Years ago, dressing for the wedding meant a big bridal gown, a separate
slinky number for the reception and a special outfit for the big send-off.
Today, brides are more likely to stick with one gown — but thanks to a
fashionable twist, that gown can go from the ceremony to the reception in style
and comfort.
“Years ago, women wore formal gowns to formal events,” said Roseanna Martino,
president of the Altered Bride, a top Boston bridal boutique. “They had many
more opportunities to wear long dresses and ballroom-style gowns, but you don’t
hardly ever see someone in a formal gown now. This might be the bride’s only
opportunity in her lifetime to dress up like a princess.
“Plus over the years, photography has become so much more important. When you
open someone’s wedding album, you certainly have your posed photos and formal
photos — but there are quite a few of the reception as well. You have so many
more photos than people did years ago,” she said. “Brides want to be
photographed in their gowns because those photos are going to last a lifetime.”
Add to this the rising cost of the average wedding — and the typical wedding
dress — and it’s no wonder brides want to wear their gowns as long as possible.
“Weddings today are a lot more expensive than they were years ago. There is a
lot more money spent on everything and brides want to be part of it in their
gown,” Martino said.
From bustles and bustiers to wraps and chic shoes, brides have plenty of
options for transforming that gorgeous gown into a party-all-night number,
ensuring they get the most from their once-in-a-lifetime ensemble.
“One of the easiest options is to put a bustle in the gown,” Martino said.
“You take the train, whether it’s a chapel train or a cathedral train, and you
sew hooks or ribbons at different points along the hem, then bring it up
underneath. A bustle makes the gown the same length all around — about 2 inches
off the ground, or slightly shorter in the back. Even if you have a 6-inch or
8-inch sweep train, you still want a bustle. Otherwise, you can’t dance.”
Bridal boutiques can easily add a bustle to any gown. Once the hooks and
ribbons are in place, brides simply cinch up the long layers. The key is getting
the train off the ground so brides can move about more freely during the
reception.
Shawls, stoles and jackets offer a similar versatility. It’s the quickest way
to get two looks from one dress. Stylish cover-ups help brides take sexy
sleeveless numbers from reserved to rockin’ simply by adding or removing a
layer. Plus, whether pairing their dresses with heirloom-inspired lace jackets,
cute capelets or wraps in the hottest hues, brides get to tackle two trends at
once.
“We are still seeing a lot of strapless gowns, but designers are trying to
bring back a little more cover,” Martino said. “We’ve seen a lot of lace jackets
over strapless gowns. They have a short sleeve, a natural waist and a
wrap-around front closure. It’s almost like a vest, but with a short sleeve. You
can put that on over the strapless gown for the ceremony and tie it off with a
ribbon.”
Double-duty dresses that offer two looks are catching on with designers, too.
The trend is still blooming, but those who have tackled the double-duty gown
have gotten it right. From two-piece gowns to transforming hemlines, the hottest
gowns keep the bride looking lavish from morning to night.
“The two-piece gown, with a bustier and a full skirt, started in the European
collections,” Martino said. “The strapless bustier — usually in white or red —
looks great under a pantsuit for the reception.”
“A few dresses even have a removable layer just below the knee, like three
ruffles of organza attached with Velcro for a formal gown that can be
shortened.”
In between cinching up trains and throwing off their jackets, brides are
ditching their daytime shoes to better dance the night away. And, believe it or
not, embellished flip-flops for the bride are the latest craze in post-ceremony
footwear. It might sound rather informal, but consider the alternatives.
“Most of the time brides might take their shoes off when it’s time to dance.
Some put on flats. Some put on sneakers, but, gosh, you wouldn’t feel very
elegant in a pair of sneakers, would you?”
