'Little White Dress?'

https://www.weddingwire.com/wedding-forums/different-dress-for-reception/f4c95d48dee35f8d.html this thread from a couple days ago said that most are wearing the dress all day without changing.

Nearly all dresses with a train are pinned/buttoned up (called bustling by the seamstress/bridal shop) for the reception so you don't trip on it and your guests don't step on it either. It's more common and expected to do that instead of changing into another dress. Your attendants can learn from the seamstress or a Youtube video on how to do it quickly.

I'm having the same issue. I love my dress mermaid style with long train that can be pinned up. However my reception is long we have the space from 5pm to 1am even though idk if the party might not last all the way till 1am but everyone is pushing me to get a second option because they say I'm not going to want to dance and use the bathroom in the dress all night lol

I think the idea makes a lot of sense because it’s a much more slim dress you can move round easier in but I decided to wear mine the entire day cause 1) I’m lazy to change aha and 2) you don’t get to wear it much to begin with

I have a second dress. I just found a short white one on lulus cause I didn't want to spend a lot of money on another dress. I only got one because my dress has long sleeves and I know I'm going to get hot while dancing so wanted to have a back up plan so I can continue on with the rest of the night more comfortably!

IMO bustles are 100% worth it. I had no issues dancing in my dress and it looked fine.

View Quoted Comment Thank you for the feedback and sharing that forum. I read it and everyone said it's not worth it which answers my question 👍

View Quoted Comment Yeah my dress is a mermaid style too. I completely understand about being in your dress in the bathroom lol. That's the only thing I'm worried about

View Quoted Comment Yeah that's very true. I also feel like I'm going to be lazy haha. I've decided on not buying a second dress. You only get to wear the dress once and I want to wear it as long as possible

View Quoted Comment Thanks for letting me know! I've decided on just bustling my dress 👍

Bustling is definitely the way to go, in my opinion!

Getting a bustle is always an option, but I bought a second dress for the reception. Hate to say it, but I almost wish that I hadn't. I'm too in love with my ceremony dress to love anything else and after spending extra money on the second dress, I will 100% be wearing it. I think second dresses are kind of a waste of time in all honesty. If you're happy with your one dress, stick to it and get a bustle. Good luck!!!

I’m not. My nephews wife did this and she blended in with the crowd. I paid a lot for my dress so I’m getting my money’s worth.

I bought one from Lulu's from their wedding dress section so it still looks like a casual wedding dress. Mine is a long, big ball gown so there's a chance I'll change or a chance I won't because I love it so much.

I adore my wedding dress BUT my fiance and I are planning a choreographed dance for our first dance and my mermaid dress, even bustled, just isn't going to cut it. I decided to get a second dress. I actually just found out it shipped yesterday and will be here on July 10th. At first I was thinking, awww man! I love my dress, I don't want to change! But getting a second dress is allowing me to show another side of my personality. My dress for the ceremony is very simple, fitted and elegant, my dress for the dance/end of reception is a tea length dress with a big full skirt and polka dots. It;s really fun! I'm really excited about it now and excited about surprising our guests with both the change of dress and the dance (no one knows we are doing this except a our immediate family).

View Quoted Comment

This is the same for me. We are planning to do a swing dance since we met at a swing dance and there is no way I could do it in my big dress. So I have a second dress which I can move around in more. Also, like you said I want to show a different side of my personality. Your polka dot dress sounds fabulous!