short vs. long bmaid dresses?

HilaryH1231

What did/will your bridesmaids be wearing--short (like knee length) dresses or long (floor-length) dresses? How did you make the decision between them, or did your bridesmaids make the choice?For an evening (7pm ceremony) indoor wedding in late Sept that's fairly formal (but not necessarily black tie), do you think one would be better than the other? Or is it all dependent on the fabric and color?TIA for any opinions/feedback!

MissSarah786

Short. [img]http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs169.snc1/6360_1177512769060_1565354625_30491158_8074178_n.jpg[/img] They can wear short again. Veronabrit had nice short black dresses.

lpstl

I had an evening wedding (5pm ceremony, 5:30 - 10pm reception). I let my BMs pick the dress, they decided to go with long dresses so they didn't have to worry about shoes or shaving their legs. PIB.

pumpkinpumpkin

to me, a long BM dress indicates a fairly formal function. I don't like the look of long BM dresses, at all.

MissSarah786

so they didn't have to worry about shoes or shaving their legs. HAHAHAHAHA! Priorities....

jbmadonna

I have a Sat night November wedding.  Originally, I was dead set on a knee length dress UNTIL I fell in love with a long dress for the BMs.  I think its all about your tastes and preferances. 

ButtonsPepper

All my BM's wanted knee, so knee it was. MOH will be 8 months pregnant, so she got long. Sooo, I pick knee. HOWEVER there are a few long dresses I found to be beautiful!!!My mother said "knee length dresses will allow them to wear it again".No... no it won't. No one is walking out of the house in a navy blue/light blue dress to anything....Get what you like/what your girls feel most comfortable in. Both can look beautiful and classy.

mmm_080809

My bridesmaids wore long black gowns in a textured black chiffon fabric. We had a formal evening wedding, and it just seemed more appropriate for our wedding style and venue.

danieliza1127

We had an evening ceremony and reception and the girls wore long dresses.  Pics in bio.I think for a formal evening reception, long is more traditional.  You could go with a cocktail type though if you keep it formal looking as far as material goes.

MissSarah786

Buttons, my girls wore their dresses again. My MOH has worn hers twice and another BM wore hers to her birthday party. Although my dresses were not BM dresses, they were just dresses.

ButtonsPepper

MissSarah - I wrote my comment before I even saw your post. Now THAT dress I would wear again!!!

Sooles

short - just past the knees.we went shopping and they picked a dress they both liked. done.they could have gone either way because its in november, but its indoors...

jadebaby

I let my girls decide. The only thing I asked was that they all choose the same color. They all decided on the same dress that was tea length... Not sure if I have a pic here at work... I will look

Jemmessica

my girls are wearing dresses that hit just above the knee, and all seem to be thrilled about it..... although they may just be thrilled bc they only paid $32 for them! gotta love target!

ExpatPumpkin

Long. It was a formal winter wedding.

MissSarah786

And they were only $62 (originally $168). I freaking rock.

ButtonsPepper

Those are mine, no way I'd wear that again.... I love them, for a BM dress.

AlexiaANDRobert

I always prefer long, esp for and evening event that is "fairly formal."I'm not a fan of short dresses.  Except for MissSarah's.  I friggin love em.

MissSarah786

EP, in your case short dresses would look awful. I think it all depends on the date and time. My wedding was in the afternoon in summer, long dresses would have looked wrong.

tidetravel

We went with a long dress, because it got great reviews about being flattering on all body types (and it was).  Our wedding was an afternoon, outdoor wedding.  Short dresses can be formal and long dresses can be casual or visa-versa.  Depends on the dress. 

vallyhoo

Ours will be short or tea-length, depending on each BM. I am asking the ladies to also wear white (with a black sash) so I prefer them to not have a long dress. Ours will be a formal evening reception so it goes a bit against the grain.

alixzafiris

Short. Mine wore short black ones that they can wear again and they loved it. [img]http://i837.photobucket.com/albums/zz296/alixandjay/Picture1.png[/img] *not the best photo, but you get the idea.

ButtonsPepper

Oh, and my wedding is 1PM, reception from 5-10.... and in February. They wanted short though...

jadebaby

This may be huge (that's what he said) [img]http://tinyurl.com/yehwzlp[/img]

HilaryH1231

Thanks for the quick responses! I"m thinking of doing black dresses in a satin-y fabric, so even if they are short, they should look pretty dressy. But then I saw a Melissa Sweet long bridesmaid dress that I loooved, and I wasn't so sure. I think most of my bridesmaids will likely prefer short dresses because, as some of you said, that HOPEFULLY gives them the possibility that they will wear it again (that's totally my hope, even though I know it may not be likely). I just thin short dresses look more fun. I guess what it comes down to is whether I want the wedding to look formal and elegant and more tradiational (in which case long might be better), or more fun, young, and modern (short might be better). Of course, I still have plenty of time to think about this--haven't even asked my bmaids yet!

lpstl

I think the not shaving thing is a highly underrated perk of the long dress. Off topic, but jemmessica, I don't know what's going on in your sig, but it's creeping me out.

salt78

Knee length. Decided because we are having an afternoon beach wedding so long dresses would be silly.

Golfer'sLady

Short.[IMG]http://i35.tinypic.com/zxmf5d.jpg[/IMG]Either would be appropriate for the time and feel you described. I just personally am not a fan of long dresses for weddings. These days, short is appropriate for most events.

ExpatPumpkin

Regarding wearing them again, would you consider dresses that aren't BM dresses? I'm very particular about fabric quality and most BM dresses are synthetics. My girls chose dresses based on pictures, but then I bought nice fabric and had them made, with double linings, etc. It really didn't cost a whole lot more, and the dresses are of the quality that you'd pay over $1,000 for in Saks, etc. So they'll definitely wear them again.

lpstl

Just saw that stage, I'm pretty sure if I had a penis I'd be all about it too. But alas, I do not.

eastunder1

I prefer short dresses.  I think 9 times out of 10, short dresses look more stylish and fresh than long ones.  Most long BM dresses are horrific.  It also seems like shorter ones tend to be more flattering for some reason.   I think short dresses can be just as dressy as long ones as long as the style and accessories are more formal as well.  (Thong shoes - no.  Strappy heels - yes.)Usually most BM dresses can't be worn again because they just scream "BM DRESS", but if you really do want to try to get them something they could re-use, short is the way to go.