Bridesmaid dress length

IMO the BM dresses should not be more formal than the bride and long dresses are more formal than short ones. Your dress will be beautiful shortened!

Tea length ( cocktail length), 3-6 inches below knee length is just a little less formal than the airy formality of your dress fabric and style . Even though short skirt version, nothing casual about it. I have ne ER been anywhere but northern mountains in Greece where it wasn't HOT. Even when breezy. I do not know about your location, but think your ladies might be far more comfortable in a mostly cotton polished cotton or sateen tea length dress, or a crepe de chine, solid or with a tiny white print and a vivid colored background. The landscape and ever present sky and sea colors are distinctive in different parts or Greece, some deep Mediterranean blues, some Aegean greenish blues, with a hazy blue sky above. What foliage there is, is intensely green, but so much stone and uncovered earth that whites, icy light blues, and any vivid or intense colors stand out. Taffeta is nice for the climate, crisp and stands away from the body in heat. But dreadful to pack and get wrinkle free as it wilts in humid hot weather. Polished cottons, sateen cottons, and silk like crepe de chimes are densely woven , so they hold shape, do not cling in heat, but have a shiny surface. And have the care of everyday street clothes. Bring a travel iron, and anyone can touch up cottons, and a cool iron with a pressing cloth for crepe de chine, and done and set to go in 5 minutes per dress. A big consideration when traveling.

This dress so cheap, probably terrible. But good style for polished cotton with only lace over sleeves and upper bodice. So a little dressy, and the rule is , BM dresses should in style and fabric, be the same level of formality, or one step less formal than the bride. Your dressy fabric and bodice, made a little less formal by it's length would be right, and having them wear a little longer tea length would make you stand out. https://m.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Lace-3-4-Sleeve-1950s-Audrey-Hepburn-Rockabilly-Swing-Evening-Dress-/263907830215?nav=VI

View Quoted Comment Thank you! I was thinking tea length! What do you think? Is that more formal than short?

View Quoted Comment We’re getting married in October so should be on the cooler side, fallish (low to mid 70s in Santorini)! We should have irons the hotel I’ll be picking out but always carry a travel sized one just in case...I’m definitely thinking tea length for them, but is that more formal than mine? And I’m not sure about the fabrics you mentioned but will definitely do my research on them—thank you so much!

It's a beautiful dress, I can imagine that it would look incredibly beautiful being tea length. For your bridesmaids, it's entirely up to you. Are you more concerned about coordination? Like you're wearing a tea length dress and all of them are wearing long? Are you worried that it won't match? Mind you, no one can ever upstage you or take your shine. Regardless of your length, all eyes will be on you. Are you talking in terms of trying to make the bridesmaids more comfortable, since you'll be altering your dress? Greece is hot, right? Or at least most of Greece? If the climate and temperature ranges are generally hot, I would say that the best option would be to make all the bridesmaids wear tea length, bridesmaids dresses. That way, there will be a coordination between you and them, but not only that, everyone will be comfortable in the heat. I am wishing you all the best, and congratulations on your upcoming wedding!

View Quoted Comment Thank you—I’m just worried that I might have picked an extremely simple dress and it looks like a bridesmaid dress I felt like a princess in it and couldn’t stop smiling or feeling pretty in It, but just having silly concerns...and mine will be above the knee so do you think tea length will be more formal if I choose that for the bridesmaids? 😬

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Do I think it would be more formal, if you chose it for the bridesmaids? Absolutely not. A tea length dress can be both casual and extremely formal, depending on design, fabric, etc. I say, do what you envision and what think is best. All I know, is that whatever you choose will be stunning regardless. I completely get, and sympathize with your concerns. All of these feelings are normal with wedding planning. It's because you're a caring person, and it's YOUR wedding, you're going to think outside of the box. It's a good thing, but, choose what you feel is right. I wish you all the best, Noozhat!!!

View Quoted Comment Thank you, Andrea! You’re so wonderful! All of you are!

So glad to be on here!

Noozhat

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We're glad your on WW too! It's a great platform/community. You'll love it on here!!

I would try a high low dress or check out the designer MACloth on amazon

View Quoted Comment " I am thinking tea length for them, but is that more formal than mine? " Formality is 3 things: 1. The material of the fabric. The filmy fairy princess chiffons, organza, or tulle, and flowing fabrics like yours are most often in formal or semi- formal dresses. 2. The design and draping of the dress. The top of your dress, with features of the draping toward the shoulders , and the flowing design, with the gathered skirt, can be considered formal or semi formal. 3. The length. A mini length would be neither formal nor semi formal, but near knee or just below at tea or cocktail length, would be the next level down. So on the whole, a semi formal look, if skirt near knee or below. Cocktail dress in a fussy fabric. I think the much less formal mini length would make you look like a doll, and out of place, costumy. But at knee to a few inches below, it would be close to ladies in tea or cocktail length. A little longer, at about ballet length 5" below in someone as petite as you, is more dressy, and fully a match for tea length in formality. 5-7" below on a taller person. . If your bridesmaids are in satins, organdy, tulle, silk with lace and such, that would border on outshining you. But polished cottons, sateens of mostly cotton, and crepe de chine are less formal than yours by a little. And you would be similar, with you in knee to 3" cocktail , or 5" below knee tea length. ( on a petite person) If your bridesmaid are taller, cocktail length is knee to 4" below and tea length 3"- 7" below. Same range of formality. Think overall impression, highest is formal, then semi formal, then cocktail, then tea length, then day street wear, then casual. You hover semi formal fabric, cocktail length. They, cocktail fancy fabric, cocktail or tea length length. Perfect.

View Quoted Comment Thanks so much for the inspiration. I’m actually not changing the length of my dress, it will be right above the knee. It’s totally me, fashion forward, modern—I’m a fashion blogger and it totally fits who I am! I’m attaching the link of where I’m getting my inspiration from! But I’m wondering what would pair best with it for my BM? Thank you!

https://www.kleinfeldbridal.com/product/pnina-tornai-sexy-short-wedding-dress-4464/

View Quoted Comment Still cocktail or tea length for BM. You still have the fabric and cut on the formal side . But rule out fanciest fabrics for BM, like satin with a shiny surface, or all lace things. And go with the distinctly less formal fabrics than yours, maybe a dull taffeta with a little la e, but best polished cottons, cotton sateens which are a less dressy and easy care version of satins, and crepe de chine, a little less dressy version than silk crepe. In the tea or cocktail lengths. Though short, your dress will a average out to at least cocktail formality. It is hard talking fabrics when you do not know them, but name them to a salesperson in a bridal store or department store with cocktail and other dressy clothes, they can show you. And you will see that they are 60-80° comfortable, but one step down from silks or imitation silks, or tulle or chiffon or satin.

Hi Noozhat! Welcome to WeddingWire and congrats on your engagement!

You received some great insight and feedback here regarding your bridesmaids attire!

Your dress is so pretty and will look gorgeous at a shorter length, too! So fun, romantic, and perfect for your Santorini, Greece destination!

Your a year away from the big day (yay!) and we are so excited for you! Your wedding day will be here before you know it!

I would do short (right above the knee) dresses for you and the bridesmaids.