Second Wedding Dresses

-- Second Wedding Dresses --

Your second wedding dress doesn't have to be any less special or any less beautiful than your first!

In fact, it should be even more special.

Second time brides are no longer society’s “dirty little secret.” Quite the opposite, in fact. More than 45% of all weddings involve one or both partners who have been married at least once before.

Have you picked the date? Are your plans in place?

You can generally use the same guidelines for choosing a gown the second time around, as you would for the first.

Formality

The formality of your gown should match the formality of your wedding ceremony.

Many brides who are getting married for a second time choose to go for a less formal approach. Especially if they had a more traditional first marriage, that catered more to their guests than to what they wanted.

If you want formal, go formal. If not, decide on what style will best suite you. Decide for yourself, and don't worry about what other people want.

-- Second Wedding Dresses --

Color

With so many color and fabric combinations to choose from, it shouldn’t be difficult to find a dress that suits your style and taste.

So what first? Let’s settle on a color.

The color of the second dress has long been debated. Queen Victoria made the white wedding gown the trend in 1840. Before that, brides wore their best dress, no matter what the color. But after the royal nuptials, white became the symbol of purity. This began the debate of whether brides could wear white the second time around or not.

By today’s standards, the answer to that debate is yes. The color white is now considered a symbol of joy and not virginity, so using it for your second gown is completely acceptable. If you’re not comfortable with white, however, ivory or even pastels are popular choices.

-- Second Wedding Dresses --

Style

OK, so the color has been decided, now it’s time to settle on the style of your gown.

Most brides tend to be less frivolous for their second wedding and chose a simpler design. Chances are, you had your fairy tale wedding the first time and you may want to experience something different.

You may want your dress to reflect your maturity, sophistication and experience. The same effort you put into selecting your color should be the same effort put forth when settling on a style.

Like your first wedding, all eyes will be on you. The style you choose should reflect your personality, fashion sense and of course, your wedding theme. Consider a cocktail-length dress or a couture suit you can wear again.

You may consider skipping the blusher veil this time around. Although white is acceptable, the traditional blusher veil is generally reserved for first time brides, and is usually considered a fashion faux pas to wear after. If you have your heart set on a veil, you can opt for one that trails down your back. Or, forgo the veil completely and try a tiara, hat, hair ornaments or fresh flowers instead.

Fit

Fit is important when choosing your gown. For example, an A-line skirt would be ideal for brides who have a pear shape because it produces a lengthy effect. You want to select a style that will enhance your best aspects and minimize the less desirable areas. Be sure to try on a lot of different styles. You can never be sure how a dress will look until it’s on. What looks great in the bridal magazine may look completely different once you have it on.

Make sure you wear the appropriate undergarments. You’ll want to wear a neutral bra and panties in nude or off-white. Or if you’re looking for a seamless look, wear a thong and strapless bra.

Look at the bridal magazines to get ideas.

Shop around – don’t settle on the first gown you try on. Talk to bridal dress designers. Remember, this is your wedding and you should be proud of what you’re wearing.