Should You Get a Second Wedding Dress For Dancing?

A second wedding dress lets you blend different styles and can be a real showstopper. It’s also practical, letting you move freely and preserving the first dress from damage.

Although two wedding dresses may seem like a great idea, you should keep in mind the added costs. And even if your budget isn’t limited, you should consider the event timeline.

At the end of the day, the decision is up to you. If you feel like dancing all night long, go for it. You can even get three or more dresses – it’s your wedding and your rules.

It’s Comfortable

The first and foremost reason many brides are considering getting a second dress for wedding reception is the added comfort.

When brides choose their wedding dress, they rarely think how practical it is. The decision is often based solely on looks.

But let’s be real – moving in a long, layered ball gown with a tight corset is far from simple. Even worse if you have a mermaid silhouette wedding dress or a strapless dress that constantly slips off.

A shorter, informal second wedding dress allows you to move freely on the dancefloor. Furthermore, you won’t damage your main by accidentally ripping the skirt with your heels or spilling champagne on it.

If you wish to move with maximum comfort, you may even consider changing into a suit or a romper – they can be fancy, too. The same applies to your shoes – sneakers or ballet flats will look great with more casual attire.

A Chance To Show Off Twice

You’ve likely already had to make numerous difficult wedding-related decisions.

The good news is that not every decision must involve a compromise. If you’re struggling to pick the one and only wedding dress, you can go for two (or more).

Traditional, modest wedding dresses adorned with lace and beads are endlessly elegant. Such a conservative choice will certainly make your parents and grandparents happy and is the best option for a church ceremony.

However, today, wedding dresses come in any silhouette and color you can think of. If you’re willing to add a bit of personality into the tradition, why not rock that short black dress after the ceremony?

Having two wedding dresses is a perfect chance to blend traditional and modern styles. Well, even if both dresses have the same style, you can show off twice and get twice as many nice pictures and complements.

Furthermore, quick attire changes always have been crowd-pleasers – you know it if you’ve ever watched Broadway musicals.

Although your wedding isn’t a performance, adding a bit of extra fun to the reception won’t hurt anyone.

On the other hand, you may feel like your first wedding dress is way too beautiful to be changed for something simpler. So, if you’ve decided to go for two dresses, make sure that the second one is equally alluring!

Amaze The Groom Twice

According to a popular superstition, seeing the bride in her wedding dress before the ceremony is bad luck.

Even brides who aren’t particularly superstitious often choose not to show their dresses to their loved ones before the wedding day.

The moment the groom sees the bride in her wedding dress for the first time is always so sentimental, and most women want to make it special. After all, we don’t walk around dressed like princesses every day.

With two wedding dresses, you can amaze your loved one twice! It’s the perfect chance to show him that you look beautiful in any style, though he may already know it.

Preserve The Heirloom

Nowadays, many brides choose to sell their dresses after the wedding to reimburse at least part of the event expenses. That’s no wonder, considering the average cost of a wedding in the U.S.

Still, some brides prefer to preserve their dress as a family heirloom and, perhaps, pass it on to their daughter or granddaughter. If that’s your case, you would want to keep the dress in as good condition as possible.

However, wedding receptions rarely are quiet and prudent. You’ll have endless chances to damage your dress. And even if you’re extremely careful, you can’t be sure that others will be mindful of your dress, too.

By changing your main wedding dress after the ceremony, you ensure that it remains in the same condition as when you first took it on: no wine stains, no rips, and no burns from fireworks on the gentle tulle.

Weather

Even if you host a wedding on a hot summer day, evenings tend to be colder. Thus, the weather should be an important point of consideration when choosing your attire.

Brides often choose a party jacket, fur coat, or another outerwear piece to be ready for weather changes. However, picking one that matches such an exquisite piece as a wedding dress isn’t simple.

In other cases, the wedding ceremony may be held outdoors where a long-sleeve dress is just right. But it isn’t the best option for an indoor reception where you’re going to dance a lot.

With two wedding dresses, you don’t have to worry about the weather as much. A second wedding dress allows you to feel comfortable throughout the day or when moving from outdoors to indoors.

Two Dresses Are a Trend

Our grandmothers likely couldn’t allow the luxury of having two wedding dresses. But times are changing, and wedding dresses have become more affordable. Today, two wedding dresses are a rising trend.

Perhaps, the reason for this is the growing number of celebrities wearing two wedding dresses (or more).

For instance, Hailey Bieber wore an exquisite off-shoulder mermaid wedding gown with a long train for her ceremony.

She then changed into a minimalistic silk slip dress for the reception and rocked another silk dress with a high slit at the afterparty.

Kate Middleton wore a traditional long-sleeved ballgown by Alexander McQueen at the ceremony and a simple strapless gown with a bejeweled belt at the reception.

She added a cropped white fur shrug to accommodate the changing weather.

Chrissy Teigen also chose to walk down the aisle in a luxurious white ball gown but changed into a red mermaid dress for the party.

Lastly, Big Bang Theory’s star Kailey Cuoco changed her traditional dress for a white lace wedding jumpsuit.

Consider The Costs

One of the biggest drawbacks of a second wedding dress is the added costs. The average price of a wedding dress in the U.S. exceeds $1,300. And designer dresses may easily cost over $15,000.

Of course, your second wedding dress doesn’t have to cost a fortune.

Most second wedding dresses are shorter and don’t feature as intricate detailing as the first one. Thus, you’re unlikely to pay as much as you would for your main dress.

Still, expect to pay an additional couple of hundred dollars even for the simplest wedding dress.

Alternatively, you may find a white prom dress or a suit – they tend to cost much less than virtually the same pieces sold in bridal salons.

Consider The Timeline

The wedding timeline tends to be tightly packed. Furthermore, not everything may go as planned.

Numerous circumstances may affect your schedule, from the maid of honor being late due to unexpected traffic to an injury of your photographer.

In other words, you may have difficulty finding time to change your dress. Even if everything goes smoothly, you must find the right time to go away. Changing the wedding dress never takes two minutes.

Many wedding dresses have corsets you can’t untie on your own. If you need the help of your maid of honor or mom in changing your dress, you should also consider their schedule.

Allow about 20 minutes on average to get dressed, and even more if you need to adjust the makeup or hairstyle. Strive to change as quickly as possible, or your absence may cause confusion among the wedding guests.

Formality

It’s your special day, and only you’re to decide what you’ll look like and how many dresses you’ll have.

However, nearly every wedding involves at least one naysayer who believes in the idea of The Dress. The Only One Dress.

The second wedding dress is also typically less formal, which some guests may find tacky. That’s especially relevant to short wedding dresses or rompers you could wear to a club or birthday party.

You can’t please everyone, and you don’t have to. But if you’re concerned about the opinions, strive to find a formal enough wedding dress for dancing.

Makeup, Hairstyle, & Accessories

When choosing your second wedding dress, consider the suitability of your makeup, hairstyle, and accessories.

A sleek bun and dark lips may look astonishing with your first traditional ball gown but not match your second flowy, short bohemian dress.

Some hairstyles and makeup looks can be easily adjusted to suit your new look. For example, you can relatively quickly change your lipstick or tie your hair up.

Other styles are extremely versatile and go with everything, such as a natural blowout and nude makeup.

If you don’t want to pay extra for a second pair of shoes or earrings, pick accessories that match both dresses. It’s especially simple with minimalistic pieces.

Lastly, you can avoid the hassle of changing the details altogether by choosing the second dress in the same style as the first one.