Bride switched from winter to summer date. Help with bridesmaids dress!

anderkelly22

I'm in a wedding party that originally had a February wedding date, but the bride and groom decided to postpone until July. The location stays the same, Central Park in New York City, but the bridesmaids, including myself, had already purchased our strapless, floor-length satin gowns. Now that we're dealing with completely different heat, is there any other alternatives to making it a summer dress, other than cutting off the length?

Thanks!

Maggie0829

I got married in July and my BMs wore satin floor length strapless gowns.  The season doesn't matter when it comes to BM dresses, the formality of the wedding is what matters.

I am guessing that since the wedding was going to take place in February in Central Park that it was going to be an in door wedding.  So since it is in the same location I am guessing it is still in doors.  Please correct me if I am wrong.

As for what you should do with your dresses, what are the brides thoughts?

anderkelly22

Hi, thanks for your reply!
The Feb wedding was actually meant to be outdoors, with the ceremony in Central Park outside, and the July wedding will also be outdoors.

The bride has left it up to us to alter it, to leave it long, or to buy another dress.

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_moms-maids_bride-switched-from-winter-to-summer-date-help-with-bridesmaids-dress?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:357Discussion:e9ce604b-d253-44e5-846d-eeb90e822e9ePost:fca95348-7306-40ce-8234-1f56ccfd9518">Re: Bride switched from winter to summer date. Help with bridesmaids dress!</a>:
[QUOTE]I got married in July and my BMs wore satin floor length strapless gowns.  The season doesn't matter when it comes to BM dresses, the formality of the wedding is what matters. I am guessing that since the wedding was going to take place in February in Central Park that it was going to be an in door wedding.  So since it is in the same location I am guessing it is still in doors.  Please correct me if I am wrong. As for what you should do with your dresses, what are the brides thoughts?
Posted by Maggie0829[/QUOTE]

Maggie0829

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_moms-maids_bride-switched-from-winter-to-summer-date-help-with-bridesmaids-dress?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:357Discussion:e9ce604b-d253-44e5-846d-eeb90e822e9ePost:c096b924-eb20-47cb-ad99-1d20601ab6d8">Re: Bride switched from winter to summer date. Help with bridesmaids dress!</a>:
[QUOTE]Hi, thanks for your reply! The Feb wedding was actually meant to be outdoors, with the ceremony in Central Park outside, and the July wedding will also be outdoors. The bride has left it up to us to alter it, to leave it long, or to buy another dress. In Response to Re: Bride switched from winter to summer date. Help with bridesmaids dress! :
Posted by anderkelly22[/QUOTE]

So only the ceremony will be outside?

She was really going to have an outside wedding in NYC in February?  I hate to ask, but what was she thinking?

If just the ceremony is outside I think you all would be fine.  I have been to many outdoor weddings in the summer (just ceremonies) where the BMs have worn long dresses and they were ok.  Now if you were spending the entire day outside then I would definitely cut them, but if it is only for a short time then I  would just suck it up but that is me.

What style is the dress?  Can it be cut?  At least you all have plenty of time to think about.

anderkelly22

The reception will be on a yacht, and for the outdoor winter wedding, she was giving us fur stoles, I believe.

The dress has a sweetheart strapless neckline and is a simple A-line, so hemming it to the knees should be no problem.

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_moms-maids_bride-switched-from-winter-to-summer-date-help-with-bridesmaids-dress?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:357Discussion:e9ce604b-d253-44e5-846d-eeb90e822e9ePost:e5459071-fdf0-4283-921f-dad492af8f9f">Re: Bride switched from winter to summer date. Help with bridesmaids dress!</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Bride switched from winter to summer date. Help with bridesmaids dress! : So only the ceremony will be outside? She was really going to have an outside wedding in NYC in February?  I hate to ask, but what was she thinking? If just the ceremony is outside I think you all would be fine.  I have been to many outdoor weddings in the summer (just ceremonies) where the BMs have worn long dresses and they were ok.  Now if you were spending the entire day outside then I would definitely cut them, but if it is only for a short time then I  would just suck it up but that is me. What style is the dress?  Can it be cut?  At least you all have plenty of time to think about.
Posted by Maggie0829[/QUOTE]

Maggie0829

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_moms-maids_bride-switched-from-winter-to-summer-date-help-with-bridesmaids-dress?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:357Discussion:e9ce604b-d253-44e5-846d-eeb90e822e9ePost:34c6af22-d2b1-45e7-becf-98ca6ae2ddc9">Re: Bride switched from winter to summer date. Help with bridesmaids dress!</a>:
[QUOTE]The reception will be on a yacht, and <strong>for the outdoor winter wedding, she was giving us fur stoles, I believe. </strong>The dress has a sweetheart strapless neckline and is a simple A-line, so hemming it to the knees should be no problem. In Response to Re: Bride switched from winter to summer date. Help with bridesmaids dress! :
Posted by anderkelly22[/QUOTE]

I would have requested a parka LOL!

But I think either way you go you will be fine.  If you do decide to chop the dresses I think right to the top of the knee would be a good length.  Anything shorter and it may be a bit slut-ti-fied for a wedding.

anderkelly22

Thanks for your input!

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_moms-maids_bride-switched-from-winter-to-summer-date-help-with-bridesmaids-dress?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:357Discussion:e9ce604b-d253-44e5-846d-eeb90e822e9ePost:d59b1f03-ad3e-4dbb-9fac-9377321903ef">Re: Bride switched from winter to summer date. Help with bridesmaids dress!</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Bride switched from winter to summer date. Help with bridesmaids dress! : I would have requested a parka LOL! But I think either way you go you will be fine.  If you do decide to chop the dresses I think right to the top of the knee would be a good length.  Anything shorter and it may be a bit slut-ti-fied for a wedding.
Posted by Maggie0829[/QUOTE]

erinlin25

When did you guys buy your dresses!?  even if it was a Feb wedding that is still 10 months away-- or are you meaning it was going to be this past Feb and now its this July?  Otherwise, it was crazy of the bride to make you get dresses so early.

Anyway, a long dress is formal regardless of the season, so it will not be horrible if the wedding itself is a formal event.  Is the wedding in the afternoon or evening?   You guys could alter them to a t-length dress--but I would hope the bride would offer to help with alterations since she changed it.  Was the dress close to your dress budget?  How inconvenient will the extra alterations cost be?  Talk over concerns with the bride, but it sounds like giving the strapless dress in winter would have be soooo cold outside, changing the date was a smart move-- but it should not have to inconvenience you to buy a new dress or spend extra money on alterations. 

jennyd412

I'm not sure the length is going to make a difference. The material will be VERY hot on a humid July day. My biggest concern (not to be gross) would be sweat stains. On that note, I used silky sheets by Athena home novelties when I was in a hot wedding (with no AC). Its a spray on powder that helps reduce sweating (I spray it on cleavage, inside bra, etc) It doesn't leave marks like powder....sorry if this is way off topic...just a tip

KJiras

Since you're going to be on a yacht in summer a long satin gown does sound like a bit too much. But then again, I'm not a yacht expert and maybe they are formal so it'd work? Regardless I do think it will be quite warm.

I'd do some research on what the cost to hem the dress to knee length would be. If you can, bring it to more than one tailor to make sure you get the best estimate. I'd then send that estimate to the other bridesmaids and see if it's in everyone's budget and they like the idea.  If so - then why not because it seems it'd be the most comfortable option (and you said the Bride was OK with it). If it's not - I'm sure you'll still look great.