Long Bridesmaid Dresses

The Problem Nobody Plans For

Floor length works differently for a group than for an individual, and the difference is the single most common source of trouble when dressing a bridal party.

A floor-length dress is cut to one length. A party of six people will span a range of heights, often six inches or more between the shortest and tallest. The same dress ordered in the same style will puddle on one person, sit at the ankle on another, and land correctly on the ones in the middle.

This is not a sizing problem and buying a different size does not fix it, because dress size grades the width, not the length. It is a hemming problem, and it needs planning rather than discovering.

Handling It

There are three approaches, and choosing one early saves considerable trouble later.

Hem everyone individually. The standard solution. Each person has their dress hemmed to their own height and shoe. Budget for this from the start and book the fittings together, since one alterations shop handling six dresses needs scheduling rather than walk-in availability.

Match the heel heights to the dresses. Taller members in flatter shoes and shorter members in higher heels narrows the range considerably. This works when the height spread is small and fails when it is large.

Choose a length that tolerates variation. An ankle or brush-length style rather than a true floor length gives several inches of tolerance before the difference becomes obvious. High-low hems do the same.

Whichever you choose, check the hem finish before ordering. A plain hem shortens easily; a beaded, lace-edged or horsehair-braided one is expensive to shorten across six dresses and the alteration often removes the detail.

Ordering for Different Bodies in One Style

The second group problem is that one style has to work on several different shapes.

Some cuts tolerate this well. A-line and empire silhouettes fit at the bust and flow from there, so they accommodate a wide range of waist and hip measurements without alteration. Wrap and faux-wrap bodices adjust across sizes.

Some cuts do not. Mermaid requires accurate hip and thigh measurements from everyone, and one person for whom it does not work will be visibly uncomfortable all day. Strapless designs depend on the bodice gripping the ribcage, which works differently on different body shapes.

Around one dress in six here is a ball gown and around one in twelve is mermaid. For a group, the more forgiving cuts are worth prioritising over a marginally preferred silhouette.

Necklines and Undergarments

Off-shoulder styles account for around one dress in nine here, with one-shoulder and halter each at around one in eleven. V-neck is the most common.

Neckline is the decision that determines what each person has to buy separately. Strapless, one-shoulder and halter designs all require specific foundation garments that not everyone owns and some are not comfortable in.

A V-neck or scoop with straps accommodates the widest range of people without anyone needing to shop for undergarments, which for a party is worth more than it sounds.

If a strapless style is the one everyone wants, look for listings mentioning boning or built-in cups, which removes the problem for most of the party.

The Slit

Around one dress in five here has a slit. At floor length it serves a practical purpose for a party: it allows normal walking, which matters when the group moves between the ceremony, photographs and reception.

The height needs agreeing across the party rather than left to each dress, since slit height varies between listings and what suits an evening reception may not suit a religious ceremony.

If the ceremony has coverage expectations, a slit that sits at or below the knee is the safe range.

Fabric for a Group

Chiffon, at just over three in ten listings, is the most common and the most forgiving across different body types. It also handles heat better than satin, which matters for a summer wedding where the party is standing for long periods.

Satin, at around one in six, holds a cleaner line and photographs richly, but shows every seam tension and is the least forgiving when one dress fits less well than the others.

Lace, at around one in six, sits over a lining and disguises more than a smooth surface.

Whatever you choose, keep the whole party in one fabric. Two people in satin and four in chiffon will not read as matching even in the same shade, because the two fabrics return light completely differently.

Timeline

Allow three to four months for a full party. That covers ordering a sample, receiving it, ordering the remainder, allowing for one return and replacement, and hemming everyone.

Order all dresses in a single order where possible, so they come from the same production run and the color matches across the group.

Book alterations before the dresses arrive rather than after. Wedding season is the busiest period for alterations shops and a party of six dresses is a substantial booking.

Sizing

Plus size coverage here is around one listing in eight, which is moderate for a bridesmaid collection.

Confirm the size range covers everyone before the style goes to the group. Discovering afterward that it does not cover everyone means either restarting or asking someone to compromise, neither of which is a good outcome.

Corset-back and lace-up closures accommodate a wider size range than fixed zips and are useful when ordering for people whose measurements you may not have precisely. Our US size chart covers conversions.

Related Collections

For outdoor and rustic venues, see country bridesmaid dresses. For specific colors, browse royal blue or coral bridesmaid dresses. The wider bridesmaid dresses section covers every shade and length together.