Your wedding dress is one of the most special outfits you’ll own in your lifetime. Designed to help you look and feel your best, many brides will spend several months choosing the perfect gown for their big day. Fortunately, there are so many styles available these days, from more traditional ‘fairytale’ dresses to sleek modern numbers, allowing you to choose an outfit that you love.
As well as looking good, a wedding dress needs to be versatile, as you’ll need to wear it for the ceremony, but also for dancing the night away at your reception. It also needs to be somewhat practical – in the past, many brides would have relied on their bridesmaids hitching up their train to go to the bathroom, for example, but many modern women prefer to be able to manage their dresses themselves.
In this post, we take a look at some of the dress styles that will allow you to feel amazing but also give you the movement you need to rule the dance floor.
Tea-length wedding dresses
If you’re planning on getting into the dancing mood, opting for a shorter dress may be the way to go. This way you can spin to your heart’s content, without having to worry about putting your heel through the hem of your expensive gown. Some brides choose to have a dress that does both – an elegant long overskirt for the ceremony, which can be removed for the reception, giving you two dresses without forking out for two separate outfits.
A tea-length style dress has a skirt that falls somewhere between the knee and the ankle, depending on your preference. Retro brides often also choose to add a net underskirt, adding volume and drama to the dress for a vintage look. Especially if you’re planning on booking an upbeat live band, you’ll want to be able to make the most of your entertainment. Pair with some secure, low heels to ensure you can dance the night away in comfort.
Two-piece wedding dresses
No rule says you have to wear a dress – why not choose a skirt and top combination instead? This option means that you won’t feel restricted by your bodice, allowing you to lift your arms freely enough to do the infamous Macarena. If you’re feeling brave, you could even swap your skirt out for some fabulous palazzo trousers for the reception. That way you can get into the music without worrying about flashing more leg than you’d intended. Plus, you’re more likely to re-wear your outfit after the big day is over.
Ones with a bustle
If you’ve got your heart set on a floor-length gown, then you’ll need to look for some features that will make your life easier when it comes to the dance floor. Some designers include an option to ‘bustle’ your train, which means it’s attached to the back of your dress and tucked out of the way of your (and other people’s) feet.
This style works best on a dress with straps or sleeves, as the weight of your train can put extra strain on the structure of your outfit, and some support helps you avoid any wardrobe malfunctions. Make sure that you take one of your bridesmaids along to your dress fitting so that they know how to attach the bustle correctly, as hooking it up wrongly can damage the delicate fabric of your gown.
Have the night you’ve been dreaming of
The perfect dress can help you fully relax and enjoy your reception, without having to worry about damaging your outfit. Look out for the styles we’ve mentioned above when you’re dress shopping, and don’t be afraid to have a practice shimmy in the shop to make sure everything stays where it is meant to be. Your outfit is an important part of your wedding day, so leave plenty of time for alterations to make sure your chosen gown fits perfectly.
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