The References section on HMF gives a number of descriptions from the late Nineteenth Century. The listed colors were considered "red" regarding Tea roses. "The Book of the Rose" (1984) stated, "Another sport from Catherine Mermet, also from America. Not yet sufficiently tested, but at present it does not often come good." "The Garden" magazine (1894) wrote, "The Bride is now regarded equivalent in merit to its parent, but Waban and Bridesmaid do not possess such great distinction." I'm sure searching for more references in the old rose books listed in Henry's thread the other say should provide even more comments about its performance. Kim Here is a link that might be useful: References

I think those are pretty! And I think your color scheme sounds lovely and sophisticated. A touch of black around the neckline (maybe a black ribbon choker or something) would help give pale girls some contrast. I'll give you the same advice I just gave my own daughter, who is also planning a 2014 wedding: don't spend too much time trying to choose in the abstract or from internet pictures. Go shopping. See what looks good ON. Besides, you can't always tell quality or detail from pictures. Keep the shapes and looks of your real attendants, not 5'10" size 4 models standing on boxes in photos, in mind. My daughter and I are barely 5'0 and 5'1" respectively. So many styles I think are beautiful for my own dress and that she thinks are beautiful for her dress just wouldn't work on us. It's too bad, but we have to face the fact that so much formal and bridal wear is designed for tall women -- and, no, you can't just shorten them: the look is ruined, because the armholes, darts, necklines, etc. are all in the wrong places, and the details are out of proportion. I'm just telling you about our situation to illustrate the point. Instead of trying to imagine the perfect bridesmaid dress and then go out and find it and then try to make it work for your attendants, go out and see what's really out there in the stores. Keep your preferences in color, style, etc. in mind, of course, but keep an open mind when you are looking -- you may learn another idea about, say, fabric or neckline, from a dress that's in some totally wrong color or length. Finally, don't limit yourself to bridal shops. You will find a MUCH bigger selection at dress shops and department stores. The prices are usually lower and the quality often much better, too. Bridesmaids appreciate a dress that doesn't have a bridesmaid look if they hope to wear it again. Not to mention that you don't have to wait months for them. So unless you need a style that has variations for body types or something, start with the regular dress stores. I just looked at ONE site, Nordstrom, and found loads of pretty lace cocktail dresses. Here is a link. Here is a link that might be useful: lace cocktail dresses at Nordstrom

The dresses had to be ordered early becasue they chose a color and style that is this spring's special...it wasn't my doing. And yes it is a bit suspicious, but iltimately things worked out...oh and BTW, it doesn't matterhow far away the wedding is, its all about communication... Don't make it sound like that just because my wedding is far away I am doing things out of the "acceptable" time range, I've said it many times and i will say it again, I AM MOVING OUT OF STATE IN TWO!!! MONTHS, that is why the wedding plans and dress orders are now. Besides by the time the dresses come in and everyone gets them it would be right on the time they'd need to have them anyway...so esentially its a good thing I ordered them so far in advance.

I think it is nice when the girls can select the shoes that they want. They are already wearing matching dresses - they don't need to have the same shoes. I think this is good because some people feel more comfortable in flats and not heels, and people also have various feet widths. What is good about letting them choose the shoes is that they can find something they may wear again. I think this works especially well when the girls are wearing long dresses, because most people won't even see the shoes!