Should I wear my dress at the reception -- 6 mo. after ceremony??

acmaurer

Hi ladies,
I need some help. My fiance and I are getting married in June 2011. It'll be a small, family-only ceremony in Michigan.
We still want to have a big reception for all of our friends and family in Chicago (where we live), and we've decided to have it in November 2011. That way we have more time to plan and save for it, it's more convienent for our family and friends and it's cheaper!
I didn't even think about wearing my dress at the reception, because I didn't think it would be right. But more and more people say that I should be in my wedding dress. What do you think?
Thanks!

ljahns

what type of "reception" are you having 6 months after the wedding? Are you planning on doing the whole sha-bang with a cake, DJ, dinner, etc. or will it be more of a dinner party?

IMO a dinner party or cocktail party is more appropriate for an event 6 months after the wedding date. In which case I would highly recommend not wearing your wedding dress and wearing something that's more suited for a dinner.

Ghoti

I would, simply to get more use out of my wedding dress

ambermorley

I agree - consider the venue and formality of the reception. Will it have all the trimmings of a usual reception? If there is cake, DJ, and a guest book, then why shouldn't there be a dress?

trix1223

No.  I think wearing the dress six months after the wedding is pretty silly.

aleighk1

If you paid a lot for it, you might as well. That way you're not paying a lot of money to wear a dress once.

But you do have to take into consideration what kind of reception you're having and whether or not your dress will look out of place.

sarahbutchin

I say if you are set on having a reception 6 mos after ceremony, may as well wear your gown!

barbiegirl25

If it were me, I wouldn't wear the gown, and I might think it was a little silly of the bride if I attended a 6-months-after-the-fact reception. I would probably wear something white and dressy and get my hair and makeup done, but a cocktail length dress and not the big wedding getup. I think a wedding gown is for your wedding day.

Ghoti

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_should-wear-dress-reception-6-mo-after-ceremony?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:5Discussion:8e38aa0e-eebb-4c9e-b4ed-4e809ee6308cPost:d1c52b9b-7063-4466-b1e3-604c43116f86">Re: Should I wear my dress at the reception -- 6 mo. after ceremony??</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Should I wear my dress at the reception -- 6 mo. after ceremony?? :<strong> Isn't wearing the dress ONCE, on your wedding day, pretty much the point of a wedding gown?</strong>  It's pretty pointless (to me) to have your AHR 6 months after the wedding.  I'd just have a big Fall BBQ or something to get family/friends together and leave all wedding reception type things (wedding dress, toasts, dances) out.
Posted by ILoveMilkDuds[/QUOTE]
I hope not, I plan on cleaning my house in mine! Or maybe getting it tailored  to a cocktail dress I can wear out to dinner.

SeptemberFall2011

Be nice if you had a poll with this...cuz i vote WEAR THE DRESS!!!!  For them-they want to see you in all your bridal glory.  They didn't get to see you do it in June so do it in November.  Besides you are probably dropping a pretty shiny dime on this dress so why not wear it again?  I would!

JenGin74

Why don't you just get married in November and do everything all at once? Wearing a wedding gown six months after your actual wedding seems a bit silly to me. At that point you're no longer a bride, you're a wife.

JerseyML

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_should-wear-dress-reception-6-mo-after-ceremony?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:5Discussion:8e38aa0e-eebb-4c9e-b4ed-4e809ee6308cPost:adab56ca-3d52-4544-b7a6-1ead508268e7">Re: Should I wear my dress at the reception -- 6 mo. after ceremony??</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Should I wear my dress at the reception -- 6 mo. after ceremony?? : I hope not, I plan on cleaning my house in mine! Or maybe getting it tailored  to a cocktail dress I can wear out to dinner.
Posted by Ghoti[/QUOTE]

I have a friend who constantly cleaned the house in her wedding dress.  And wore it for Halloween three times since she has been married.  (11 years)  I bet she will wear it a few more times before she can no longer fit into it. 

peanutty2

yes definately!  my friend recently did somethnig similar - she got married in a church and had a dress, bridal party, etc. but it was just family... then 6 months later she had her reception... big fancy party with all the works... and she wore her dress and the bridesmaids wore theirs... as a guest i thought it was great cuz i got to see her in her beautiful dress and made it feel more special!  as for her, she didn't have to buy a second dress! 

ILoveSnelly

As far as my vote i think if you are doing the full on reception then why not! I think it does make it more special and wedding-y

But based ong a PP, and just to pitch the idea out there, if you have the kind of dress that can be tailored into a cocktail dress then do that and wear it! I think it would be extra cute and special!

FutureDondada

IMO, wear the gown. Its your WEDDING dress and this dinner party is honor of your WEDDING, so wear it. I dont see any problem in have it 6 months after the fact, especially b/c its in 2 different states. Its different and thats ok. not everyone needs to play by a standard set of rules. Thats boring. Go ahead, wear your dress, and celebrate it the way you would if it were being held the same day!

COmeetsNE

My cousin did this because they had a wedding in California and most of the family could not make it. Then in November she had a reception in her home town (Omaha, NE) and she wore her dress. She had rented out a part of a hotel, had a buffet, etc. and wearing her dress really made it seem like we didn't miss too much of the wedding. Plus we all got to see the honeymoon pics, so that was fun too! Wear the dress!

Debbie4020

While others have stated that it depends on what type of reception, I think it also depends on what kind of dress. While a large princess style wedding dress may seem out of place when it is so long after your wedding day, a more simple A-line gown may fit in better. Something that should be taken into consideration, is that for many, the dress is one of their favourite parts of the whole wedding thing (other than seeing the happily married couple) and if many of your friends were not at the wedding, then perhaps they want a chance to see you in your beautiful wedding dress.

