Reception Dress- will I regret?

Re: Reception Dress- will I regret?

• Cookie Pusher member

  

  June 2015

  I actually had 3 dresses for my wedding - a long, white one for the ceremony (one of the few things FI really wanted), a cultural dress, and a tea-length white reception dress. I do not regret changing for a moment. I had an outdoor summer wedding and knew that I did not want to drag around a long, heavy dress. Also, I knew I'd be doing a significant amount of drinking, and my clumsy self would not have done well with a long dress and heels. For me, it was a good choice because I was much more comfortable with the shorter dress.

  
  

  That being said, it's a really personal choice, and one you don't have to make right away. I had a friend who did purchase a second, shorter dress for her reception but decided after the ceremony that she didn't want to change. The second dress was one she bought off-the-rack at the mall and didn't need alterations. She was able to return it after the wedding because she left all the tags on.

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• southernbelle0915 mod

  

  June 2015

  My sister had a different reception dress for her New Orleans wedding. Her's was a super colorful, backless, long dress with some beading. Very festive and New Orleans-y.

  
  She was glad she did it because her ceremony dress was a super plan, knee length dress. It was white, but not a "wedding dress" in the modern sense of the term. Think something someone might wear to their shower or RD. She wanted to jazz it up for the reception, so it made sense.

  
  

  If you love the dress you got for the ceremony, I would rock the whole night. You only get to wear it once!

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• Maggie0829 member

  

  June 2015

  My feeling is unless you are changing for cultural purposes, I just don't see the point in a reception dress.  Most people (not all of course) their wedding dress is the most expensive dress and most fancy dress that they will ever buy.  I just couldn't imagine buying and loving such a dress only to change out of it after 2 hours.  This, of course, comes from someone who wore her dress for as long as she could and went out to a local bar after her wedding in it.  I did not want to take that sucker off!

  
  

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• kaos16 member

  

  June 2015

  My wedding dress was from David's Bridal and unzipped into a shorter dress for the reception.  I loved being able to move around more freely.

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• MesmrEwe member

  

  June 2015

  It sounds like you would regret changing from the "tone" of your OP, however you fear not having a "backup plan" if you don't have something and it's hotter than hot out.  That said - purchase a super cute fancy white shorter dress (i.e. the white version of the "little black dress" that you'd feel comfortable wearing on your honeymoon to a fancy dinner if for some reason you don't wear it the night of your wedding.  It'd be the best of both worlds in a dress that you'd feel comfortable wearing to a different formal dinner/event and not get worked up if you decide to stay in your wedding gown.

  
  

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• JoanE2012 member

  

  June 2015

  I paid alot of money for my dress that I really loved - no way was I taking that off to change into another!  

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• MandyMost member

  

  July 2015

  I don't think it makes sense to change. I see this as an area where you just need to make a choice...the same way you can't have a daytime ceremony and an evening reception even if it's your "dream", you can't have a formal gown and a casual dress. Pick a plan for the event and stick to it. 

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• Fosmoh member

  

  July 2015

  I think this is one of those things that really depend on the bride and the situation.
  
  Like mentioned above, for cultural reasons it makes a lot of sense.  you may want to wear a traditional white dress for your ceremony (or other culturally traditional dresses) and switch to the other for the reception. 

  
  

  for a bride that's really into fashion, it may be ideal for her to wear multiple gowns because she has a lot of fun changing into the different gowns and it's an opportunity to wear many gowns while being admired.  i've also heard of brides wearing the same gown all night that's a little shorter and yet they change into many different pairs of shoes in order to show off their love of shoes haha (i think this is such a cute idea lol)

  
  

  Agreed with above though, the fact that you're questioning it from the start and worried about regretting it kind of gives you the answer that it may not be the best choice for YOU.
  
  Look at your options.  look into lightweight fabrics that can give you a formal gown yet a bit more comfort.

  
  

  i also really like the idea above about buying a little white dress that if you don't wear it for the reception you can wear it out for a formal dinner while on your honey moon 

  
  

  good luck!!

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• Knottie05481694 member

  

  July 2015

  For my first wedding I had a multi-layered tulle ball gown. Freakin loved my dress. Did not love how heavy it was. I brought a shorter more casual white dress, just in case, and I'm glad I did. I stayed in my wedding dress through the first dance, father daughter dance, a few more dances, and the cake cutting. Then I took that sucker off, it was so hot and heavy! Plus it was so puffy that I was having trouble dancing without people stepping on it. Once I was in my lighter dress I could really dance the night away. Also, we left for our honeymoon the very next day and stayed in a hotel that night, would have been a hassle to get the wedding dress back home before we left. 

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