PHOTO BY LEX KING PHOTOGRAPHY

Included on the list of Martha Stewart’s trending bridesmaids’ looks of 2024, black gowns are a good option for brides who are aiming to achieve a classic look.

Riah Yost, who married Chris Peluso in November at First Presbyterian Church of Pittsburgh, Downtown, with a reception at the Omni William Penn Hotel, appreciates a neutral vibe in all aspects of her life, whether that be in her home or for her wedding. 

PHOTO BY LEX KING PHOTOGRAPHY

Champagne-colored dresses, also a popular option for brides going the neutral route, was actually Riah’s first choice. 

“When I had some of the girls try them on, I thought black looked a lot better on every skin tone,” Riah says. “I know for the champagne [dresses], it can wash a lot of people out. The black just looked a lot better on every single girl.” 

While the Martha Stewart article states that black gowns are a good option if you’d like to let your bridesmaids pick their own dresses, Riah opted to have a cohesive look for the bridesmaids, all with the same style.

PHOTO BY KRISTI TELNOV PHOTOGRAPHY

Basia Kossecka, who married Joe Federoff in September 2022 at The Pennsylvanian Downtown, also wanted a neutral style in her big day; she’s still happy with her choice.

“Looking back at pictures now, I still like that decision,” Basia says. “You’ll start to not like things as time goes on because new trends come out and new colors. I still like the route I went with.”

PHOTO BY KRISTI TELNOV PHOTOGRAPHY

Basia dreamt of an understated wedding and found that her bridesmaid dresses, all in the same style, enhanced that.

“They fit in perfectly,” Basia says. “That’s exactly what I envisioned. It’s a little more evening-upscale [style]. It definitely helped bring my vision to life the day of.” 

The Martha Stewart list also suggests that the look is perfect for black-tie weddings, which is what Riah chose.

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“It looks very sophisticated,” Riah says. “That made it easy to go along with the dress code.”

With its timeless, chic aesthetic, the black bridesmaid gown might become a permanent trend. 

“Black is never going to go out of style. You can really never go wrong with black,” Riah says.