The Dream “Dress”

The Dream “Dress”

January 29th, 2010 @ 9:22 am by Mrs. Sewing
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Three of the last four weddings I have attended have involved Asian brides. And you know what that means, right? Dress changes!

Though I may only be half-Asian, I fully look forward to and embrace the tradition of changing one’s dress several times throughout the reception. Indeed, I had it all planned out. In addition to my traditional white gown and Chinese cheongsam, I would also wear a uchikake - the Japanese wedding kimono.

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Ohh how I shivered in pure delight just thinking about it. It was (and still is) more exciting to me than wearing the traditional wedding dress. And imagining Mr. Sewing in his own mon-studded kimono was… well, drool-inducing (for me, anyway)!

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So since Mr. Sew’s parents just so happen to be living in Japan at the moment, I called them up via Skype excitedly. His mom answered, and I told her my grand-master-plan involving hundreds of pounds of brocaded white silk.

She laughed.

No way, she said. Wedding kimono are just way too expensive. Even more expensive than western gowns. And besides, they take hours to put on, when would I have time for that at the reception?

Perhaps noting my crest-fallen face through the webcam, she gave me the name of a rental store on Oahu, suggesting that we might be able to rent for pictures before the wedding.

So, all was not lost.

I looked the rental store up, fell quickly in love with their options, and then looked at the prices.

Seven-hundred-and-fifty dollars. Over twice the cost of my home-made gown. For a rental.

I whined for a few days, as I was far from giving up. If I can’t wear the uchikake, I can at least wear some other type of kimono, right?

My second option is the furisode - it still has the beautiful brocade silk, but minus the bridal “umph”.

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And the third choice, which Mr. Sewing has already asked his parents to look into sending, is the yukata. No pretty silk, but rather a summery cotton. It will work nicely for engagement photos, but it might not be fancy enough for a reception dress-changing fest. We can, however, reuse them after for all those summer obon festivals!

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So will I find something to wear for the reception? Or will I be stuck as a two-dress bride? I guess only Mr. Sewing’s mom has the answer to that.

Anyone else wearing multiple dresses during your reception? (Or, does anyone have an extra uchikake lying around that I can borrow? *sigh!*)

Tags: cultural, wedding-dress |

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24 Responses to “The Dream “Dress””

1 2 Last

Bee

Miss Pug (message) 3,753 posts, Honey bee

man, i wish i could wear more dresses. these are all beautiful. i’m sorry the wedding kimono didn’t work out, but i hope you find something fabulous!

1/29/10 @ 9:28 am (reply)

Member

krissycake (message) 4,160 posts, Honey bee

I love the traditional Japanese wedding garments, but as you discovered, they are waaaayyyyy expensive. Lots of people actually asked me if I was going to wear them, as I am 1/2 Japanese, but, alas, I just went the western route and even more boringly, just wore ONE dress

1/29/10 @ 9:44 am (reply)

Bee

Mrs. Sushi (message) 1,479 posts, Bumble bee

I’m half Asian too…only NOT Japanese, but yet I am sooo intrigued with everything Japanese. Sorry that the kimono’s didn’t work for you , I’m sure you’ll find something though….

I have a yukata that I wore to prom; wish I had a furisode though, they are beautiful!

1/29/10 @ 9:46 am (reply)

Bee

Miss Pudding (message) 1,180 posts, Bumble bee

Wow! Those kimonos are beautiful…sorry that they didn’t work out

1/29/10 @ 10:07 am (reply)

Member

LittleA (message) 57 posts, Worker bee

Miss sewing– I found this!! http://www.kimonoya-japan.net/product-list/12

1/29/10 @ 10:15 am (reply)

Bee

Miss Pencils (message) 1,027 posts, Bumble bee

oh it is so beautiful!! I totally understand why you wanted to wear it!

1/29/10 @ 10:19 am (reply)

Bee

Miss Nachos (message) 1,733 posts, Bumble bee

I had no idea kimonos took so long to put on! I have 2 dresses but I know once I put on my gown I’m going to want to keep it on all night!

