Post # 1

Member
285 posts
Helper bee
- Wedding: March 2014 - Glen Sanders Mansion
So our wedding isn’t for another year, but we started bridesmaid browsing. The dresses are going to be long and gray. We found a few that we really liked. I have a total of 8 girls, 2 of them are plus size and I want everyone to be comfortable. We are going to have a strapless option, and an option with straps.
Since the wedding is at the very end of March, and it’s technically spring, I thought either satin or chiffon would work. My dress is satin. I just want all of the girls to be comfortable. Here are the dresses! Which do you think will look better on girls with varying sizes and shapes? Does the fact that my dress is satin make a difference? Thanks for your feedback! 
Option 1: Satin dresses


Option 2: Chiffon dresses


Post # 3

Member
931 posts
Busy bee
Satin is very unforgiving, I think if you’ve got bridesmaids of all different sizes then they’re likely to be much happier if you choose the chiffon. I also think it’s nice to have a softer fabric for the bridesmaids’ dresses if your gown is satin – too much satin looks quite harsh.
Post # 4

Member
8696 posts
Bumble Beekeeper
I just hate satin bridesmaid dresses so I voted for the chiffon.
Post # 5

Member
285 posts
Helper bee
- Wedding: March 2014 - Glen Sanders Mansion
@JulietFoxtrot: I never considered that too much satin would look harsh, but that is a good point!
Post # 6

Member
14 posts
Newbee
I would definitely go with the chiffon dresses! They’re gorgeous and can flatter anyone’s figure! I also think too much satin would look very harsh. (I guess I’m kind of biased considering I’m not a big fan of satin) I don’t really think it matters if the material of your dress and their dresses are the same. I’ve been worring about that too. I’m having an outdoor wedding June of 2014 and have been really in love with this lace trumpet dress; however, I have heard some thougths on how it might look too heavy for an outdoor wedding in summer. My bridesmaid’s dresses are going to be short and chiffon, so very light and airy, and I’m hoping my dress doesn’t look off if it’s a heavier material. If you want to see the dress I have a post on here: http://boards.weddingbee.com/topic/need-some-opinions-on-dresses?replies=1#post-
Post # 7

Hostess
23620 posts
Honey Beekeeper
I love the chiffon dresses – they look so airy and comfortable!
Post # 8

Member
2363 posts
Buzzing bee
- Wedding: September 2013 - B&B
Another vote for chiffon. Such pretty dresses!!!
Post # 9

Member
532 posts
Busy bee
I voted Chiffon ………… granted, I’m a bit bias because the purple one looks exactly like my bridesmaids’ dress, just a different color.
Ultimately, my group of girls went with chiffon as it is much more forgiving on the figure, less harsh, and more airy/breathable. As I’m having a May wedding, the weather can go any which way, and we thought ultimately it was better to have something breathable in case it gets hot.
If you are getting married in late March, you may not have that concern though.
Post # 10

Member
4687 posts
Honey bee
- Wedding: June 2013 - Upstate NY
Chiffon will make the plus size girls feel a little more comfortable I think! And it’s comfy
Post # 11

Member
1177 posts
Bumble bee
Indoor or outdoor? More importantly, daytime or evening? I feel like the satin only really works for a formal, indoor, evening wedding.
I don’t necessarily agree that chiffon is more forgiving – satin dresses with internal structure can actually be much kinder to figure flaws than a chiffon dress that lets everything hang loose. But it depends on the girl and the dress.
Post # 13

Member
285 posts
Helper bee
- Wedding: March 2014 - Glen Sanders Mansion
@geekspice: the ceremony is at 5pm. It’s a ballroom reception, so pretty formal.
thank you for the input, everyone! So far, my girls are sort of split down tmiddle me, so it should be interesting to see how it all shakes out when we all go shopping in a couple of months 🙂