The Long And Short Of It
December 6th, 2007 @ 2:08 pm by Mrs. Hummingbird
I have a bad bridal confession to make - I have no idea what my dress is going to look like. The thing is, I thought I knew. I was all but certain I was going to follow the famous footsteps of Mrs. Onion and rock a shortie on my big day. After all, I’ve got the gams (my legs are 38 inches long) and I normally wear shorter dresses, so having another made would be no biggie. But then, when I went dress shopping and tried on a longer one, I found myself kind of liking it. It was surprising to me as the dress was different from what I normally wear, and made me think that maybe, it might be fun to switch it up a bit. So, after coming across some designs online (Jenny Packham, I have a girl crush on you!) and seeing how gorgeous some longer dresses can be (yes I was still looking at dresses after I thought I had made my decision - I’m very bad), I kind of found myself back where I started.
I’m pretty open when it comes to what design I go with since I have a kick ass seamstress who is making my dress (as well as the dresses of our Matron of Honour and Best Lady), but we’re hitting the fabric shops next month so I’m going to have to decide what I want.
I’ve been driving Mr. Hummingbird nuts with my hemming (heh) and hawing about what I want to do, so I’m opening the floor to all of you ladies to get some second (and third and fourth . . .) opinions.
To help you make the final call, I’m including the pictures I’ve been drooling over for the past couple of days.
The long:
And the short of it:
(This last pic is actually a dress made by Avioanni Studio 163 in Toronto. Hooray for hometown pride!)
So what do you think, ladies? Do you advocate long or short wedding dresses? (We are getting married outdoors, weather permitting, and I will be walking up a grassy aisle, so outdoor brides who have experienced this, I would love to hear from you!)
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27 Responses to “The Long And Short Of It”
Go long! The pics you posted of the long dresses are stunning…
Seeing how you said you usually wear short dresses, why not go for something a little different? It can still be “you.”
Also, with long legs, you are going to look long and lean 
I think one of the reasons I went with a t-lenght dress is because I’m so petite — I’m 5′0″! I felt a bit swallowed by some of the beautiful long gowns I tried on.
That being said, I think you could really carry a long dress beautifully as a much taller bride. As for the grass — I don’t know what to say. I will tell you that I loved not having to worry about a train as I was strolling down the Churchstreet marketplace — really all day it was AWESOME not to worry about a bustle or tripping on my dress.
Thank you for introducing me to Jenny Packham! Her dresses are totally gorgeous!
Either way you go, it will be so awesome. I was so inspired by Mrs. Onion’s short dress too! Really beautiful. But, yes, like HamiHarri said, tall girls REALLY rock a long dress!
I LOVE the first two long dresses pictured, and if you are tall and thin, you will carry them beautifully. Oh, how I wish I could pull off a dress like that…
When I was browsing online for dresses I really thought I’d want to wear a short dress (my wedding will be outdoors in a beautiful park), but when I was trying on dresses, I wasn’t impressed with how the short dresses looked on me. (I wear tea length dresses for everything else, though.) I loved the lace-y dresses, too, but I chose a long, satin, beaded dress. Who knew?! Maybe you can browse some dress shops and try on the different variations to see which feels better.
I like the top row, right and third row, right for the long dresses and the top row, left for the short dresses. What time will your wedding be? If it’s closer to evening, I say go for a longer dress, but if you’re having a morning or afternoon wedding, I say go for the short dress!
Keisha - I totally know what you mean. I went into dress shopping thinking I wanted a short v neck with no beading and the dress I ended up liking most during that trip was a long strapless beaded gown, so you never know what you’re going to like.
Onion - That has been my biggest concern, dealing with a bustel/train, especially since we are getting married on my FI’s father’s country property. If I were to get something long, I think I would avoid having a train, so I was not dragging grass clippings or anything in the back of it.
Sara - Our ceremony is going to take place around 4 in the afternoon, but the reception is planned to go on for several hours afterwards.
Miss Onion- I know what you mean about feeling swallowed in the long dresses as a petite lady. Miss Hummingbird, I also had a girl crush on Jenny Packham until I tried on her dresses- frankly, they epitomised the “feeling swallowed” sensation- there’s lots of draping, and if you are small, they don’t really do your bod justice. Maybe they look better on someone who was very tall or had long legs (like yourself), but as a petite, classic hourglass sort of gal, I found that more body hugging dresses were more flattering. But also, don’t shy away from long simply because of a train- there are tons of beautiful styles to consider without trains! Good luck!!
top row Right or last row right of the long dresses have your name written all over it! they are so so so vintage glam!
buy a short dress for part of the reception. cake cutting and garter toss. problem solved!
I especially love the long dress at the bottom right of the group, but they are all gorgeous.
I agree that the long will be a fun change for you and you can wear flat or very low heels for comfort on the grass. Even a pair of pretty beaded thongs would look great with these Greek goddess-inpired dresses!
I agree with the above commenters about the long. I just have to say though, I ADORE that flapper-style short dress!
