To Change or Not to Change

One of the latest trends today is finding brides changing into a more comfortable or sexy gown for the reception. They wear the more traditional gown for the ceremony and sometime before or during the reception, they change into something a little bit more lively, sexy and/or comfortable. You probably have seen many celebrity brides do this.

Maybe you just absolutely loved two gowns that you just had to have both. Or maybe it’s a cultural thing. You might be marrying into a culture that wears a different type of “wedding dress.” You would wear the traditional one for the ceremony and the “cultural” style dress for the reception out of respect for your new husband’s culture. It usually is more colorful and, therefore, you would really stand out at the reception and end up with fabulous photos.

However, before setting your mind (and money) on two dresses, consider that staying in that beautiful gown you have been dreaming about may well be worth keeping with one dress. You probably already spent a lot of money on it, wouldn’t you want to wear it as long as possible?

But, if you have your heart and mind set on doing the “change thing,” then think about the following factors in considering a “reception gown.”

• Is the gown comfortable for dancing?
• Will I need to change into different undergarments, shoes, or accessories?
• Will my hair be “mussed” by changing into the second gown? Or, can I simply let it down and put a beautiful hairclip on?

When should I change into the second gown? You may choose to do it during the cocktail hour so you are in your new gown when you and your husband make your grand entrance into the reception. Or, you could wait to change after your first dance. Whenever you decide to make the change, plan ahead. Have a separate room available close by so you don’t have to waste too much time getting to and from the changing room. It’s no easy task removing a wedding dress quickly, so have your bridesmaids help you. Having your ladies there with you will help you change faster so you can get back to the reception before your guests even know you are gone.

Now, if you love the idea of having two dresses, but it is just out of the question, budget-wise, there are still ways you can change the way you look from your ceremony to your reception. If you are wearing a veil, remove it. I did for my reception. You could buy a wedding dress with a detachable train. Depending upon how the dress is made, having the train removed can really make your gown look totally different and guests may think you actually did change into a different gown.

Consider all your options before making your final decision.

(photo above from Vera Wang on Weddings)