Bridal Dresses: Best Wedding Reception Gowns (2024)

FAQs

How many bridal gowns should I try on? ›

Trying on too many dresses leads to comparisons. Plus, when you've tried on your 25th dress, you tend to forget what the 1st one even looked like! Most brides try on about 4-7 dresses, and we really don't recommend trying on more than 10 unless you have truly hated every single one that you've put on!

Typically, there's a shift in tone from the ceremony to the reception, so many brides choose to switch up their looks between those two events. Hurwitz states that the specific time to change will really come down to the timeline of your celebration.

If your gown is restricting movement or if you want to protect it from being damaged, it's a good idea to change your wedding dress for the reception, allowing you to sit and dance comfortably.

Ladies should wear a floor-length gown, a tea-length dress, or even a classy jumpsuit. Rich fabrics like silk, velvet, or satin are all beautiful options, and you should opt for dark colours or jewel tones. If you're a fan of glitz and glamour, a little bit of sparkle doesn't go amiss at a formal wedding reception!

One rule of thumb suggests that brides allocate ten percent of their total wedding budget to their wedding dress. So, if you're planning to spend $10,000 or less on your big day, wedding dresses under $1000 fit that budget quite nicely (and maybe even leaves you extra for the honeymoon!).

Generally, the average cost of a wedding gown is typically between $1,800 to $2,500. Off-the-rack gowns may be priced lower than $1,800, while more luxurious gowns can sometimes fall in the $3,000 to $8,000 range. Customized dresses can even cost up to $10,000.

Your reception dress is basically just your party dress. As long as you pick a dress that conforms to the wedding theme, people can still tell that you're the bride of the party. Preferably, the length of your reception dress should be shorter than your wedding dress.

Like most formal occasions, formal wedding reception guest attire usually goes hand in hand with a black tie dress code—think a floor-length gown, heels and jewelry for women, and a tuxedo or a black, navy or grey suit for men.

For a church wedding, you need to wear something modest and appropriate. However, if the reception is held somewhere else, at a less formal venue, you can surely go for an outfit change.

Men's semi-formal and co*cktail dress codes, also known as party and after-five attire, are for special events. Both call for a dressier, sophisticated look, but there are some differences. Semi-formal dressing is typically more reserved, focusing on darker colours such as grey, black and blue.

Can the groom see the brides reception dress? ›

Traditionally, no, but not everyone has the same tradition and not everyone believes it is bad luck to see the brides wedding dress before the wedding, or seeing the bride before the wedding. It's silly to some and serious to others. All the bride and groom can do is talk about it.

So, when it comes to choosing attire as a guest, do you also need to worry about blending in with the bridal party? The short answer is no, but here's what you need to know to avoid looking like a bridesmaid.

If you're looking for something classic and timeless, dark colors like navy blue or black are always appropriate. For a more glamorous look, pastels such as lavender, light pink, or pale blue will add a touch of elegance to your outfit.

A dress with a waist-cinching feature is best for women over 60 because women tend to gain weight on the upper body and lose the natural waist as they get older. A waist-cinching dress gives the eye the illusion that there is a waist.

As a general rule, "wearing black is totally acceptable, as the hue is very versatile," says bridal stylist Julie Sabatino of The Stylish Bride. Make the shade work for you—at any type of wedding—with these ideas for choosing the right fabrice, length, and accessories.

In the format of the show, brides usually try on about three dresses which they show their entourage. This is because the show can only spend so much time on each dress, and they want to edit the story to present the most interesting narrative.

Usually brides are able to try on about 6-9 gowns during their appointment depending on their speed and decisiveness.

I would recommend trying up to 8 dresses in one appointment. If you have multiple boutique appointments on the same day try not to do any more than three as trying on wedding dresses can be hard work! If you get tired, you're likely to lose motivation and you want to enjoy the experience fully.

The Average Cost of a Wedding Dress

In the bridal fashion world, prices are based on several contributing elements, which we outline below. Based on these factors, a dress might cost anywhere from $500 to $4,000 (though they can get much more expensive).