Another what to wear (wedding question)

[Crankin]

OK, my son who got married in September is having a "real" wedding in June. The whole thing seems incredibly stupid to me; he is paying for it, so I just keep my mouth shut. The wedding is at 6 PM on a Friday, and will be hot appetizers and drinks at a country club outside of Philly. Her dress is a very simple strapless dress that looks like it's from J Crew (I don't really know this). Anyway, I just talked to her mom and she already bought a dress... it's long and champagne colored, sort of simple and form fitting. I was not thinking of buying a real "mother" type dress. It is just not me. I was thinking of getting a really nice cocktail type of dress that I could wear again. But, if everyone is wearing long, than I guess I should. I don't know what to do. The only place I could find long, wedding appropriate dresses in petite sizes is J Crew. And those were more for bridesmaids, but they looked like the type of dress I would wear, at least. I looked at some Ann Taylor dresses, but they seemed ugly and not formal enough.
Ugh. I hate to buy a long dress I won't wear again. My son is wearing his dress uniform and he decided that my other son and DH should wear nice suits and not tuxes.
My daughter in law's family has no $, but seem to be used to these types of weddings (her parents are divorced). My family tends to have small, untraditional, but very nice weddings. I don't want to make a thing out of this. I really need suggestions as to what would be appropriate and where I could find something in petite sizes.

[Biciclista]

are the bridesmaids wearing long dresses?
I actually picked out a dress on line and had my daughter in law approve it before I bought it (I did NOT want to get in trouble with her)
It was a cotton shift and it was short. (and they got married on the hottest day of the year). It looked great since I'm fit.
So do some internet cruising and consult with the bride. I'll bet you don't have to wear a stupid long dress. This is my other son with the ring bearer in this photo

[limewave]

You could also find a long dress that you could hem to cocktail length. I've done that with 2 of my bridesmaids dresses, and I love them.

[Crankin]

I know that the bridesmaids are wearing their own style of dress in matching colors. I guess I will IM my DIL now.
This whole thing is getting on my nerves. And, my other son is getting engaged this weekend, too! (at least he is slightly normal)

[Becky]

What limewave said!

I don't see anything wrong with a shorter dress, but that's just my opinion.

[kenyonchris]

I hate to hijack the thread but would the ring bearer be a SNAKE???

[spokewench]

I don't see anything wrong with a shorter (it sounds like you like tailored clothing) dress. If you are worried about it not being appropriate for the bride's family; have her check it out before the wedding.

[Biciclista]

our son's wife was terrified that we'd come to the wedding in bike gear!

[sfa]

It sounds to me like the bride's mother is going overboard and will be overdressed for the occasion. 6:00 on Friday is perfect for after-work cocktail attire. Since the men are wearing suits and not tuxes, a long/formal dress would be out of place. I'd just get the nice cocktail dress you had planned on and not worry about it.

Sarah

[Crankin]

Yes, my dil's mom said a cocktail dress would be fine. She added that she had been "bullied" into this choice, in a joking way. My DIL appears to be quite traditional. The fact that she still "requires" the whole white wedding thing after being married for 9 months troubles me. I was all for having a really nice party with entertainment, but she wanted the whole thing, even another civil ceremony. This is strictly for her family; we suggested they get married on the beach in San Diego and have the reception at the officer's club, but the answer was that none of her family could afford to come. I know that they are really good for each other, so as I said, I pretty much keep my mouth shut. I just sent her an email asking about the bridesmaids and about whether she would mind a short dress. Of course I will ask her permission about whatever I decide on.
It's going to be bad enough that there will be about 10 people from my side of the family/friends and about 90 of them! And yes, I would love to show up in my bike clothes, but I wouldn't. After all, if it wasn't for Scott (my son) no one else in this family would be riding. But, we are driving there, so we can bring our bikes and ride.
Ah, yes, I thought that was a snake, too. Or a bike glove that was on in a weird way.

[bmccasland]

Early evening, a coctail length dress is entirely appropriate as far as I know, but I'm a biologist.

our son's wife was terrified that we'd come to the wedding in bike gear!

Well there is the Tuxedo Jersey.... And we all know that TE has some lovely lady's jerseys, then you could wear a biking skirt to make it more formal ....

I hate to hijack the thread but would the ring bearer be a SNAKE???

What she asked!

[shootingstar]

Admittedly I'm not familiar at all with the mother of bride or groom, having to wear long dresses.

And I've been to some nice weddings in the past ten years.
I'm sure you'll find a lovely dress that will be wearable again after the wedding. How fussy is your daughter in law to be? Some just wouldn't care what the mothers wore as long as it's an outfit that doesn't outshine the bride.

[Zen]

No matter what the length, you can't go wrong with sequins.













Yes, I'm kidding.

[Crankin]

That's good, Zen. I have a great short length beaded cocktail dress, but it's black. Almost everything I have is black, but I know that's a no-no.
OK, enough of this wedding stuff. I have to go to the grocery store.

[limewave]

That's good, Zen. I have a great short length beaded cocktail dress, but it's black. Almost everything I have is black, but I know that's a no-no.
OK, enough of this wedding stuff. I have to go to the grocery store.

It's okay to wear black to weddings these days. The last wedding I went to, many of the women were wearing cute black cocktail dresses . . . including the Mother of the Groom. And she looked FABULOUS