There are so many reasons to want your bridal party in more casual dresses. Relaxed dresses in comfortable fabrics just work better for certain times of year (the middle of summer), specific themes such as preppy, or in locations like the beach or a city hall ceremony. These are just not the places you want your favorite people to be in head-to-toe taffeta, you know?

One of the coolest casual options for bridesmaids is a classic shirt dress. Whether in brightly colored cotton, linen, or chambray, these dresses blend right in and make your bridal party look effortlessly chic.

For city hall ceremony, you want an easy dress that your best friend (and witness) will want to wear again and again. This candy pink shift in viscose (below) will feel soft on the skin and become a summer wardrobe staple.

We also love this sweet scoop neck dress with a sash tie. Perfect for any type of casual wedding, it will also go from day-to-night in their daily wardrobe. Pair with a waist-length navy blazer and ballet flats, and this bridesmaid dress is office-ready!

For beach and destination weddings, you want bridesmaid dresses that will be comfortable and look refined even after a long trip. This pinstriped, floor-length sundress (below) will look amazing in the photos and won't fly up too much on a breezy coastal day!

For a more modern bridesmaid look, find a sundress with a high-low hemline with color blocked pattern. This example below could also go into early fall with the help of a simple, cropped shrug.

Crop top wedding dresses are all the rage right now. But some styles could also work really well for an all-white dress bridal party. We guarantee that after rocking this lace crop top and long pleated skirt at your wedding, your ladies will be wearing these as separates all the time.

Another gorgeous white dress for bridesmaids is a simple slip dress. Particularly compatible with an equally minimalist wedding dress, this would be great for a warm weather backyard wedding. Style with edgy accessories for a modern look or a floral crown and woven sandals for a boho theme.

If you want your bridesmaids to be more casual, but the above styles are all a bit too "laidback" for you, consider a simple a-line cotton dress. Below, this floral print would be darling at a retro wedding.

Finding cotton dresses in a wide variety of colors and styles isn't difficult. This sunshine yellow shift (below) is simple enough that you can style it any way you want!

Credits: Ann Taylor | White House Black Market | Polo Ralph Lauren | The Loft | BCBG | Anthropologie | BHLDN | Modern Citizen | J. Crew | Donna Morgan | Eliza J