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Calling all brides: Have you considered a second look for your wedding reception? This is one wedding fashion trend we absolutely love! If you're thinking about a second outfit for your wedding or a reception wedding dress to party the night away, you're in the right place.
No only are we sharing our favorite bridal outfit change looks in this wedding fashion advice post, but we're giving our best tips for everything brides need to know when changing their outfit on wedding day - because there's a lot you need to know! It's not just as simple as changing your dress, you have to be prepared and spoiler alert - you're going to need some help!
When it comes to planning your wedding, managing your budget is essential—especially for the bridal fashion you’ve always dreamed of. Our Bridal Fashion Budget Spreadsheet is an affordable, wedding vendor-approved tool designed to help brides - like you - keep track of all your bridal outfits - not just your wedding dress. (Like in this post, we're talking about reception dresses! You're going to want to keep track of that!)
This comprehensive (and super affordable!) wedding planning organizer and checklist include everything you need, from wedding dress ordering to bridal accessories and stylish second looks for the reception and after-party. With helpful FAQs and sections for managing spending, our spreadsheet ensures you won’t overspend or get stressed out while curating the perfect wardrobe for your special weekend.
Say goodbye to budget busting and hello to chic after-party styles that make a statement without breaking your wedding budget!
If you're a bride and you know you need help with our fashion and keeping it all organized and on budget, be sure to get your copy of our helpful bridal fashion budget spreadsheet. It's so much more than the wedding dress and our brides who have just gone through the process of shopping and styling their entire wedding weekend are loving this spreadsheet to help them stay on task.
Brides opt for a reception dress or a second wedding day style, look or outfit for many reasons. Sometimes they are looking for something to change into after their ceremony, including the reception, during a special tradition like a sparkler exit or the cake cutting, even for the after party. In this Garter Girl Loves post, we're sharing the reasons why brides choose second wedding outfits. Plus, we're exploring some of the top questions about choosing a separate reception dress and showing off our favorite styles.
Maybe you've dreamt about that ball gown style wedding dress you'll wear down the ceremony aisle, but it just doesn't seem practical for the dance floor at your reception or after party. A second look or outfit for the reception party might be the perfect solution for your bridal fashion dilemma.
So, let's explore a little more about second looks and wedding reception dresses and outfits for the bride.
Are you wondering why a bride would change her outfit after the ceremony and before the reception. The reasons for why a bride chooses a second wedding day look truly vary, but we'll share some of the most popular ones.
Most often, the wedding dress of your dreams may be perfect for exchanging vows during the ceremony, but not for dancing it up at the reception. Brides opt for a special wedding reception dress to be able to dance the night away.
Sometimes the bride's outfit change to the second look goes hand-in-hand with a specific wedding reception activity - cake cutting, garter toss, champagne toast, etc. A quick change right before a momentous wedding reception tradition can be the perfect way to capture your guests' attention. It's certainly a fun photo opportunity!
Do brides change their outfit for the after-the-wedding party or post reception party? Yes! Wedding after parties are another great opportunity for an outfit change for the bride.
An after-party bridal outfit allows you to wear a second look as the bride - be it more casual or more fun and glamorous, it's a great time to change into something different and help separate this party from the reception.
Are you thinking about a reception dress, but wondering about color? If you do a second wedding dress for your reception, does that bridal dress need to be white? What color do brides typically wear for reception dresses or outfits?
No, of course not, your reception wedding dress or second bridal look does no have to be white or even ivory! You...do you! We say that a lot around here at The Garter Girl, but it's true. It's your wedding so we want you to choose your favorite dress, jumpsuit or skirt...in any color and style.
As long as you love it, we'll love it too!
Shopping online for your wedding reception dress or second look is made simple with online retailers like Nordstrom and Etsy. When you're searching for the perfect style for you, we recommend looking for the style or description of the dress or outfit you're envisioning.
Sometimes, you'll find the perfect style that may be labeled as a bridesmaid dress or even a prom dress...yet, it's a perfect reception dress. Simply searching 'reception dress' on Etsy may not yield as many results as you'll get with a description of the style you're searching for. So, be sure to get creative with those search terms when it comes to shopping for your reception dress online.
If you're a bride and you want to change your look on your wedding day, such as put on a different dress from ceremony to reception or put on a short, flirty dress for dancing at the after party, there's one major thing that you need to know. Do not over complicate your new look! Most wedding planners will advise no more than 20 or 30 minutes (max!) for a bride to change her look.
Before you decide you want to change your outfit on wedding day, make sure that you know where you're doing to change. Preferably this spot is close to where you are so you aren't walking a long distance to get to and from. You do not want to be gone from your wedding for more than 30 minutes max! Make sure that you're second bridal outfit or wedding dress change is ready and waiting for you when you arrive in your changing location. And, make sure that you have someone who can help you in and out of your bridal outfits.
For more help with planning your wedding outfits, be sure to shop our bridal fashion budget spreadsheet. This handy-dandy guide will have you on budget and back on the dance floor in not time!
With bridal outfit changes on wedding day, inevitably might come hair and makeup changes. If you're changing from formal look of your wedding the ceremony into a wedding outfit that is more casual or relaxed for the reception, you might want to also change up your hairstyle. Or if you are changing your bridal look for the after party, you might want to add some sparkle to your make up and pull your hair up so you can dance the night away.
If you're planning on make sure that you talk to your hair and make up professionals before your wedding day and ask their advice. You'll want to know what hair styles and make up goes best with all of your looks. Also, you'll want to ask about their rates for staying after your initial getting ready.
For more help with your bridal hair and make up, be sure to get your copy of our bridal beauty budget spreadsheet. This helpful guide will have you looking and feeling amazing for your wedding! No last minute scrambling with this wedding beauty planner!
If you want to shop online for your wedding dress, you need to be careful because not all online retailers are the same. We've heard from countless of our brides who have been burned by shady online wedding dress shops. When it comes to shopping for your wedding dress, we recommend that you shop in-store for your main wedding dress. Without question you will get the best service possible.
However, going in-store to a bridal shop is not always possible. If you want to shop online and get an amazing deal on a discount designer wedding dress, many brick and mortar bridal dress stores put their sample wedding dresses for sale online.
If you're shopping for an after party wedding dress or a bridal outfit change, we love the online sample sale of dresses at our friends at The White Dress by The Shore. This bridal shop in Connecticut is the best! They have the best selection online of sample dresses that would be perfect for second wedding dress or a rehearsal dinner - at amazing discounted prices!
From boho to glam, from jumpsuits to dresses...we have some fabulous styles of reception dresses and second look outfits for the bride.
These are our favorite styles we wish we had worn on our wedding day...and we hope you love one of these second look dresses for your wedding day, too!
With love,
The Garter Girl
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