Reception Dress

Ashly018 · January 2010

Ok so I have been watching a lot of those wedding shows on WE network, and I have been noticing the trend of Reception Dresses... I notice a lot of time they are simply a toned down wedding dress. My questions are how many brides are actually doing this? When do you change into it? and When your dancing your first dance as husband and wife do you wear your wedding dress or the reception dress? Which actually raises another question for me, When is the first dance? Is it before or after the meal? I'm getting more and more confussed watching these shows, they seem to change in every show....

danieliza1127 · January 2010

I wouldn't rely on those shows to really tell you what is normal or common for weddings.

Some people do reception dresses, but I think most brides don't. You pay a lot for that wedding dress and you only get to wear it once, so I think most want to wear it all night. I wore my dress and my veil all night.

Some people do the first dance right at the beginning of the reception when the bride and groom are introduced, and some do it after dinner. We did ours after dinner. You can talk to your DJ about it and see what others have done. You really just do what makes the most sense for your reception.

aerinpegadrak · January 2010

I had a hard enough time spending that much money for a dress I'd only wear for one day, there's no way in hell I'd spend it on a dress I'd only wear for an hour. I'll have a dress to change into for the after-party, but I doubt I'll actually change.

The entire point of those shows is to try to get you to spend more money. The majority of women stick to one dress.

megk8oz · January 2010

I "form opinions" about Reception Dresses. Like the PPs said, you spend all of this money on the ceremony dress and getting ready for the ceremony, why the hell change an hour later? And the big reason why t.v. keeps showing these "trensetters" with their 2 dresses is so you'll think you have to go out and buy another dress, which makes the wedding industry even more money.

Even if it was a really big trend and I was "more approving" on the matter, I personally loved my dress so much, I didn't even want to take it off at the end of the night, I couldn't imagine whipping it off as soon as the "I Do's" were said. I also left my veil and shoes on all night for the same reason.

I did see on one show this dress where in the skirt of the dress, there was a hidden zipper at about knee length, so the bride could just "remove" the bottom half of the dress for the reception ... this I actually didn't mind and thought was a neat idea.

If you're going to have a second dress, pretty much any time after the ceremony you feel like changing is good I guess. I've seen brides usually do the first dance in the ceremony dress and then go change, but like I said, I'm thinking there's no real "rule" on when to do it.

First dance: if you have one, I've only seen it done pretty much as soon as the bride and groom enter the reception.

Tarana_b · January 2010

Yes. It's at a historic mansion, open bar, and great food. I also need to add that I won a gift certificate for a dress at a local bridal shop, so I didn't have to break my budget to get a second dress. That's why I said it's up to the bride what she wants to do and if her budget will allow her to do it.

megk8oz · January 2010

I will say this, I have a way higher tolerance for a reception dress than I do for the following shenanigans I saw on "Bridezillas":

I can't remember which bride this was, but she wanted to a lot of the pics with the groom before the ceremony (I believe this had something to do with the sunlight on the golf course the ceremony was held at), but she didn't want him to see the "real" dress before the ceremony. So she bought a dress almost identical to the ceremony dress just for the the pre-ceremony pics. And both dresses individually had cost a couple thousand dollars.

Now that is a waste.

megk8oz · January 2010

Was that her? Omg, they all start to run together after a while. She's one of the ones that I said "That one's not even making it the first year", lol.

aerinpegadrak · January 2010

I had to stop watching after a while, I couldn't take it anymore. But I distinctly remember that the crazy two-dress bride was also the one bitching about the menu and trying to cut appetizers because they were too expensive.

Ashly018 · January 2010

My fiance's cousin is getting married this year also, and I guess when she went to a bridal show the Bridezilla Team was there, and she signed up. Apparently the least amount you will get paid is $4000.00 and I'm sure it goes up as the Zilla factor increases...

ElayneJC · January 2010

I'm considering the second dress, but I guess not technically for the reception - more of a "getaway" type dress to wear at the after-party. Nothing super-expensive, just something fun and different with a little more "sass". But I do agree with PPs - if you are gonna do a second dress I think it is important to be sure your guests have all been taken care of 110% - don't let them see that you skimped on food and beverage and then show up in a second dress. For us, the first dance will be right after we're announced - mostly because between the two of us there are four left feet and while I am looking forward to it, I don't want to spend any time being nervous about it. Good luck with your decision!

Sue-n-Kevin · January 2010

I'm having a second dress, but only because I'm making a very formal dress for the ceremony and want to keep it clean in case it becomes something a family member wants to wear in the future. (Not being conceited, I've just sewn for years) .I also bought a dress a while ago at a clearout sale at a bridal salon(before I decided I was making one) that's on hold until later this year. It's pretty, but not real formal. I'm actually going to have them alter it in such a way that the front is a bit shorter than the back so I'm comfortable dancing the night away.

I'll probably keep the dress I make on for the first dance, then change afterward for dinner. I think I'll have an easier time relaxing in the second dress.

Good luch with your choices.

akasper16 · January 2010

I am doing a reception dress. My "first" dress is a full ball gown. The slip I have chosen to wear with it is a hoop slip which will be very hard to dance in. I chose to do the reception dress basically because of comfort reasons. My parents bought my first dress and my godmother graciously bought the reception dress. We are doing the first dance right after we do the introductions before dinner. I am not changing until after we cut the cake, before the real dancing begins.

Reception Dress

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