Wedding Dress for Civil Ceremony

It's completely up to you. I, personally, would wear a dress as many times as I could, assuming it was expensive.

I think it's definitely a personal decision! Similar to the previous comment, I personally would wear the dress twice - most people only get to wear their dress once, so I would totally take every opportunity I had to wear it twice and for as long as possible! You could always get it cleaned after wearing it in 2021 and before your wedding in 2022. Otherwise, if you feel that you want to keep it as a surprise until your wedding in 2022, then you could choose a different dress to wear in 2021.

If I were in your shoes, I would wear the dress! I would want the WOW factor for my fiancé to be the day we actually got married. When he thought back on that day, I would want him to think of me all dolled up and in that dress.. not in a dress that could be worn any ol day. I would want to make the day we got married as special as possible! Plus, as you mentioned, what if you don’t fit into the dress next year?? Or, what if you get pregnant and can’t wear the dress? Also (not to be a Debbie downer here, just trying to point out a potential situation), this forum has been full of brides lately who made the decision to have a small civil ceremony now and postpone their large reception to a later date... and now don’t want to have it. After already being married, a lot of people lose the excitement or interest in planning the reception, or decide they would rather use that money to start a family or purchase a home, etc. If that happens with you, you will have never gotten the chance to wear your big beautiful gown! You never know what the future has in store. I would wear the beautiful dress, hire a great photographer and do a photo shoot right after the ceremony. If the dress gets dirty, it can always be cleaned!! Enjoy your day to the fullest!! 💕

Wear it once, put it away for a year, and wear it again, will still be special and striking. This first time it will be a complete surprise. Next time he will feel that excitement that knowing and anticipating it a while brings. After you tried yours on and ordered it or bought it and put it away, wasn't it special thinking about it , and wearing it again? Even all by yourself and no makeup, whatever? Consider that time of anticipation before the second wearing a gift. It is like a delicious secret, thinking about it. Without having seen it the first time, he won't have that. You might want to get an inexpensive short veil for city hall.

For our minimony I wore a different dress than what I am wearing for my big wedding in March 2021. I personally didn't wanna wear my big dress for the small event, but at the same time you could and get your money out of it.


For me personally, I didn't want my then fiancé to see my dress until the big event