Reception Dress? Is it a trend?
Let's talk MULTIPLE WEDDING DRESSES
Chrissy Teigen did it. Meghan Markle did it. Hailey Bieber had three, and Paris Hilton had five. The trend of multiple wedding dresses, including a reception dress, has taken 2022 by storm, captivating not only Hollywood stars but also fashion-forward brides in South Africa. From elegant lace ceremonies to dance-ready reception dresses, the choice to wear more than one gown on your big day offers flexibility and style. Join us as we delve into the appeal and practicality of embracing this trend for your South African destination wedding.
Tradition and Diversity in Bridal Attire
Of course, the idea of multiple wedding outfits is nothing new to multicultural brides. For many years, brides have worn different outfits at their religious or cultural ceremonies or across the different days of a wedding celebration. Zulu brides, for example, will often wear traditional attire for their Zulu wedding and a Western-style white gown for their church ceremony or reception. Chinese brides will typically change their outfit at least three times. These bridal wardrobes are a symbol of the rich heritage each couple brings to their union (and a fashion feast for the guests!). But for the purposes of this blog post, I’m referring specifically to the bridal trend of wearing more than one Western-style wedding dress across a single wedding day.
Adapting with a Reception Dress
One of the primary benefits of multiple wedding dresses, is the flexibility to adapt to different wedding day settings. From a ceremonial lace gown to a dance-ready reception dress, changing outfits allows brides to maintain elegance and comfort throughout their event. The reception dress specifically caters to the practical needs of transitioning from formal ceremonies to lively celebrations, ensuring the bride feels confident and stylish at every moment.
Creating Memories and Legacy with a Reception Dress
Wearing a wedding dress that belonged to your mother or grandmother is super special, as it creates a material bond between you, and a tradition that can be passed down to further generations. But what if you also want to express your personal style? Choosing to have multiple wedding dresses will keep everyone happy. Plus, if you want to preserve the dress for the future, you won’t have to worry about tears and stains at the reception.
Wearing more than one dress allows you to make bold choices
Many brides worry about choosing a wedding gown that’s too trendy and won’t stand the test of time in the photographs. It’s true that a classic style is less of a risk. But what if there’s something of-the-moment (or even cool and retro) that you absolutely adore? Having a second (or third) wedding dress allows you to be more adventurous and style conscious, which is perfect if you’re a bride who loves to make a statement. (Far-shun, honey.)Multiple bridal pieces give you more flexibility and versatility
With all the changes and challenges and postponements of the last two years, couples have had to learn to be flexible when it comes to imagining their big day. We’ve seen minimonies, sequel weddings, and virtual ‘I do’s. Along the way, finding ‘the one’ wedding dress has become more about building a bridal trousseau, with pieces you can wear more than once and combine or restyle in different ways. Bridal designers have been on board, producing more transitional and convertible outfits that can take you from day to night (or from one celebration to another) with ease.
Wearing more than one dress allows you to switch between styles and silhouettes, and always be appropriate
So is the multiple wedding dress trend for you? Not necessarily! There’s no reason why you shouldn’t choose and wear a single dress across all of your wedding elements. And, of course, there are some disadvantages too. Cost, for one, can be prohibitive. Then there’s the need to get different shoes and accessories to go with each look. And, of course, there’s the fact you’ll only get to wear your dream dress for a small portion of the day. (Who doesn’t want to feel like a queen for as long as possible?)
Ultimately, only you can decide if this 2022 bridal trend is for you. But one thing’s for sure – if you do go down this route, you’ll be in chic company!
Images (top to bottom) by Vanilla Photography, Lizelle Goussard, Roxanne Davison Photography, Vanilla Photography, Michigan Behn Photography
