Wedding Reception Dresses

The wedding dress, a tradition that’s been embraced by women for hundreds of years. Most have thought about it since they were little girls, and dreamt about that perfect dress you’ll wear on your special day. But what about wedding reception dresses for the rest of the day?

Traditionally, most women used to be expected to wear their wedding dress throughout the whole day, meaning during all of the reception as well. Wedding dresses on average often weigh ten pounds or more, not to mention that they are also many times made out of materials and fabrics that are hot and don’t breathe, that is, let air circulate in and out. Yes they can be stunningly beautiful, but also uncomfortable to wear for an entire day and night.

Recently, however, a new trend has been emerging that most modern brides with be quite thankful for, wedding reception dresses are the answer to your prayers. You can be as classy, elegant and stunning as you like during your wedding ceremony, then be able to relax and actually enjoy your reception, and still look great! Many brides now wear their favorite wedding dress for the ceremony and the traditional first dance, then simply slip away for a few minutes to change into a reception gown. While still being elegant, their also a much more comfortable and appropriate party ensemble.

Most wedding reception dresses these days have high hem lines and are light and made from typically silk and cotton. They’re the perfect option for those brides that want to have that big traditional type wedding, and then relax a bit more for during the reception. That’s why reception gowns are pretty much unnecessary for beach our outdoor weddings.

Being that wedding reception dresses are a relatively new thing, there aren’t many “rules” for them governed by tradition. That’s great news as it lets you express your own personal sense of style, without it being “wrong”. Many women prefer to have a colorful, or floral pattern, while other choose to keep it white like their wedding dress. And if your wedding dress isn’t white, you may want to consider having your reception dress being white, or, it could even be your “something blue”.

Many brides will try to keep their reception dress close in style to their wedding gown. For example, if you wore a halter wedding dress, their reception gown will be the same. If their wedding gown had straps, then their reception dress will as well. Although some brides like the contrast and will go from a traditional white wedding dress to a colorful summer dress, that’s the beauty of it, it’s completely up to you!

Short dresses are the norm for summer weddings, some of the more popular fabrics being cotton, silk, chiffon and taffeta. They are perfect for the smaller receptions, with just close friends and family. And with average price tags of around two hundred dollars, short reception dresses are ideal.

For a wedding in the winter, a long sleeved dress is a must. Typically, a bride will wear both a long sleeved wedding gown and reception dress. These tend to be tea length dresses, and are often more ornate then their summer time counterparts.

Lately, even popular designers are starting to get in on the trend of wedding reception dresses, these include Vera Wang, Justin Alexander, and Monique Lhuillier, just to name a few. They are beginning to design and market more high end reception dresses that, you guessed it, come with quite a bit more of a price tag. Some women even have custom tailors design their reception wear for them, from scratch. You might be surprised at just how many of the wedding dress shops and online stores are now trying to break into the trend.

All in all, a couple’s reception is their own special time to celebrate their future and to share it with friends and family. Many women just obsess over their wedding gown, while completely neglecting the other important details of their special day. So, when choosing your wedding day attire, don’t forget the importance of comfort, style and fun when it comes to your reception, and most of the time, the reception actually lasts hours and hours longer then the ceremony itself. Properly chosen wedding reception dresses will have you looking and feeling your best the whole time, and that’s priceless when it comes to your special day.