For those of you who had a DW or eloped- help please!

[mercoledi]

Hi, I know several of you ladies had (or are planning) a small destination wedding/elopement and then had a reception days/weeks/months later. We're going that route too and will have two receptions, one for friends a week after the wedding and one for family about three weeks later.

My question is this: What does one wear to one's reception when the reception is post facto?

I originally thought that I'd wear my wedding dress since it was the only time anyone would get to see it, but now I feel like that's kind of "mememememememe".

What did y'all do or are planning to do? I'm just going to wear something nice for the family reception since it's far away from the wedding in both space and time, but I'm tempted to wear my gown to the earlier one so that all of the friends that I tortured gown shopping get to see the thing. But the reception will be a cocktail/snacks even in the semi-private backroom of an upscale bar, and I'm not sure how I feel about the other restaurant patrons seeing me dot about in my wedding gown...

 

[Dee*Jay]

Happy hubby and I eloped in Las Vegas. We always *planned* to have some sort of party/reception afterwards, but here we are almost 8 years later and... um.... I''m still planning.

Anyway, back to your question. I had intended to wear the dress I got married in at the party (that never came to be) because it was a cream colored evening gown with beading. Very pretty, but not particulary "wedding dress-y" in that it had no train or anything like that. Really, if we went to a black-tie event and I were so inclined to wear it this dress would not be at all out of place.

So I guess one of the questions is what your dress is like? If it''s the sort of thing that you could/would wear to a fancy party anyway, then I say wear it. Also, don''t forget this is YOUR party so even it you do have a "wedding dress-y dress" and you want to wear it anyway, go for it!

(One thing I wouldn''t do though is wear a veil, regardless of what your dress looks like.)

 

[mercoledi]

Hi, my original plan was to buy a pretty evening gown in silver or blue that would work for both, but, long story short I thought the wedding would be in September I panicked and bought an actual bridal gown in July, and now the wedding isn''t until November anyway. The dress is umm, bridal but not bride-y and I''m not even wearing a veil for the ceremony, so that''s no threat. I picked it out thinking that it could pass for an evening gown for the reception, but now I just don''t know.

This is the dress:Watter 8046B
And from the runway show

Mine is Ivory underneath instead of whatever color they''re calling ''topaz''.


I looked hard at evening gowns but A. it was summer so everything was short and B. I don''t like shiny satin and won''t wear strapless or halter tops.

Thanks for your input. I spent enough on the dress that I don''t want to buy something else for the reception. At normal receptions other people in the venue sometimes see the bride all brided up, right?

 

[fatafelice]

I'm not having a DW, but I thought I would chime in.

They are still YOUR wedding receptions, and if you want to wear your dress for all, I say go for it! Now, having seen your dress (which is absolutely beautiful, btw!), I think it will be even easier to wear it for the receptions at home. It's not like it is a big bejewelled ballgown (though even if it was...). Why spend more money on an evening dress? Wear it and enjoy it, every time!

 

[jorman]

mercoledi- we eloped and had a reception post facto.

We eloped in California (where we live) and a month later had a reception in Texas (where we are from).
Since the reception was a Texas Style BBQ, I really didn''t want to wear my beautiful silk wedding dress, so I found a more casual white summer dress. It was perfect for our situation.

However, if we had a more formal reception, I probably would have worn my dress.

Hope that helps.

Good luck and way to go on eloping or DW- it is worth not having the stress!

-Janna

 

[Dee*Jay]

Oh that dress is gorgeous! I think you could TOTALLY wear it for your party aftewards!