Being a bridesmaid is definitely an honor, but it’s not without its downsides. Specifically, there’s a very good chance you’ll have to wear a dress you wouldn’t otherwise be caught dead in. Maybe it’s in a color you hate, or maybe the cut is completely unflattering to your figure, or maybe the bride wants you to dress up like a literal Disney princess. Whatever the reason, you’re in for a several uncomfortable hours of bridesmaid duty.
But even the worst bridesmaid dress is still better than what they had to wear 30 or 40 years ago. Back then, bridesmaid dresses were turned up to 11–so gaudy, so puffy, so much polyester. Check out these 15 vintage bridesmaid dresses, (via Bored Panda), and suddenly your frilly neon orange monstrosity won’t look so bad.
1. How many poor drapes gave their lives for this to happen?
Photo Credit: Awkward Family Photos
2. They wanted to save money by wearing their nightgowns.
Photo Credit: Scott Jennings
3. These dresses double as hypothermia blankets.
Photo Credit: Bored Panda
4. The flower girl’s face says it all.
Photo Credit: Bored Panda
5. What fashion icon does every woman want to emulate? Santa Claus, obviously.
Photo Credit: Flickr
6. Don’t look at this if you have a pollen allergy.
Photo Credit: Stephanie Says So
7. Each bridesmaid has several smaller bridesmaids inside her.
Photo Credit: Upper Hutt City Library
8. The nice thing about buying a parasol is how often you use it in everyday life.
Photo Credit: Bored Panda
9. A doomsday cult called. They want their uniforms back.
Photo Credit: Minnesota Historical Society
10. Taken moments before they got a cease & desist from the Chiquita Banana company.
Photo Credit: Awkward Family Photos
11. Pastel should be illegal.
Photo Credit: Flickriver
12. So THAT’s what Christmas looks like at Prince’s house.
Photo Credit: Awkward Family Photos
13. A Midsummer Night’s Nightmare
Photo Credit: Fashion Me Fabulous
14. Warning: dresses may induce vomiting.
Photo Credit: Patysmiles
15. Luckily, everyone in this photo was on so many drugs, they forgot this ever happened.
Photo Credit: Vintage Everyday
h/t: Bored Panda