Post # 1
Member
356 posts
Helper bee
Hi Bees,
I’m swaying back and forth between getting a reception dress or just wearing my gown the entire day.
Pros to wearing gown the entire day:
*I’ve been dreaming of wearing a big gown my whole life…so why would I take it off for something more casual? This is the one time in my life I get to go all out…and I can wear a tea length dress anytime.
*Saves money
Pros to having a reception dress:
*If someone bumps into me with red wine or I get BBQ sauce on my dress, I’m covered!
*I love the idea of having a second “look” which would be a tee length/vintage style dress…I love picturing that with a pair of awesome shoes
*Variation in terms of photographs
What are you bees doing? Any two dress brides out there?
Post # 3
Member
3618 posts
Sugar bee
I had a reception dress. My ceremony dress was really heavy and big so it was pretty hard to walk around the reception area with all the tables so I got a sheath wedding gown to change into for the reception. I changed after our first dance and toasts, so while our guests were eating.
Post # 4
Member
3340 posts
Sugar bee
- Wedding: April 2013 - Rhode Island
I don’t have the budget for a second dress. Since I spent $3000 on my gown, I’m getting my money’s worth and wearing it as long as possible!
Post # 5
Member
900 posts
Busy bee
I had a reception dress, but not a “traditonal” reception dress. I realllllly wanted a red, floor length gown, but I would never wear it during my ceremony—so I had it for my reception!
Post # 6
Member
1710 posts
Bumble bee
- Wedding: May 2013 - Walt Disney World
I would love to have a reception dress, but it’s not in our budget. Plus, my mom bought my wedding dress and I have guilt regarding taking it off for the reception (she was very generous and I love her!). I love my dress, but I have doubts that my BMs will be able to bustle the train correctly (no one will be able to attend any of my fittings for proper instruction, yikes). My dress is also heavy (especially with the crinoline/whatever it’s called). Oh well!
Post # 7
Member
1548 posts
Bumble bee
I am not going to have a reception dress. My mom paid a fortune for my dress and would probably kill me if I only wore it for half of the day. I also love my dress and want to wear it as long as possible, since I only get 1 chance to ever wear it!
Post # 8
Member
3765 posts
Honey bee
I went back and forth about a dress change, and realized that I personally would regret not having send off pictures in my wedding gown. I’ve since heard people say they can’t wait to see the photos of me in my dress during our send off, and as we got into the limo. I’m so happy with my decision 🙂
Post # 9
Member
8471 posts
Bumble Beekeeper
I didn’t give it one thought. I would have never changed out of my dress.
Post # 10
Member
565 posts
Busy bee
- Wedding: September 2013 - Pavilion at Rocky Neck State Park
Honestly, I’m not. Instead of having to split my budget in some form or other to get two dresses, I am spending my entire budget on my perfect dream dress. If you have the money and you want to, go for it! But I personally don’t want to pay over $1,000 on a dress to wear it just for an hour or two.
Post # 11
Member
28 posts
Newbee
I am not buying a reception dress. I spent $2000 on my dress, and its gorgeous so I can’t see only wearing it for an hour or so. Personally, I hate the idea of a reception dress, it’s just too much IMO. However, I can understand that these big ball gowns are heavy and hard to dance in. I am thinking about buying a cute tea length wedding dress to wear as my honeymoon dress, or send off dress, or whatever it’s called my mind went blank lol. I agree that picturing the dress with a great pair of shoes is very temptilol lol. It really just depends on want anthy our budget. Good luck!
Post # 12
Member
4056 posts
Honey bee
I never even thought of having two dresses. BUt I’m also not someone who ever envisioned the big fancy (heavy) dress. Mine is a tea length gown and I’ll wear it all day.
Post # 13
Member
3569 posts
Sugar bee
Yeah considering the money I spent I am wearing the dress all the night, hell I might sleep in it and go to brunch in the the nest day lol.
I think if you have a massively heavy huge dress, then you should be all means get a reception dress for later inthe night when the dancing starts.
Post # 14
Member
6221 posts
Bee Keeper
- Wedding: August 2013 - The Liberty House
I’m thinking of getting an evening gown to have with me just in case I want to change or someone spills something on me that I don’t want to walk around with all night (like food). But it won’t be a wedding dress
Post # 15
Member
1553 posts
Bumble bee
I didn’t have a reception dress. Like a lot of the previous posters, I spent way too much on my dress to only wear it for an hour.
Just as a different perspective, I recently went to a wedding where the bride did have a reception dress. I was really disappointed as a guest, becase I saw her beautiful wedding dress at the reception and was hoping to see it close up at the reception…and it was gone. The reception dress was very pretty, but I really missed seeing the bride in her gown at the reception.
Post # 16
Member
6573 posts
Bee Keeper
I toyed with the idea, and really thought I’d have 2 dresses. I had always figured I’d do a more traditional ballgown. After becoming engaged I became drawn to the more fitted lace dresses. I was worried if I went lace I’d regret getting a ballgown, but also worried if I went ballgown I’d regret not getting the lace.
The best piece of advice I was ever told was someone who said when you find the right dress, you won’t want or feel the need to have a second one. They were totally right.
I tried on a few dresses of different styles. I ended up falling in love with a lace dress that wasn’t a full ballgown but also wasn’t a mermaid/fit & flare. It was more in-between.
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