No.

Without a cultural reason to change dresses it would have been pure indulgence. There is no way I would have spent money on a second dress that I would only wear once.

My extra dollars went to flowers, gifts for the bridal party, paying for flights and rooms for some guests we love for whom the cost of attending was a challenge, fun excursions on our honeymoon, etc...

I have friends who have done the 2 dress thing, and it has made them really happy. I keep my mouth shut about it because it's their day so I try not to judge. Sometimes I succeed.

I didn't, but I got married a million years ago when it wasn't common, or at least not as common as it seems to be now. Also, my reception was a relatively simple luncheon with no dancing, so it would have been silly to change dresses.

My SIL had 3: a dress for the ceremony, one traditional to my in-laws' culture for the coctail hour, and a short one for the reception for dancing. It was a bit much, but all 3 were lovely.

Anonymous wrote:Did you have a different wedding dress for the ceremony and the reception?

Why or why not?

NP. Curious why you're asking, if it's just "I want to do this but am not sure if it's 'proper'" or if it's a case of "This is expected of me by family tradition/culture and I don't want to do it" or "We're having an argument over this and it's gotten stressful beyond just a fashion choice".....is there any context?

I had just one dress but the dress was not a long, full gown (it was comparable to a 1920s flapper dress, so calf-length and fitted, not puffy, no big skirt or train). And the reception was a luncheon, no dancing involved, though the dress would have been good for dancing -- no skirt for people to step on, no train to haul around.

I think it all depends on what the reception and ceremony will be like. Long formal ceremony and bride wants a long dress, and/or a train, etc., but the reception is hours of dancing and eating and moving around table to table socializing? Then sure, why not have a different dress for the reception. But a dress that's shorter and appropriate for dancing and a lot of moving around to greet guests at a party.

It sounds crazy, though, to spend a fortune on a dress for a ceremony then spend again on a dress for a reception.

I've never knwon anyone to do this. I have heard of the taking leave outfit, usually a white suit worn to the airport for those going from the reception to the honeymoon straight off.