1/29/10 @ 10:26 am (reply)

Member

jduck84 (message) 1,529 posts, Bumble bee

I hope you find something that works! Those are all so pretty.

My sister changed into a Vietnamese ao dai during her reception, and I thought I might want to wear one at some point during the wedding festivities, but I’m getting married in August and I think I would melt in a traditional, long-sleeved ao dai.

1/29/10 @ 10:45 am (reply)

Member

MissClementine (message) 42 posts, Newbee

Awesome! You are going to be breathtaking! I love that you are incorporating your culture into everything!

1/29/10 @ 10:47 am (reply)

10.

Bee

Miss Cardigan (message) 8,645 posts, Bee Keeper

Wow!!! So pretty! I hope you can find something!!!

1/29/10 @ 11:35 am (reply)

11.

Bee

Miss Giraffe (message) 4,216 posts, Honey bee

Holy cow! I cannot believe that even rentals are that expensive! Oh boy!

Good luck!

1/29/10 @ 11:48 am (reply)

12.

Member

lolo7835 (message) 558 posts, Busy bee

I’m half asian as well, but since I’m first generation american on my mom’s side it’s always been a pretty strong part of my background. Although dad’s polish side still rocks.

Anyways, we are going to be rocking the hanbok at some point during the weekend. I’m thinking of changing after the rehersal dinner-my mom/grandmom/aunties want me to change into it at the reception, have the tea ceremony, and then change back into the regular dress. Which just sounds like way to much effort to me, and will cut into much needed dance time. Hopefully the rehersal dinner will sooth them. But I LOVE that kimono with the hood. Maybe there’s another rental place in Oahu that has cheaper prices?

1/29/10 @ 11:50 am (reply)

13.

Hostess

LatteLove (message) 5,587 posts, Bee Keeper

I’m jealous of all your cultural connections! I hope you get chances to some photos shoots in these fun outfits!

1/29/10 @ 11:55 am (reply)

14.

Bee

Miss Spaniel (message) 6,792 posts, Bee Keeper

Huh, who knew! When I started looking at lenghas, my dad warned me that they were also quite expensive… in the same range as western wedding dresses (the expensive ones, anyway)… but that women would wear their bridal lenghas to their own wedding, their brother’s wedding, etc… so it got more use. I wouldn’t wear one again, so I figured I’d pass.

1/29/10 @ 12:08 pm (reply)

15.

Bee

Mrs. Mouse (message) 5,844 posts, Bee Keeper

Dude, the uchikake is so cool! Is there any way you can justify spending the money for a rental?? Seriously, so beautiful!

1/29/10 @ 12:26 pm (reply)

16.

Guest

Osakagrl

I like you also tried to justify renting a wedding kimono. They have a rental place is San Francisco but it was 700 Dollars there for the rental! I about keeled over!

As much as I would love the kimono I doubt anyone will know the difference at the wedding if I dont.

Oh well, I can always wear a Yukata on our honeymoon in Japan

1/29/10 @ 12:39 pm (reply)

17.

Bee

Miss Hamster (message) 4,045 posts, Honey bee

Wow, these are soooo beautiful.

1/29/10 @ 1:18 pm (reply)

18.

Bee

Mrs. Glitter (message) 986 posts, Busy bee

Nice post! I love that first picture. Gorgeous! I considered wearing a kimono for awhile, but decided against it. Although I am Japanese American, I had a strict dress budget, and didn’t want to go over it to have a second dress. I’m interested to know what you decide! The yukata seems like a good choice - especially given the fact that you are having a summer wedding.

1/29/10 @ 1:52 pm (reply)

19.

Member

tea (message) 7,263 posts, Bee Keeper

i had never seen a wedding kimono before. they are absolutely gorgeous! too bad it won’t work out to have for your wedding but the yukata looks like it’ll work for a hawaiian ceremony. lighter fabrics in the heat and all.

i plan on wearing a hanbok sometime during the reception for the paebaek. i can’t wait!

1/29/10 @ 5:16 pm (reply)

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