Short or Long bridesmaid dresses?? PLEASE HELP!!!

1.

Member

163 posts

Blushing bee

TP to Bee January 8, 2011 Chicago, IL

At the beginning of my wedding planning this question was a no brainer... SHORT! I love the look of the shorter dresses! The plan was for me to pick the color and then the girls would just pick a dress of certain length in that color. Then I started to get those little words from some of my bridesmaids. They aren't so sure about the short.

You see, I am getting married January 8, 2011 in Chicago. So yes, the weather will be cold, which of course lends to long dresses. It is a morning wedding wedding which lends itself to short dresses.

I totally understand their mindset! Then I went with some of the BMs yesterday to look at dresses for them. I still love the short dresses but I also came to really like the long dresses too!

So what do you think? Short or long BM dresses?

2 years ago

2.

Member

280 posts

Helper bee

des_salazar November 13, 2010 Live in Houston, TX / Wedding in Winter Park, CO

I also love the look of short dresses, but since I'm getting married in the rocky mountains in November long dresses make more sense. Just think how cold you would in wearing a short dress at that time of year.

2 years ago

3.

Member

418 posts

Helper bee

kdlowery 6/5/2010 Joplin

Maybe they could find a shorter dress and pair it with some cute tights! I really like rocking tights and think that they are absolutly adorable when paired right! As long as they don't get tights that are too casual then it should be ok. Then you would have more casual dresses for the morning wedding, while they will have warm legs... Also, I dont find longer dresses any warmer than shorter dresses anyway.. they are all thin and open at the bottom...hints my tight love!

2 years ago

4.

Member

163 posts

Blushing bee

TP to Bee January 8, 2011 Chicago, IL

@kdlowery - Tights sounds cute! I also love the idea of the girls in short dresses with cute boots! Love it! IDK though...

2 years ago

5.

Member

3,006 posts

Sugar bee

littlemissmoo July 18, 2010 London, UK

I think tights would be awesome teamed with short bridesmaids dresses for a morning wedding!

2 years ago

6.

Member

209 posts

Helper bee

winter443 5/15/10 Atlanta

I was debating between short and long dresses for a while and ended up picking long dresses. I'm having an evening wedding that is kind of formal and a couple of my bm's are more comfortable wearing long dresses than short dresses so it just works out better that way.

2 years ago

7.

Member

1,935 posts

Buzzing bee

Charm bracelet July 24, 2010 Placentia, CA

I've always wanted to wear a long BM dress. I think Chicago and January are good combination for long dresses.

2 years ago

8.

Hostess

10,729 posts

Sugar
Beekeeper

crebre80 November 20, 2010 Baton Rouge, LA

I chose long (December morning wedding in the south). I originally wanted short but everyone commented on how cold they would be and I found the dresses (black sexy alfred angelo with a slight train) and I fell in love and luckily for me so did they :D

2 years ago

9.

Member

274 posts

Helper bee

Chartreuse March 6, 2010 Belize

I had originally wanted a short dress too!! But I was voted out by all the bridesmaids...they wanted long...and it's for a beach wedding in March!! so don't feel bad, at least Chicago will be cool.

2 years ago

10.

Member

1,651 posts

Bumble bee

AzinAugust August 2010 Sedona, AZ

Wow I completely understand. See I'm getting married in Arizona (in AUGUST!- hence my moniker) and I couldn't POSSIBLY make my girls wear long dresses. I say go ahead and do the long dresses, just take some more time to make sure you get the perfect long dresses :o)

2 years ago

11.

Member

163 posts

Blushing bee

TP to Bee January 8, 2011 Chicago, IL

Thanks so much for the input all! I REALLY appeciate it!! Long will be warmer... hmmm.

2 years ago

12.

Member

1,418 posts

Bumble bee

Mrs. Louboutin July 2010

Originally I thought I wanted short dresses too, but once my bridesmaids made comments about the shoes - my MOH's boyfriend of 10 years is only about an inch taller than her, so she hates wearing heels, but flats with a short dress doesn't look that good, my other bridesmaids loved the longer dress length because they look so elegant. At that, I was sold on long dresses! They can wear whatever shoes they want since no one will see them and they all are happy with the dresses.

2 years ago

13.

2,766 posts

Sugar bee

clarebee August 21, 2010 Vienna, VA (wedding in Greensboro, GA)

For a January wedding I think your BMs will appreciate you choosing a long dress!

2 years ago

14.

5,478 posts

Bee Keeper

lilyfaith June 23, 2012 Lakeview, Chicago

Do you have any really short BMs? I'm 5' and look ridiculous in long dresses! I was relived when FSIL had us wear tea length dresses for her wedding.

