further. For more from Glamour UK Fashion Director at large Alex Fullerton, follow her on Instagram @alexandrafullerton

Ahead, GLAMOUR's edit of the best white bridesmaid dresses for 2023 weddings and beyond.