Having two different wedding dresses for your big day makes perfect sense for some brides. It can be such a fun way to debut your style AND feel comfortable. But it all depends on different factors for you and your wedding day. If you answer “yes” to most of the questions below, perhaps you should consider two dresses for your wedding day.
Do you have an extravagant venue?
An extravagant venue should be paired with an extravagant dress! If your ceremony takes place in a big grand church with a long aisle, imagine yourself walking down the aisle in a beautiful ball gown with a cathedral veil. Your look will tie the whole ceremony together as you make your grand entrance, but perhaps you have a quiet more intimate wedding reception that doesn’t require the full glam look. This is a perfect excuse to justify both a ball gown and a more understated dress. Think Kate Middleton on her wedding day… she went from full on Princess Glam, but wore a simple satin A-line for her reception.
Do you love to dance?
If you’re a bride who loves to dance, chances are you will want to spend part of your reception on the dancefloor. This is a perfect chance for you to put on a shorter or lighter dress that allows you to move comfortably throughout the reception. You will seamlessly be able to go from dancing the night away, to mingling with guests. Bonus… you won’t have to worry about people stepping on your dress all night. Another bonus… you can show off those amazing pair of shoes that have been hiding under your other dress all day.
Will your wedding be over the course of a long day?
If your wedding day has an early ceremony, a big break between ceremony and reception and a late reception, you will be hauling around your dress all day long. You may get a little tired of that dress after you’ve been in it for 6 hours and you’re still taking pictures before the reception. Having a second dress can be a nice option that will make you comfortable during the long day ahead.
Is your wedding in an extreme weather climate?
If your wedding is in a climate that’s very hot or very cold, a second dress may be the perfect answer for you. If it’s hot outside, you may be dying to wear a heavy satin ball gown with a cathedral veil for your ceremony, but want something lighter for the reception so that you’re not sweating. Or perhaps your wedding is in the winter and you want a sparkly dress with a fur shrug for the reception, but want a light airy dress for the ceremony. The temperature and your comfortability can easily sway you towards two dresses.
Are you struggling to decide?
This can totally happen! As you try on wedding dresses and narrow it down, you may feel stuck deciding between two dresses that you’ve fallen in love with. If you can make it work in your budget, why not wear both? If you’re going to treat yourself like a Queen for one day, shouldn’t that day be your wedding day!?
Do you have to follow a dress code in your ceremony venue?
Some ceremony venues require brides to cover their shoulders. This can quickly narrow down the type of dress you can wear. If you find a strapless lace mermaid dress that you love, it may be a HUGE bummer to not be able to wear that for your ceremony. But two dresses can easily solve this. Cover your shoulders with a gorgeous cap sleeve A-line dress for your ceremony, and throw on the strapless lace mermaid for your reception. Don’t let a dress code stop you from wearing the dress of your dreams.
Are you re-wearing your mom/grandmas wedding dress?
In the spirit of nostalgia and family tradition, you may be leaning towards wearing your mom or grandmas traditional wedding dress. I’ve seen this done beautifully but you may not want to be in that dress all day. No matter how classic those dresses are, they tend to be extremely itchy which can irritate your skin. Or perhaps you want to wear the dress because “it’s a tradition” but you’re not completely in-love with it. Wear the dress for the ceremony and then put on the dress you love for the rest of the day. This is a great way to follow a family tradition and make your ceremony extra special, while still getting to express your style.
Two wedding dresses can be a perfect fit for you depending on your needs and your wedding day. As the bride, you should feel like a Queen on your big day and two dresses can allow you to be both stunning and comfortable!
Style Me Pretty Contributor – Kylie Thompson is a freelance writer, blogger and marketing professional from Grand Rapids Michigan, where she resides with her husband and golden retriever. When she isn’t working, you will find her exploring Grand Rapids’ newest culinary establishments with her husband, or traveling up and down Lake Michigan’s coast.