As a fellow giant bee, I have to say that I had the same feelings when I went out looking for dresses. But… I realized that my wedding would be the ONE chance I’d get to wear a long dress and it would actually be LONG enough.
I adored the flowy fabric dresses, and if I had an outdoor ceremony or reception, I would have bought that style in an instant!
Additionally, all of my dresses are halters or strappy, since strapless dresses rarely fit my torso. So, I kinda got to wear a real dream dress for a day… as I know I will never wear a strapless/floor length gown again.
Oh I love Jenny Packham too— her dresses are so glam. If I was wearing a wedding dress rather than an Indian outfit, I would totally want one of hers.
It’s hard to say because I *love* short dresses, but I think I could really see you in a long, slinky glamorous dress. You have the height and body for it and I bet it would look so amazing on you.
oh my goodness! these dresses are sooo beautiful! you’re making me want to go out and get a new wedding dress!
Can I just say that I am totally envious of your super-long legs? Holy cow!! (And I mean that in an awe-struck, good kind of way.) My legs are so short that even petite pants are sometimes too long for me. I say go for a long dress - I love the one on the right in the top row - gorgeous!
Those dresses are pretty, but I have a feeling if you tried them on you’d feel different. When I first got engaged, I thought for sure that I would have a vintage style dress: sexy, cut on the bias, simple, silk…but when I tried that “type” on (I, also, was going to have a friend make the dress), I just didn’t feel like a bride. I found that I liked the poofier styles for a wedding dress, though that’s not necessarily my style. I ended up not having my friend make the dress, instead, she’ll be altering a lace San Patrick dress.
I could be wrong, you might love love love this style dress you show, but it’s funny how things seem so different on. I think many of us girls go in with an idea of what we want, and end up with something very different! 
I agree with Trish - I think you should definitely try on the dresses and not just go by the pictures, because it’s impossible to tell whether you will like them on your body otherwise, even if you have a good sense of your body. Wedding dresses are just different.
Of the dresses that you have shown, though, I definitely prefer the long ones.
BTW, your choices reminded me of this Marchesa gown that I think is DIVINE. LLo wore it in this pic, but don’t hold that against the dress! http://images.condenastinteractive.co.uk/cgi-bin/GPAOnline2/id/529289/Class/ShowsLarge/MarkupName/-/v/o/529289.jpg
I bet you would look great in either. All the long dresses are beautiful and I love the first and third short dresses. You have great taste!
I love the fourth dress from the top on the left with the flowy sleeves! Where, oh where did you find it?
I love the longer dresses, especially the two in the top row. They’re so beautiful and glamorous and still untraditional. They’d look fabulous on you.
Haha, I like sarah’s idea.
I don’t have any opinion or suggestions, but I think you should try one of each (long and short) and post pics so we get a better idea of how the different lengths look on you. =D
Did you check out Lowon Pope on Queen West? Their dresses are amazing and similiar to some of the long ones you posted. I bought my dress there - I can send you a picture if you want to email me. I loved it and the service was amazing.
I’m a 5′2 bride (morning wedding in a church) and also have been on the search for a short dress. im in love with the idea of one but i have tried on three & none are as structured or flattering as some of the long dresses. has anyone tried creating a short dress from a long dress?
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A good friend of mine went tea-length and I think for two reasons–one, she’s tiny and two, she’s not a wedding-y type of gal…she just wasn’t into the planning and certainly not a beaded, long, flowy, lacy confection. I mean that in a loving way, as my dress was a long one!
I just always knew I’d have a long, traditional dress. BUT, I hear the other poseter loud and clear who says she didn’t haeve to worry about a bustle or train all night. My dress had a very small train, but bustling it went fine until it was stepped on by my new husband as we walked into the reception! Then it was stepped on about three more times, each time my fabulous friends ran to my aid! But, I can see the many benefits to a tea-length gown.
You have to make the decision and live with it, so think about what will make you most confortable and to feel most wedding-y, becuase you do want to fell like a bride, whatever your definition may be! I think that if you want to be different (in a good way) it’s something your guests won’t expect. That last dress is adorable!
Good luck!
i love your collection
Mrs. Hummingbird, Toronto
Age and Occupation: 25, Publishing Coordinator
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 24, Videogame Designer/Cartoonist
Engagement Date: May 4, 2007
Wedding Date: June 28, 2008
Blogging Since: September 18, 2007
Venue: A garden wedding followed by a tented reception on Mr. Hummingbird's father's property.
About Me: I’m a pop culture loving, vintage obsessed foodie living in Canada’s biggest city with my fantastic fiancé and our lovable fluffy cat Bettie. I’m stoked to marry my best friend and to throw what I hope will be
the most fun and colourful party of our lives.
I was also completely set on getting a short gown because I wanted to feel relaxed and free of all sorts of skirtage at the wedding, and I just thought it would fit the ‘feel’ of the wedding better. BUT while trying on dresses I fell in love with a long one and snatched it up quickly (it was a sample sale), and I havent regretted it at all.
I think all of the gowns are very ethereal looking and would be lovely in an outdoor ceremony