If  you’re  marrying  in  the  autumn  or  winter,  then  you’re  probably  wondering  how  best  to  dress your bridesmaids  –  no  one  wants  their  girls  to  be  shivering  down  the  aisle  in  a  thin  chiffon number! Luckily we’ve rounded up a few of our top tips and some of the  chicest autumn and winter bridesmaids dresses for you to choose from.

When it comes to choosing dresses for the cooler months, there are a couple of basic tips that we advise you follow. Firstly, it’s always a good idea to choose full-length gowns for your girls – you may be worried about the  hems getting wet or dirty, but if it’s cold, the more material the better! Your bridesmaids will  certainly thank you for not exposing their legs to the elements.

We also advise pairing them with a closed-toe shoe rather than a sandal, to avoid the girls getting cold, wet feet during any outdoor photographs or travel. If it looks like there’s going to be snow or ice on your big day, consider putting your bridesmaids in low heels, flats or even wellies  –  if they’re in long dresses then  the  shoes  are  likely  to  go  unnoticed  anyway,  and  it’s  better  to  forgo  your  dream  skyscraper  heels than  have  a  bridesmaid  take  a  nasty  fall!  If  you  have  your  heart  set  on  them,  bring  the  heels  for  the ceremony and photographs and allow the girls to wear flats at all other times.

Material-wise, opt for heavier fabrics that can keep the chill away and look stylish in a colder season. We love  the  look  of  a  classic  satin  dress,  especially  in  full  length,  but  other  options  include  duchess satin (which  is  stiffer  than  traditional  satin  and  has  a  matte  finish),  dupioni,  organza  and  taffeta.  If you  love lace, then choose a heavier fabric with a lace overlay  – this is also the perfect way to incorporate sleeves into your bridesmaid dresses.It’s your big day, so you can choose whatever colours you like, but there’s no denying that a deep jewel-toned dress looks stunning at an autumn or winter wedding.

Choose  rich  shades  like  emerald  green  and  berry  purple  and  accessorize  with  gold  or  silver  for  a gorgeous bridesmaid look. We also love classic navy blue for the cooler months (it looks stylish and chic paired with ivory), and a bright pop of red at a winter wedding can look seriously festive! Metallic shades like platinum and rose gold are becoming more po pular at autumn and winter weddings too  –  these look particularly gorgeous paired with more neutral shades like taupe, dove grey and blush.