Bridesmaid dresses...appropriate for the season?

kmd0501

So I am planning on getting married in March (2013...so far away i know!) but I am trying to get some idea of the style I want my wedding to have.  When I look at bridesmaids dresses, I am immediately drawn to the strapless, short cocktail looking dresses but I wonder if it may be too inappropriate for the time of year?  March is a sketchy month in Philadelphia...could be warm and gorgeous or, like last year, there could be a massive, unexpected blizzard and anything in between.  I do plan on having my wedding ceremony and reception in the same venue so the only time we would be outside would be for pictures.  I just dont want to start looking at a certain style of dress only to be disappointed when someones mentions 18 months from now that short and strapless may be the wrong way to go.  Any and all suggestions welcome!

[Deleted User]

Wait until it gets closer to decide. Not only may the styles change, but the designers will change their styles and colors as well. No need to rush into wedding planning right now when you won't be getting married for almost 2 1/2 years.

opalsky007

There's nothing wrong with short dresses in winter, as long as your girls can stay warm enough. Think about potential cover-ups like wraps or cardigans, and consider whether you might be okay with them wearing tights if it's cold that day.

But you do still have a long time, so think things over, without getting attached to any one idea. You definitely don't want to get attached to an idea before your girls try anything on, because what you have in mind may not flatter them.

Think about it, file away some pictures of things you like, and take your girls to try on dresses in another year and a half.

futurepivko

you have a REALLY long time. but yes, short dresses are fine. march isnt always cold. i live in NC, and march usually is very, very warm.

marissa_claire

March is very hit or miss.

 

I would just plan your photos around:

1)  Not making them stay outdoors forever.  Maybe plan on having a heated car around that they can stay in when they are not being photographed.

2)  Having wraps that match the dresses OR just allowing them to wear coats in-between. 

My wedding was in KS just a few weeks ago and it ended up being sunny and sixty, but we had planned for a blizzard just in case.  And the girls did have knee-length, so it was fine.

aerinpegadrak

You do realize you have time for a bridesmaid to get pregnant, deliver, get pregnant again, deliver, and be pregnant a third time for your wedding, right?  Waaaaaaaaay too early to be thinking about this now.

schadbourne

i disagree that it is too early to think about this but i agree that it is too early to have any of you ladies buy or even try on dresses. I will be engaged for about 2 years and i started saving pictures for inspiration the day after i got engaged. I think you will be surprised how much your wedding taste will change. I know a lot of the pictures i saved a year ago i look at now and say, what was i thinking.

I think strapless is fine if your ladies dont have big busts! I  would just make sure that they have something they can cover their shoulders with if it is chilly like pp said shawls, cardigans, little bowleros ect ect. It also may give you a chance to add even more color and fun to your wedding

naomikb

Yes, you do have lots of time but it's fun to start thinking and brainstorming and scrapbooking ideas.

I would think about your BMs' body shapes to see if they work with strapless.  Remember that if you pick dresses from a bridal salon you can pick a length and colour and fabric and let the girls pick something that suits them.

I don't think strapless is out of the question for March, but I'd think about a little bolero, shawl, or cover-up that they can use if necessary.  Maybe some cute tights can be incorporated to keep them warmer too?

soontobeschooley

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_attire-accessories_bridesmaid-dressesappropriate-season?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:15Discussion:52aec97b-dedb-410a-930e-96f6813bf809Post:fab90618-01b6-4d0c-832c-03d0f6ae03ec">Re: Bridesmaid dresses...appropriate for the season?</a>:
[QUOTE]<strong>i disagree that it is too early to think about this but i agree that it is too early to have any of you ladies buy or even try on dresses. I will be engaged for about 2 years and i started saving pictures for inspiration the day after i got engaged. I think you will be surprised how much your wedding taste will change. I know a lot of the pictures i saved a year ago i look at now and say, what was i thinking.</strong> I think strapless is fine if your ladies dont have big busts! I  would just make sure that they have something they can cover their shoulders with if it is chilly like pp said shawls, cardigans, little bowleros ect ect. It also may give you a chance to add even more color and fun to your wedding
Posted by schadbourne[/QUOTE]

This exactly!  My taste has changed a lot also in 6 months, mostly because now I have a venue and a plan.

I agree that having cocktail dresses is fine, but also something to cover up with.  I love the idea of tights also!!

Happy planning!! 

lalap69

If you do decide to go with short dresses, make sure that you make arrangements so that your girls don't freeze.  However, don't get so far ahead of yourself.  There is still a long time between now and your wedding and a lot might change by the time you're ready to actually select bm dresses.

lilcassers

I wouldnt even get ideas right now on that. I am so pissed because my gals JUST went this week to get sized and order their dresses and then I happened to go on the site for the designer and saw a new one that I love so much more. I can't change it now because the girls already tried it on and I know they all look good in it.

and my wedding is only 6 months away! Styles change so frequently.

smore154

My wedding is in March of next year (coming up!) and I chose a knee length strapless cocktail dress. I don't like long dresses- and feel that my color, fabric and dress choice for them is appropriate for the month. I tried to find cute fur shrugs/wraps, but quite honestly, they all looked horrible with the dress.

We got B2 (bu Jasmine) B3085 if you wanna look it up! It's in platinum and black, like the model is wearing in the photo.

acmj11

You definitely have plenty of time to decide (and change your mind multiple times).  I too have been brainstorming about BM dresses for quite sometime, but honestly it's a lot easier to figure things out once you buy your own dress.  I fell in love with a cute, trendy BM dress, but since I ended up with a more formal, elegant, style for myself, that dress is out.