To Reception Dress, or Not to Reception Dress

To Reception Dress, or Not to Reception Dress

August 31st, 2011 @ 2:32 pm by Miss Petit Four
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So, one of the big things about having a beach wedding is that it’s going to be hot. Hopefully not too hot, but it will at least be humid! Now, don’t get me wrong, I love my wedding dress (which just came in, by the way!), but it’s not the most comfortable thing in the world.

Image via 1stweddingplanner.com

I have been toying with the idea of a reception dress. I know, I know—it seems impractical and silly. You only get to wear your wedding dress once, so you might as well wear it all day long, right? Well, I always felt that way until I stupidly went to try on more dresses. BIG. MISTAKE.

I happened into David’s Bridal and tried on this number.

It’s a Vera Wang White.

I was so surprised by the quality of these dresses! They are gorgeous.

Then I found this dress! It’s so classy and demure. But I’m not sure it goes with our beach wedding. :/

Image via 1stweddingplanner.com

Then…I started looking on Etsy for reception dresses. That was another big mistake!

I found these amazing dresses made by AidaCoronado.

Image via AidaCoronado on Etsy (listing no longer available)

Image via AidaCoronado on Etsy

The only problem is these dresses can get really pricey. As beautiful as they are, I cant really justify spending more that $200 on a reception dress.

Have any of y’all debated the idea of a reception dress? I am still undecided…

Tags: destination-wedding, dress, isla-mujeres |

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18 Responses to “To Reception Dress, or Not to Reception Dress”

Bee

Miss Candy Apple (message) 1,465 posts, Bumble bee

I thought about it, but, after spending so much on my dress, I didn’t want to spend money on another one. I ended up packing an off-white dress I already had in my overnight bag, and just changed into it at the reception when my big ol’ dress got too annoying

8/31/11 @ 2:37 pm (reply)

Guest

Megan

I love(d) my dress so much that there was no way I was going to change dresses for the reception or exit! I just couldn’t fathom finding another dress I loved as much as my wedding dress and honestly, it’s a miracle I even took it off to go to sleep! haha

8/31/11 @ 2:45 pm (reply)

Bee

Miss Pony (message) 4,171 posts, Honey bee

I love my dress too much to change out of it, but I sigh a little when I see such beautiful reception dresses. I’d pick something inexpensive that you could wear later in the trip and change if/when you feel the need to.

8/31/11 @ 3:16 pm (reply)

Bee

Miss Ticket (message) 475 posts, Helper bee

I seriously love those Etsy dresses are the bottom of your post, heck I love all the dresses in this post. After all my early on dress drama I’ve decided to just stick with the one dress. But I must admit there are some truly gorgeous dresses that would make awesome reception dresses.

8/31/11 @ 3:39 pm (reply)

Member

blurmeblue (message) 295 posts, Helper bee

I have, but can’t bring myself to get out of a dress that I’ve already sunk so much money into! I am planning to have an afterparty and will buy a second (short) dress to wear out!

8/31/11 @ 3:42 pm (reply)

Guest

Sarah

I also had a beach wedding and a really traditional wedding dress. Lots of layers, really long train, etc. I changed into a short receoption dress and loved it. I got one from Amsale The Little White Dress line.

8/31/11 @ 3:43 pm (reply)

Guest

Nicole

I was totally planning on wearing a reception dress - in fact I went as far as to buy one (and of course I haven’t returned it - I’ll wear it for something else!). But I just LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE my wedding dress so much, and she will never be worn again. So, no reception dress for me.

8/31/11 @ 3:49 pm (reply)

Member

Jamiezilla (message) 210 posts, Helper bee

Nope.. you only get to wear your wedding dress once. Wear it as long as possible. You have the rest of your life to wear cute white dresses. Just my opinion though.

8/31/11 @ 4:32 pm (reply)

Member

paw (message) 379 posts, Helper bee

I also did a destination wedding and got married in May in the Caribbean. I was afraid of the heat, and my parents did not want me to wear a short wedding dress. So, while I never considered a reception dress, I was always looking for a lightly layered wedding dress because with some of the dresses I tried on, I was sweating in the store and couldn’t even imagine having to deal with Caribbean heat in May! I was super afraid of being a sweaty mess

I will say on the actual day of the event that I never felt over heated. At some points, I was warm, but not unbearable or that I was only thinking about how hot I was. There was just so many other things to think about that I don’t think I ever thought about the heat. Maybe it will be the same for you in your dress. I just love your wedding dress! I think it will work great for the day of the wedding!

