Winter Brides Maid Attire

jesscatto

I am planning on getting married next year in February on a mountain, the tempurature will most likely be anywhere from 0 to -10 degrees Celcus (32 to 14 degrees F) and it will be an outdoor ceremony. I am planning to have propane heaters set up but it would be cruel to ask my bms to just wear thier dresses. I am wondering if anyone has any ideas of how they can stay warm and still look dressy without breaking thier bugets (or mine). Thanks!

opalsky007

Yes, it would be cruel to do that. Let them wear coats. Don't make them buy matching coats or anything. Just let them be warm during the ceremony and any photography you do outside.

ring_pop

Why, WHY are you having an outdoor wedding in February at sub-zero temps?? I don't care how many heaters you have, your guests will not be comfortable. PLEASE reconsider your plan. Trust me, your guests will b!tch about it behind your back otherwise.

If you must do it, you'll have to let your BMs wear their coats.

kd.joseph

Dont be surprised at how many people decline your invitation. Especially the elderly, there are not enough heaters in the world. And I personally would not freeze my butt of for anyones wedding.

I think you need to reconsider either your location, or time of year.

Missa513

I'm going to have to agree with the other knotties here....definitely re-consider the location and time of year.

Think about your pictures too...you will see nothing but cold guests gathering near these heaters to stay warm....amongst their winterwear (bulky clothes/jackets/ear muffs/scarves, etc.).   You will even be limited to the main space where the heaters will be, otherwise you will have wedding photos of yourself and your husband with a runny, pink nose!

ChickenOnSunday

Wow! Imagine how everyone is going to look in those pictures. All I can think of is massive amounts of snot running down their faces. Gross...but probably gonna happen.

aerinpegadrak

If I showed up at a wedding in the mountains in February and found that the ceremony was outside, I'd turn right around and head home without hesitation, no matter how close I was to the couple.  Talk about bad planning.

aleighk1

What if you found a nice lodge on the mountain to get married inside of? I think that would be very nice.

smore154

LOL Omg- this made me laugh. I certainly hope you love hiking to have a wedding like this.

If this was me- I'd have my nice little ceremony with FI and I on the mountain, with my MOH and maids fully dressed up in their snow pants, winter coats, and I'd buy them heavy duty gloves and scarves (maybe matching in a nice color). They could hold bouquets of yarn balls!

But I would NOT expect, or even invite guests honestly. If you have your heart set on this, have your nice ceremony, then have the reception for everyone to celebrate. Unless your BM's are up for it as well, I think it's a lot to ask of them.

BlueBoxBride

Do your bridesmaids KNOW you are asking whether or not it's acceptable to have them not wear a coat at a high altitude, in Feb., in subzero temperatures??? 

I'm usually a live and let live kind of woman, but seriously: that is an awful, terrible idea. Going to a wedding on top of a mountain is annoying enough...  But asking guests to huddle around a heater dressed in "winter" evening clothes just so you can claim that you had the most "unique" wedding ever is just downright cruel. 

jesscatto

I just want to make a couple notes to comments, all the bms and all guests, including elderly guests, know this will be an outdoor ceremony. The mountain we are doing this on routinely does outdoor winter ceremonies so this is nothing out of the ordinary and probably close to 50% of the guests live in areas where the average tempurate that time of year can be around -20 C, the rest of the guests live in areas where its usualy around 5 C, so Im not taking people hugely out thier comfort zone. And I understand that the guests will be bundled up, Im not worried about that. I am just trying to find suggestions to keep the bms warm that isn`t all wearing ski jackets.

Missa513

I'm confused.

If you claim the rest of the guests will not be cold (since they are either used to cold temps or the heaters will warm them)...why do you think only your BMs would be cold?  Because they'd have dresses on?

Are you suggesting that ALL of the women coming to your wedding will not be wearing a dress?

jesscatto

I understand that all guest will be cold, but Im not worried about what they wear, if they are comfortable in ski jackets than they can wear ski jackets. Im just looking for a suitable alternative to ski jackets for the bms 

aerinpegadrak

I think they should absolutely be permitted to wear whatever they feel is necessary to stay warm: ski jackets, snow suits, snuggies, whatever.  Forcing your closest friends to wear inadequate clothing in sub-zero temperatures is definitely cruel and borderline evil.  I'd certainly be reconsidering a friendship with someone who felt that was appropriate to ask of me.

mgietler76

As a person who lives in a place known for cold, snowy winters, I must say that just because I live in a place where it is common to have such inclement weather doesn't mean I would be OK with an outdoor ceremony in said weather. As a guest I would not attend your wedding.

