Post # 1

Member
3297 posts
Sugar bee
I have often read that it is important for a wedding dress to match the ceremony location/reception venue.
While I understand the reason behind that conventional wisdom, I notice a lot of brides simply wear the dress of their dreams, ceremony location be damned. To be honest, I think that every bride should wear whatever makes her happy.
What do you think Bees? How important is it for the dress to match the location?
Post # 3

Member
2553 posts
Sugar bee
Ceremony location be damned is how I feel. I wore a ball gown (with an added ball gown crinoline)…to a steakhouse reception with 25 guests.
Post # 4

Member
2121 posts
Buzzing bee
- Wedding: June 2014 - Baby #2 due Sep 2017
Keeping within reason (no uber cleavage/leg slits in a Catholic church) or practicality (a short dress for a muddy/sandy location), I don’t see any reason for the venue to determine your dress. If you want a theme however, that’s your perogative ๐
Post # 5

Member
839 posts
Busy bee
@PositiveThinking: For me, it’s not important at all. I’m all for wearing what makes you, the bride, feel beautiful.
For the record, I have yet to attend a wedding where I thought “wow, that wedding dress really doesn’t match this wedding venue.” I think it’s a silly concept!
Post # 6

Member
3 posts
Wannabee
I think it is all about convenience and what a person is most comfortable in. If you’re having a low key, laid back and informal event, it may be a bit uncomfortable to wear an extremely formal and traditional gown, and vice versa. That being said I think brides end up choosing dresses that go with the atmosphere of the wedding naturally because it is all part of the same event/idea. I can’t say I’ve ever been to a wedding, nor do I think I would, where I think the bride’s dress doesn’t “go” with the venue. I agree with you – I think if she’s happy and comfortable, that’s what matters! ๐
Post # 7

Member
12249 posts
Sugar Beekeeper
@MrsYoshida: Ooh, hadn’t thought about that!
I generally vote that every bride should wear her dream dress, regarless of her wedding (I wore a 53lb ballgown to my luncheon wedding!)
But I’d like to add an addendum for very risque dresses in houses of worship. That’s less okay for me.
Post # 8

Member
1938 posts
Buzzing bee
@BrandNewBride: is 53 actual or estimated weight?!?! LOL
Post # 9

Member
2895 posts
Sugar bee
The only place where I think it matters is the beach … I would really find it odd to see a full ballgown for a beach wedding. I also don’t like dresses with bodices that look like lingerie for black tie weddings or super elegant venues (or even for church). While I don’t really care about the ”style” of the dress vs. the venue (vintage, modern, dress silhouette, I couldn’t care less), I care about how appropriate the dress is for the venue where the ceremony or reception takes place. When I say appropriate, I don’t mean how much skin is shown, I mean just like you wouldn’t wear jeans and T-shirt for a formal academic conference or a party dress to a funeral. ๐
Post # 10

Member
12249 posts
Sugar Beekeeper
@Andthepupmakes3: That was the actual weight of the size 12 sample. My dress was a size 6, so smaller, but I also wore a hoop!
Post # 12

Member
4436 posts
Honey bee
@PositiveThinking: I don’t think it’s a huge deal if the dress matches the venue, except for houses of worship as pps have mentioned. The bride should wear what she loves!
Post # 13

Member
1409 posts
Bumble bee
@BrandNewBride: 53 pounds??? For real?
Post # 14

Member
3671 posts
Sugar bee
@PositiveThinking: It isn’t important IMO ๐
If a bride is confident in her dress then that will mean more to me than seeing a gown that fits the venue/theme
Post # 15

Member
12249 posts
Sugar Beekeeper
@HannahGrace: Haha, yep! I ran a half marathon to train for wearing it!
Post # 16

Member
1409 posts
Bumble bee
@BrandNewBride: I have run a half marathon and you are still more woman than me.