The Pros and Cons of Buying a Second Wedding Dress

Buying a second dress to wear to your wedding reception has become all the rage – would you do it?

Pros

You’ll probably be more comfortable

Let’s face it – beautiful as they are, many traditional wedding dresses aren’t the most comfortable garments to spend an entire evening in, especially when you’re meant to be extremely social while having the time of your life. If you have your heart set on a somewhat intimidating gown for the ceremony, a second, less cumbersome dress could really help you make the most of the party.

Lela Rose - Guipure lace and organza dress - The Outnet

You can have more than one dress

Lots of brides face the dilemma of choosing between two dresses that they really like. In some cases, these dresses have vastly different styles – classic and elegant vs trendy and fun for instance; or a white wedding gown against a coloured wedding dress. Having another dress to change into at reception could let you have the very best of both worlds.

Marchesa Notte - Tulle-paneled lace dress - Net A Porter

You get to add your personal touch

Let’s say you’re wearing a heritage gown to the ceremony – one that belonged to your mother or grandmother. While you love the fact that you’re honouring them by wearing the gown, you’d also like to show off your own personal style. A second dress could give you the opportunity to do just that!

Needle & Thread - Bridal embellished tulle mini dress - Net A Porter

Cons

You’ll have to spend more money

The most obvious drawback of having a second dress is the price point. You may already be over-extended on your budget, so a second wedding gown would be unthinkable. If you’d still really like to have a second dress, you may want to aim lower in terms of price, either for one of the dresses, or for the average you’re willing to spend on each one.

Rebecca Vallance - The Society guipure lace dress - Net A Porter

Your accessories may need to be changed too

If you’re going for two very different dresses and are prepared to shoulder the price, don’t forget that there are other secondary costs – you’ll most likely have to change your shoes, clutch bag and jewellery – sometimes even your undergarments! It just keeps adding up.

Roksanda - Lynton silk-dupioni dress - Net A Porter

You won’t get to enjoy your dress as much

Your wedding day is no ordinary party, and you will rarely (never?) get to wear your wedding dress again – so why not make the most of it all day long? If you’re unsure about a second dress, either consider getting a convertible dress (one that can go from long to short and back again) or simply make sure you get a wedding dress that you really love, that makes you feel and look good and that you can last a long time in.