8/31/11 @ 4:33 pm (reply)

10.

Bee

Miss Ladyfingers (message) 1,119 posts, Bumble bee

I’m personally not doing a reception dress - I don’t see the point for us, since our ceremony will be about 20 seconds long, and in the same location as our reception. Plus I loooove my dress. But I can see it for people doing a change of scenery between ceremony and reception, or like you are, having a beach wedding. I’m excited to see if you decide to mix it up!

8/31/11 @ 4:49 pm (reply)

11.

Guest

Sarah

My wedding dress was really big and I was like everyone else “I love my dress and spent too much on it to change later.” However, I WAS DYING OF HEAT during the reception and would’ve gave anything to have had a dress to change into. I was actually so hot I was beginning to feel sick with about an hour left of the reception. It was rough. Those dresses are adorable, too. My friend changed into the cutest white dress she got from Macy’s for the reception, and she actually got more compliments on her reception dress than her actual wedding dress!

8/31/11 @ 6:01 pm (reply)

12.

Member

lisaelanna (message) 315 posts, Helper bee

I worried and worried and worried about being too hot in my dress. Luckily both our ceremony and reception were inside air-conditioned buildings and I was really comfortable during those times. HOWEVER, almost the moment we stepped outside for some pictures I was bathed in sweat and uncomfortable, plus it ruined my hair (which was half down). You have to keep in mind, also, that it was the first week of August in this year’s midwestern heatwave…so any dress (or even no dress at all) would probably have been stifling. If any part of my wedding had been outside I would really have regretted not buying a reception dress. On the other hand, I’m really glad I got to wear my beautiful gown all day and wish I had a reason to wear it again…you could always save those dresses to be “get away” dresses to go to the hotel in or wear them on the honeymoon. Also, my tailor was able to take out a layer from my dress (I guess it was a runway layer or something like that), but it made the dress a TON cooler - perhaps you have that option as well (probably worth asking about even if you are only wearing it for the ceremony…)?

8/31/11 @ 8:07 pm (reply)

13.

Bee

Miss Kettle (message) 909 posts, Busy bee

Luckily, it will be Feb in IL when I get married, so all the fabric of my dress likely won’t make me too hot. I say set a price range and if you can find something fabulous that fits in that range , including tax and shipping, go for it!

8/31/11 @ 8:58 pm (reply)

14.

Bee

Miss Parasol (message) 2,132 posts, Buzzing bee

Ohhh, I want to see the front of that Vera Wang dress. It looks so pretty!

8/31/11 @ 10:54 pm (reply)

15.

Bee

Miss Macarons (message) 235 posts, Helper bee

Are you and the Mr. sneaking away right after the reception? If not, what about picking up something for an after party?

9/1/11 @ 12:15 am (reply)

16.

Member

HappyWanderer (message) 77 posts, Worker bee

I’m going with a short dress for my wedding so I won’t need to change. We’re doing the wedding and the party togehter so there won’t be time or a need But if you’re leaving right after or concerned about comfort….DO IT!

9/1/11 @ 8:47 am (reply)

17.

Guest

k8e

i’m totally a two-dress bride. i wore a long (semi-heavy) ivory gown for the ceremony, portraits and 75% of the reception. then i slipped into an ivory satin cocktail dress during the reception and wore it out all night for our after-party.

my gown was $480 and my reception dress was $160 - so i felt like that was acceptable. also, it will make a killer new year’s dress one day!

9/1/11 @ 11:34 am (reply)

18.

Guest

Smiles

My fiance is from India, and in order to combine the cultures I will be changing into a sari before our first dance together at the reception. The wedding is basically American Christian, so we both thought this would be a nice touch. He is changing into traditional India dress as well. We requested that all of our Indian guests arrive in traditional Indian dress as well. I can’t wait for my guests to see us after we change for the reception. My future mother-in-law is bringing my Sari from India.

1/29/12 @ 4:18 am (reply)