What you are planning does not sound like fun for anyone, and I can imagine you will have a high decline rate. Let your BM's wear whatever jackets that will keep them warm, and take into consideration hairstyles that can hold up to hats and scarfs.

-20 is outside ANYONE'S comfort zone no matter where you are from.

tldh

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_attire-accessories_winter-brides-maid-attire?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:15Discussion:1e5a7055-fb45-43a3-a12f-83e1d44bcc8dPost:ad8fcf5c-d8ee-48bb-ae68-271b8192ba41">Re: Winter Brides Maid Attire</a>:
[QUOTE]I just want to make a couple notes to comments, all the bms and all guests, including elderly guests, know this will be an outdoor ceremony. The mountain we are doing this on routinely does outdoor winter ceremonies so this is nothing out of the ordinary and probably close to 50% of the guests live in areas where the average tempurate that time of year can be around -20 C, the rest of the guests live in areas where its usualy around 5 C, so Im not taking people hugely out thier comfort zone. And I understand that the guests will be bundled up, Im not worried about that. I am just trying to find suggestions to keep the bms warm that isn`t all wearing ski jackets.
Posted by jesscatto[/QUOTE]

I lived in Clevealnd for ten years where the winds off the Lake are so cold that my contact lenses froze to my eyeballs more than once.  Neighbors were able to tell just how cold it was by what curse word flew out of my mouth when I stepped out the door.  I don't care that I was able to deal with it for a decade.  My response as a guest or to a BM request would be, Oh Hell No!!

smore154

Fur shawls!

lalap69

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_attire-accessories_winter-brides-maid-attire?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:15Discussion:1e5a7055-fb45-43a3-a12f-83e1d44bcc8dPost:ad8fcf5c-d8ee-48bb-ae68-271b8192ba41">Re: Winter Brides Maid Attire</a>:
[QUOTE]I just want to make a couple notes to comments, all the bms and all guests, including elderly guests, know this will be an outdoor ceremony. The mountain we are doing this on routinely does outdoor winter ceremonies so this is nothing out of the ordinary and p<strong>robably close to 50% of the guests live in areas where the average tempurate that time of year can be around -20 C, the rest of the guests live in areas where its usualy around 5 C, so Im not taking people hugely out thier comfort zone.</strong> And I understand that the guests will be bundled up, Im not worried about that. I am just trying to find suggestions to keep the bms warm that isn`t all wearing ski jackets.
Posted by jesscatto[/QUOTE]
I live in <strong>Canada</strong>.  If I was invited to your wedding you would still be taking me massively outside of anything remotely resembling a comfort zone by asking me to sit outside for your ceremony in subzero temperatures.

If you won't reconsider the ridiculous idea of an outdoor ceremony, then let your WP wear whatever heavy coats they need so that they don't freeze their asses off.

But seriously - this is a joke, right?

lalap69

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_attire-accessories_winter-brides-maid-attire?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:15Discussion:1e5a7055-fb45-43a3-a12f-83e1d44bcc8dPost:0939d8ba-276c-406f-b4ff-d24671836ca0">Re: Winter Brides Maid Attire</a>:
[QUOTE]But since you are, let's consider how your photos will look:  BMs grimacing as they stand huddled against the cold.  Their teeth are chattering, their hands are shaking, and they're not smiling because they are so uncomfortable.  Now that's a photo worth displaying on your mantle.
Posted by trix1223[/QUOTE]
Trix, you forgot their red and snotty noses!

GORGEOUS.

jenn.daniel

Matching Rudolf noses.  Their noses will be red anyway, but this way they'll all be the same shape and cover up the snot!

Or you could use actual reindeer because they ARE used to the cold, unlike humans.

Habs2Hart

I don't agree with an outdoor ceremony, but I think the pictures on that blog in a PP are gorgeous. 

If you insist on it, then let the girls wear long dresses with long undies under and whatever winter boot they can find.  Let them wear whatever coat (or or matching pea coats that YOU buy them) they like.  Scarves in your wedding colours would be cute, and if you go the pea coat route, furry ear muffs (so the hats don't ruin hair) and instead of flowers, buy them all faux fur muffs for their hands to keep them warm.