Second dress question

Ceremony dresses often have super long trains and may not be great for dancing, so people get something else that's easier to party in. This is 100% optional though. I'm not doing it. Don't feel pressured to follow a fad!

There are many reasons! One could be that they were torn between two dresses and decided to wear them both. Or maybe they really love their ceremony dress, but it's not practical for dancing in at the reception, so they got a second dress that's easier to move around in. Or maybe they just wanted two dresses.

I completely agree with you. It’s the one time in your life you will be able to wear the wedding dress and even the least expensive dress sold is not cheap. Plus the standard American wedding from the time your first bridesmaid walks down the aisle until you and fiancé head out after the reception is 4-5 hours tops. 6 hours is generous and considered long. When the wedding dress is worn before switched for a second or third dress, you’ve barely had it on longer than the ceremony and pre-ceremony pictures. Plus it takes time to get in and out of the dress that cuts into the time that could be spent with guests you haven’t seen in forever.



It originated as an Asian tradition. Asian brides have multiple dress changes but they also have longer, more elaborate weddings (many are 12 hours minimum in the main day and others are multiple day events with guests leaving only to sleep) so that guests are distracted and don’t notice that the bride has stepped away several minutes for a clothing change. American weddings don’t have that luxury with so many venues that only allow 4-5 hours for the entire event to make room for the next couple.

As for the recent trend in America, blame that on celebrity culture seen on Instagram and Tiktok. Many brides have a specific vision of a dress they saw on Pinterest on an airbrushed model that is not comfortable to move around in. Wedding dress tv shows such as Say Yes To the Dress are responsible for that, up to and including expensive dresses that cost more than a car. Because it’s tv, they present an obscure trend as “everyone is doing it and your family/friends will disown you if you don’t”. They don’t do movement tests when trying on dresses and who do you think you are to suggest it either “because the shows on tv don’t do that practice”. Which is funny when you realize that the 80s and 90s dresses had poof for days and were no less restrictive or large as many are now and no one had issues with those, nor did anyone change after the ceremony was over. I’ve also heard the “long train” idea but they’re bustled or detached for the reception, which the seamstress does during alterations.

I’m doing a second dress so I can move around and dance freely! I want the big beautiful dress with long train, but I don’t want to drag it around all night and have people stepping on it.

View Quoted Comment I can see that

View Quoted Comment My dress does have a decent length train, but I'm not doing a second dress. I want to keep the bridal feeling as long as possible.

I think it's definitely just a trend that's getting pushed as the norm right now. Not at all necessary. Personally, I think I am going to do a second look because I'm really into style and design; it's kind of an in-character move for me. However, I'm splitting my dress budget between the two looks, so it won't be an added expense.

I think it has to do with 1. culture and 2. comfort.

in my culture a lot of people change into the cultural dress but i can see the appeal because i think it's also more comfortable to move around in being in a slimmer or shorter dress than your gown.

i did not change out of my wedding dress though because i figured you're already in it for so little so may as well have it on as long as i can

View Quoted Comment I’ll have my dress on from about 12:30-1pm until 10pm 😅 but it’s so pretty I’m definitely wearing it the whole time

I’m sure everyone has their reasons. I don’t want to spend $2k plus money for alterations for only a few hours. And I love it! So I want to wear it as long as possible. I’m just going to bustle my train for the reception and it’s not form fitting anyway so it’s not like it’ll be uncomfortable to dance in or hard to move but I will be wearing it for 9-10 hours 🙃 its a little heavy so my back might hurt lol

View Quoted Comment Why not bustle it? Just curious. Don’t like the look?

View Quoted Comment I asked cece the same question but do people not bustle dresses anymore?

View Quoted Comment They do! I think pretty much every dress does unless it's slip style. It's a standard part of the alterations process.


Another reason people sometimes want a second dress is if the ceremony is in a house of worship with a conservative dress code. They can get a modest dress for the church/temple, then a more sexy dress for the reception.
This is a personal choice and completely up to you. Is there someone in your life telling you you "need" a second dress?

View Quoted Comment Oh I'm not, I won't be doing it. I was just curious

View Quoted Comment Good idea on splitting the dress budget and that it's in your norm

View Quoted Comment I want to wear mine as long as possible

View Quoted Comment I'm wearing mine the whole time too

View Quoted Comment My dress isn't form fitting either.

View Quoted Comment I was thinking of a bustle especially for the reception, because of the train.

View Quoted Comment This is my dress, so a bustle will used during the reception so I can dance