MyNameIsNot

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_should-wear-dress-reception-6-mo-after-ceremony?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:5Discussion:8e38aa0e-eebb-4c9e-b4ed-4e809ee6308cPost:4e828354-b369-4be1-a71e-29bf84841523">Re: Should I wear my dress at the reception -- 6 mo. after ceremony??</a>:
[QUOTE]Why don't you just get married in November and do everything all at once? Wearing a wedding gown six months after your actual wedding seems a bit silly to me. At that point you're no longer a bride, you're a wife.
Posted by JenGin74[/QUOTE]

<div>This.</div><div>
</div><div>Having a reception 6 months after the fact is ridiculous anyway.  If you insist on that level of ridiculousness, you might as well dress the part.  </div>

singingjessi14

As said by pp, depends on how formal your reception will be.

I know my parents got married in Colorado and then had a reception fotr her family and friends in Illinois a week later, she wore her dress again.

If you like the idea, and have a dress that can be shortened, I thought the idea a pp had of during it into a cocktail dress was pretty clever!

mcornelissen

In Response to <a href="http://pink.weddings.com/Sites/Weddings/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_should-wear-dress-reception-6-mo-after-ceremony?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:5Discussion:8e38aa0e-eebb-4c9e-b4ed-4e809ee6308cPost:adab56ca-3d52-4544-b7a6-1ead508268e7">Re: Should I wear my dress at the reception -- 6 mo. after ceremony??</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Should I wear my dress at the reception -- 6 mo. after ceremony?? : I hope not, I plan on cleaning my house in mine! <strong>Or maybe getting it tailored  to a cocktail dress I can wear out to dinner.
</strong>Posted by Ghoti[/QUOTE]

I would suggest a cocktail dress for 6 months after the wedding. But this idea sounds pretty good.

pantinkins

It's up to you and what you're comfortable with and you don't even have to make a decision right now, but my opinion is wear it again.

My cousin had a beautiful seaside wedding in California, and then a reception in Kansas for all the relatives back home who couldn't make it. The bride wore her dress and hairpiece again, even though after the wedding they had gone out INTO the ocean water to take pictures, and she looked great. One of the bridesmaids and the mother of the groom and the mother of the bride all wore their wedding outfits as well. I think all of the Kansas guests were very happy they got to see the bride in her dress, rather than just seeing pictures of it later. It really wasn't weird seeing them dressed up at a more casual location. They still had music, food, cake, and toasts.

tlbattaglia

I am wearing my dress to my AHR...but it's only a week later.  I would say, if you want to wear the dress...go for it.

burnsey2

I am getting married on a beach in cape cod in June 2011 with only 24 guests (immediate families and our closest friends) and having a big backyard reception 3 weeks later at home in NH. I am planning on wearing my wedding dress at the beginning of the party, so the people who did not get to attend my ceremony can see me in it, then changing into a white coctail dress. I didn't even think about wearing my gown at the reception until my friends and family all asked if I would so they could see me in it.

acmaurer

Thanks for your responses :-) 

The reception will not be a formal affair; however, it won't be casual either. It'll be an evening of appetizers, drinks, and of course, dessert. There will be dancing. 

I'm tempted to wear the dress because only a few (about 10) will have seen it -- but I agree with the other ladies who say that by that point, it's a bit late to wear it. 

Thanks for all the food for thought!

jaclynricky

I agree that guests like to see a wedding dress! Also, depending on what style the dress is, you may be able to shorten it and wear it as sort of a cocktail dress? food for thought.

becgrose

I'm with Ghoti, I plan on having mine tailored to a cocktail dress. I know not all dresses can do that, but mine can, and it will. 

As far as wearing it to a "reception" 6 months later (which I am doing as well), I personally won't be just because it will be rather informal. I don't see why you can't wear it again if you want to-- it is your day after all!

GoombaBaby

I don't see a reason not to. I mean if if it is a wedding reception then go for it! Plus I'm sure a lot of your family and friends who didn't get to see you in it the first time may like to see it on you.

knottief7f08860652a16bf

I think it would be really weird!!!  Don't do it!

Tessy87

i would get a cute knee length white cocktail dress and maybe a bird cage veil or something.  where your wedding shoes and accessories too! but id feel silly wearing my wedding dress 6 months after the ceremony.

DanielleZZ

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_should-wear-dress-reception-6-mo-after-ceremony?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:5Discussion:8e38aa0e-eebb-4c9e-b4ed-4e809ee6308cPost:db4b0bc6-28c4-4040-9342-75dffb7e64cd">Re: Should I wear my dress at the reception -- 6 mo. after ceremony??</a>:
[QUOTE]Be nice if you had a poll with this...cuz i vote WEAR THE DRESS!!!!  For them-they want to see you in all your bridal glory.  They didn't get to see you do it in June so do it in November.  Besides you are probably dropping a pretty shiny dime on this dress so why not wear it again?  I would!
Posted by SeptemberFall2011[/QUOTE]

This.
I am sure everyone wants to see you in your dress.  If I was a quest at your reception and you didnt wear it I think I would be dissapointed.

ajpeterson03

I think you should wear it.  I'm sure people would love to see you in it. 

We do a Bride's Bus every year, where we have a Girls Night Out and everyone gets either their Wedding dresses out of the closet or their Bridesmaid dresses out of the closet.  If you are going to spend a bunch of money on a dress you might as well wear it more than once!