Wearing more than one wedding dress is totally trending right now. And, it’s for good reason. Many 2022 brides have waited a long time for their weddings, and they want to enjoy their day to the fullest and have it all.
Now, historically brides would only wear one dress to their wedding. It usually wasn’t a big white dress, either. It was typically just their best dress. The one they’ve worn before, and will wear again. Over the years, though, wedding gowns have become a thing. They are specially made and tailored to the bride wearing them, and a lot of thought goes into what they will look like and be.
So, why in the world would anyone want to wear more than one wedding dress, when finding just one is a lot of work, and can be quite expensive?
Well, there are many reasons a bride will want to wear two (or more) dresses. Perhaps she can afford it. Or, she’s having trouble deciding between two styles. Her wedding may also be a long event, over the course of a few days, and she wants to switch up her look to match what’s going on. It could be as simple as it feels right to her.
Should You Wear Two Wedding Dresses?
This post is going to walk you through all the in’s and out’s of wearing more than one wedding dress. It’ll go over the costs, and ways to keep them low. It will review travel logistics, and how to handle comments from other people. This post is filled with considerations if you’re in the group of women who doesn’t want to just stop at one wedding dress. It’s got you covered.
Let’s get into it!
WHY YOU MAY WANT MORE THAN ONE WEDDING DRESS?
Before we delve into everything to consider when you wear more than one wedding dress, let’s review the reasons why you may want two, or more, dresses:
- It’s what celebrities do. Lots of famous people, from Chrissy Teigan to Paris Hilton, gather attention by having worn more than one wedding dress at their weddings. Chrissy wore three dresses, actually, and Paris wore four.
- You’d like a formal dress for the ceremony and a fun one for the reception. It is super appealing to wear different styles for different parts of your wedding, isn’t it?
- You can’t decide on your favorite. If you’re anything like me, you loved trying on wedding dresses. And, perhaps it’s just too heartbreaking to choose one over the other.
- It’s the wow factor. Yes, brides get a lot of attention. But a bride who changes her outfit during the wedding? Even more wow.
- You bought a dress pre-pandemic, and now your wedding has changed course and you want to wear it, plus a new one. Hey, the pandemic changed everything. A lot of brides had to re-plan their weddings and don’t want their previous dress to go to waste.
- Your wedding is a whole weekend event, and you don’t want to re-wear the same outfit. These days, weekend weddings are really popular. Chances are you don’t want to wear the same outfit on Friday as you do Saturday.
THE ADDED COST OF WEARING MORE THAN ONE WEDDING DRESS
One of the biggest deterrents that rules out wearing more than one wedding dress is the added cost.
As anyone can tell you, wedding gown can cost a lot. And, of course, the more dresses, the more money. Not only do you have the cost of the dress, but you have the cost to tailor it to your body. Plus, you may have to have separate accessories for each dress (more on that later). It can all add up quite a bit.
If you really want to have more than one wedding dress, and you’re struggling with the costs of it, consider two budget-friendly options. First, buy second-hand dresses. I’m serious. You can read more about it in this post about what to do with your wedding dress after the wedding, but second-hand can save a ton of money. If that doesn’t appeal to you, it’s also an option to rent your wedding dress. Again, there is big savings when you do so.
THE ADDED TIME IT TAKES TO SHOP AND CHANGE
Buying a wedding dress, putting it on, and making it perfect is a lot of work. And, it all takes a lot of time. Buying more than one wedding dress just adds to that time. This is true both before, and during, your wedding.
When you buy a typical wedding dress, it can take hours just to try them on and narrow down your options. You may go to multiple shops. You may make multiple trips. There may be people with you, taking time out of their lives to help you decide your dress. And, when you choose the dress, it takes time for it to be created and shipped to you. When you get it, you’ll need time to have it tailored. Unless you’re literally buying a dress off the rack, the whole process can take awhile.
Then there’s the time it takes to actually get your dress on during your wedding. There’s the accessories. There’s the bustle. And, there’s time to adjust your hair and makeup and make sure everything is perfect. Again, time, time, time.
Now, when you have just one dress it can be a big ordeal. But when you have more than one dress? There is even more work. Not saying it’s not worth it. If you want more than one wedding dress, that’s up to you. It’s just time and effort you will have to plan for.
WILL YOU NEED TO TRAVEL WITH MORE THAN ONE WEDDING DRESS?
Have you ever traveled with a large gown? It can be quite the ordeal.
Wedding dresses aren’t really made to travel well. They don’t typically fold up nicely in suitcases. They require large bags and sturdy hangers. If you have to fly with one, it might as well get it’s own seat! Now, of course, I’m joking, but it’s something to think about.
If your wedding requires a bit of travel, and you have more than one wedding gown, plan ahead so you can get your wedding dresses to your destination safely. You can have another person take one dress, while you’re in charge of another. Or, you can have them shipped separately (with insurance), though there are risks to this.
WILL YOU NEED MORE ACCESSORIES OR DIFFERENT SHOES?
What matches one gown may not match another.
When you get ready for your wedding, you’ll have certain jewelry, a hairstyle, and shoes that match your gown. If you put on a different gown or outfit later on, consider that you may want to remove or replace some of these items. Think about these things, and plan ahead for the extra packing and time it may take to keep yourself looking fab in every outfit.
WILL YOU NEED MORE HELP?
As I mentioned before, you may need help getting into or out of your wedding dress. Plus, clasps, zippers, and bustles almost always need extra assistance.
If you are changing into a new dress on your wedding day, make sure you’ll have someone ready and there to help you. If your plan is to change during your cocktail hour, and you need someone to zip up your dress, or place your bustle, you don’t want to go searching for that person. Plan ahead to make sure there is a trusted friend waiting there, for you, for this very job.
Also, do a dry run with them to ensure you have enough time and aren’t fiddling around with buttons and other cumbersome items when you’re supposed to be enjoying your wedding.
WILL OTHER PEOPLE BE OKAY WITH YOU WEARING MORE THAN ONE WEDDING DRESS?
Look, no matter what you do on your wedding day, someone will judge you. I even wrote a post about why it’s okay to not have a traditional wedding.
We all have different opinions about what’s appropriate, what makes sense, and what we’re expecting when we attend a wedding. And, the bride changing her dress may not be a delight to everyone at your wedding.
My advice? Let those who need to know, know, ahead of your wedding. This may be your future spouse. Or, your mom. Or, your grandma. Tell them ahead of the wedding that you’ll be changing your dress for a new one. Yes, this is your wedding, and you can do what you want, but your wedding is important to more people than just you. You’ll want them to appreciate the “surprise” as you debut different looks throughout your celebration.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
If your heart is set on wearing more than one wedding dress at your wedding, go for it. Plan ahead for the extra costs, pay attention to accessories, and let others know what you need from them so they can help. Be sure to account for any extra time it’ll take to change your dress, and really think it through so the effort is worth it. No matter what you wear on your wedding day, you’ll look and feel amazing. Happy wedding planning!
More From Hummingbird Wedding Advice:
Your Bridesmaid Dress Shopping Guide
How Queen Victoria’s Wedding Influenced Weddings Forever
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