Besides that, long might be better for January. Ugh, how I loathe Chicago in January! Nothing like waiting 20 minutes for the red line in -20 degree weather, right? Haha.

2 years ago

15.

Member

500 posts

Busy bee

MrsJellybean227 January 1, 2011 TN

I will wed 7days before you and I can only tell you what I'm doing.... Long. I liked the short too (and have recently found one that I'm in love with thanks to a WB poster), but some how it doesn't seem "right" to go with short to me. Of course that is my personal opinion. How about as sorta like a compromise a high-low hem. I love high low hems and I still haven't crossed the possibilty off my list. Like these dresses http://www.alfredangelo.com/Collections/displayCollection.aspx?CategoryId=772f03c9-de43-4942-bfa0-da77e21ebd65

2 years ago

16.

Bee

6,210 posts

Bee Keeper

elephant April 2011

At first I thought long dresses, but since it's in April in Texas, I thought the girls would be more comfortable in a shorter dress.

2 years ago

17.

Member

3,486 posts

Sugar bee

HoneyBear March 17, 2012 Texas/ Isla Mujeres

I am hoping that my BFF will pick short dresses because then there is a better chance of being able to wear the dress again after the wedding. If you get long dresses they might look too formal in any other setting besides a wedding.

2 years ago

18.

Member

6 posts

Newbee

Mrs. Poodle September 18, 2010 Orange County, CA

I thought I wanted long dresses but my wedding is in California in September (our hottest month) so then I changed my BM dresses to short.

I had to think about my girls. So my suggestion is to make the girls as happy as you can because they will do so much for you.

Good Luck!!!

2 years ago

19.

Member

13 posts

Newbee

amvanzo

for future brides... there are a couple other options out there. (longer) tea length dresses are a great alternative, and would look absolutly adorable with matching peep-toe heels.

for diy brides out there, you could have your girls purchase a long dress, then install some 'hook and eye' clasps. the 'eye' being located along the bottom inside hem, and the hook along the waitline. after the ceremony, the girls could pin their skirts up to create a shorter, bubble-hemmed version of their dresses.

10 months ago

20.

Member

13 posts

Newbee

amvanzo

for future brides... there are a couple other options out there. (longer) tea length dresses are a great alternative, and would look absolutly adorable with matching peep-toe heels.

for diy brides out there, you could have your girls purchase a long dress, then install some 'hook and eye' clasps. the 'eye' being located along the bottom inside hem, and the hook along the waitline. after the ceremony, the girls could pin their skirts up to create a shorter, bubble-hemmed version of their dresses.

10 months ago

20.

Member

13 posts

Newbee

amvanzo

for future brides... there are a couple other options out there. (longer) tea length dresses are a great alternative, and would look absolutly adorable with matching peep-toe heels.

for diy brides out there, you could have your girls purchase a long dress, then install some 'hook and eye' clasps. the 'eye' being located along the bottom inside hem, and the hook along the waitline. after the ceremony, the girls could pin their skirts up to create a shorter, bubble-hemmed version of their dresses.

10 months ago

21.

Member

3,856 posts

Honey bee

kala_way May 28, 2011 Manhattan Beach, CA

Short. I don't really like most long dresses. I think think short options are more stylish and more versatile.

Honestly I don't think temperature is much of concern since the materials most BM dresses are made of aren't such that it's going to keep you warmer if you have another 2 feet of material on the bottom. 2 feet of flowy chiffon isn't exactly a winter blanket, lol.

10 months ago

22.

Member

3,856 posts

Honey bee

kala_way May 28, 2011 Manhattan Beach, CA

sorry double post, hive is a tad slow today

10 months ago

23.

Member

3,590 posts

Sugar bee

CupCakeMeg December 18, 2011 Orange County, CA

I have no idea how Chicago is in early Jan, but I'd go with LONG. I feel you on being "stuck between", what about gowns that go below the knee?? or go to the shin? Maybe you could have them order Long and then have them altered to your liking! =) Just a thought! Best of Luck!

10 months ago

24.

Member

1,138 posts

Bumble bee

andielovesj August 13, 2011

I'd always go short over long. Long dresses, especially BM dresses just don't appeal to me at all.

Unless the dresses are lined I can't see a thin layer of satin to offer much protection from the cold weather, but I don't think it really matters unless you are getting married outside. The quick trip from the car to the venue is only 30 seconds or so.

10 months ago

25.

Member

885 posts

Busy bee

bigcitybee November 1, 2014 New York City

Chicago in January? Spare your BMs and put them in long dresses! Chicago is so frreezziinngg in the winter. No one will question them just because you're having a morning wedding. I think short dresses would look out of place for the time of year.

3 months ago