Second Wedding Dress
From LoveToKnow Weddings
If you say the word "wedding" to most women and ask them what the first thing that pops into their mind is, the answer will most likely be dress. Long before girls start fantasizing about the man who will stand beside them, their heads are filled with visions of dresses adorned with lace, beads, or pearls. No girl ever fantasized about what her second wedding dress would look like. There are a lot of misconceptions about what is or isn't acceptable for a woman's second wedding dress. A few of the more common ones are:
Don't Wear White
Why not? The tradition of the white wedding dress is less than two hundred years old. Britain's Queen Victoria began the trend when she married Prince Albert in a white dress as an extravagant display of power and wealth; the color was so impractical and the dress so fanciful it could not be worn again for purely practical reasons. The white bridal gown was a symbol of wealth through the early 1900's, implying as it did that the bride's family had money to throw away on a dress she would only wear once.
Sometime during the years immediately following World War II, white wedding dresses became associated, in Western culture, with bridal purity and the idea that a woman getting married for the second time should not wear white took hold. In the past twenty years the meaning of a bride's white gown has changed again and it is now considered to be a symbol of joy rather than purity.
Whether or not a bride, no matter if it's her first time or her fifth, wears white is a purely personal decision. Many of the suggested alternatives for second time brides, ecru, ivory, blush, and others, are worn by first time brides as well. Not every woman looks good in stark white and every woman wants to look good on her wedding day.
For a second wedding, the bride should wear what makes her happy, whether it's white, ecru, or eggplant.
Don't Wear a Veil
This one is a little trickier. While all aspects of the wedding are ultimately the bride and groom's choice it is still considered to be in poor taste for a second time bride to veil her face. A small veil, appropriate to the style of both the wedding and the dress that cascades down the hair or back is acceptable.
A more common choice among second-time brides is a simple hat, often a pill box, or a fancy headpiece chosen to coordinate with the dress.
Things to Think About When Looking for a Second Wedding Dress
- Does the wedding have a theme?
- How formal or casual will the event be?
- What time of day is the wedding?
- Does the dress need to be something that can be moved into the bride's regular wardrobe after the ceremony?
Wear a Suit
Says who? An elegant ladies suit, skirted rather than one with slacks, is a frequent choice among women who are remarrying, but is by no means required. A lot of second time brides select a cocktail dress or some other practical outfit that they can use again, but there is no rule that says a second bride can't have a wedding gown in the traditional style.
A Second Wedding Dress Doesn't Have a Train.
Like the long formal veil over the face an elaborate train is generally still reserved for first time brides. Most wedding etiquette specialists, however, agree that an elegant swoop is acceptable the second time around. The most important thing about a woman's second wedding dress is that it be what she wants. Many of the same guidelines for choosing a first dress apply when choosing the second.
Things To Take to the Salon on the Big Day
- A friend, mother, sister, daughter, or future stepdaughter; one or two someones who will tell her honestly whether a dress she loves on the hanger flatters her frame or coloring.
- The heels she intends to be married in or a pair that are a similar height.
- The undergarment style she prefers. If the bride despises backless bras she will probably not want a dress that requires one. Often whether or not a particular bra style will show under a dress cannot be determined until the gown is worn.
A second wedding is a new beginning, so take the time to dress for it!
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Comments
Shirley - You should wear whatever makes you feel comfortable and special on your wedding day. More mature brides often opt for a tea-length dress that can be worn again to church or other social functions, or a nice pantsuit in a cream or pastel shade (white is usually reserved for younger brides). You could also look for any bridal attire normally geared toward the mother of the bride or mother of the groom; they're often lovely dresses perfectly suitable for you as the bride. These articles may help: Mother of the Bride Dress, Mother of the Groom Dresses, and Tea Length Ivory Wedding Dress. The key is to choose something you like and look glamorous in; enjoy!
-- Contributed by: Melissa MayntzI am in my fifties and remarrying. What is appropriate attire for an older bride? All of the information available is geared toward young brides. What about us older gals? There are no guidelines for us.
-- Contributed by: ShirleyThis page has been accessed 6,187 times. This page was last modified 18:25, 10 March 2008.
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