Going-Away Outfit?

[staceybelle]

Over Thanksgiving FI & I visited the in-laws. We did some wedding shopping, & FMIL asked me, "So, do you have your going-away outfit yet?" I had the impression that this was a somewhat antiquated tradition, but I never stay until the end of weddings, so I don''t really know for sure. (The only time I''ve seen a going-away outfit was in Father of the Bride.)

I thought the rationale behind changing into the going-away dress/suit/whatever was so you didn''t have to wear your wedding dress if you were leaving directly for your honeymoon. We''re not leaving for our honeymoon until the weekend after the wedding, so I shouldn''t need one, right? With all the new clothes I''m having to buy for showers/parties/rehearsal dinner I''d really rather not have to spend $200 on an ensemble I''d wear just to walk across the street to our hotel.

Your thoughts, please.

 

[sumbride]

It''s not necessary! It does make sense if you are headed directly to the airport to hop on a plane, but you''re not, so I don''t see the point. Besides, it was kind of fun to head into the hotel in my wedding dress!!! Just be sure that if yours is hard to get out of you have somebody to help you. Your new hubby will be completely befuddled by laces and hooks and such. I wore a lace up dress with lots of things that hooked in and I literally had to call one of my GUESTS in her room and ask her to come help me because my bridesmaids were still packing up back at the reception site!! A going away outfit might have been more practical, but I love the pics of us coming down the steps in our attire and getting into the car and we wouldn''t have those if I''d changed.

 

[karasue91]

Date: 12/14/2007 10:29:16 AM
Author: sumbride
It''s not necessary! It does make sense if you are headed directly to the airport to hop on a plane, but you''re not, so I don''t see the point. Besides, it was kind of fun to head into the hotel in my wedding dress!!! Just be sure that if yours is hard to get out of you have somebody to help you. Your new hubby will be completely befuddled by laces and hooks and such. I wore a lace up dress with lots of things that hooked in and I literally had to call one of my GUESTS in her room and ask her to come help me because my bridesmaids were still packing up back at the reception site!! A going away outfit might have been more practical, but I love the pics of us coming down the steps in our attire and getting into the car and we wouldn''t have those if I''d changed.

hahahaha that''s great!!

I agree, completely unnecessary!

 

[NewEnglandLady]

The going away outfit is an antiquated tradition, but it''s one of the antiquated traditions that isn''t steeped in some silly meaning and I so wanted one, haha. I pictured myself some vintage 1950''s white dress running off to....well, that was the issue. Myself and my family were staying put in the house DH and I rented for a couple more days, so I''d be wearing a going away dress to go upstairs, haha. Turns out I could have used one since we did end up taking my BIL to the ER until 5 a.m., but that''s another story.

I think you should keep whatever traditions you like and toss the ones you don''t. If you like the idea of a going away outfit, go for it!

 

[sumbride]

Oh, I did want to say we had an "after-party outfit". I got the Life is Good "Just Married" t-shirts and we put those on after we de-formalized ourselves and headed to the after party in a guest''s room. Surprisingly, hubby was happy to wear it. We also wore them on the plane when we went on our honeymoon. There were a few days between the two events for us too, and it made it easier.

 

[Haven]

I won''t need a going-away outfit because I am not going to take that dress off until I absolutely have to, come airplane regulations or high water!

Funny story--a friend of mine was married in April, and she and her new hubby stayed in a hotel down the street from their reception location, so she didn''t change before they left. The hubby called my FI the day after their wedding to tell him the story of how his bride sat on the edge of the bed with her arms crossed and refused to take off her dress after the wedding. When he woke up in the morning he found her still in her dress, asleep, sitting up but slumped forward with her arms still crossed in front of her. He took pictures and they''re priceless, she looks like a stubborn little girl in her big, gorgeous dress.

 

[gtn]

I don''t think you need a going-away outfit. If you want one, by all means get one, but if you are just going to crash in the hotel afterwards, why bother. You are either going to struggle with your dress at the reception site (if you get a going-away outfit) or in the hotel. It''s your day you choose.

Date: 12/14/2007 3:01:15 PM
Author: Haven
I won''t need a going-away outfit because I am not going to take that dress off until I absolutely have to, come airplane regulations or high water!

Funny story--a friend of mine was married in April, and she and her new hubby stayed in a hotel down the street from their reception location, so she didn''t change before they left. The hubby called my FI the day after their wedding to tell him the story of how his bride sat on the edge of the bed with her arms crossed and refused to take off her dress after the wedding. When he woke up in the morning he found her still in her dress, asleep, sitting up but slumped forward with her arms still crossed in front of her. He took pictures and they''re priceless, she looks like a stubborn little girl in her big, gorgeous dress.

That''s hilarious... I can picture it now.

 

[sumbride]

That''s hilarious Haven!!

I loved my dress, but as soon as I got to the hotel I was like "get it off me" so I could use the restroom!!! I went almost 9 hours without a potty break!!!

 

[sunnyd]

lol when i think "going away outfit" i picture my mom's. she looked like she was going away to a boat. or what queen elizabeth wears. funny navy blue hat and a navy blue skirt suit. gloves and all!

my friend put on the victoria's secret 'bride' velour lounge wear before leaving the reception. it was adorable, and not that expensive (i think). i know i'll wanna crawl in something comfy after wearing a dress and heels all day!

 

[monarch64]

The only thing I put on after my wedding gown came off (post-reception of course) was my wedding night negligee, LOL! We didn''t leave for our honeymoon until the next day...I can''t remember what I wore on the plane though.

 

[OUpearlgirl]

This thread reminded me of one of my favorite Barbie dolls of ALL time! It was wedding day Midge, and she had this white dress that was above the knee and spaghetti strap. For the wedding, you velcroed her white polka dot skirt over it and added a veil. For her departure you got rid of the skirt and put on this adorable lavendar and white polka dot bolero.. Sigh.. That''s exactly what I imagined my wedding to be like.

 

[OUpearlgirl]

Ahh! I found a picture!! hehe

 

[staceybelle]

Haha, I love Wedding Day Midge. Dora girls, please don''t take offense, but I thought of you immediately when I saw the swiss dots!

Sumbride, your wedding night story is hilarious. After hearing that, I''m thinking maybe I should tell my dress maker to nix the covered buttons idea.

Thanks to all who replied. I think FMIL is just a little behind the times. Unfortunately, FI is excited about the idea for some reason, so I have to talk him out of it now.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

I left in my wedding dress.

 

[Elmorton]

Left in my dress too - DH and I walked the two blocks to our hotel, carrying my bouquet and a take-out bag filled with the appetizers that we missed during the cocktail hour. Really, I don''t know anyone who hasn''t left in her dress - at least in this decade. My mom had a going away outfit (I can still picture it in my dress-up box from when I was little - very Jackie O in style, mint green, polyester, and if I remember right, she didn''t like it) - but she had an afternoon wedding and then went to dinner with my dad at the Holiday Inn. Leaving in the dress would not have been appropriate. Do think of something cute to wear to breakfast in the morning, though!

 

[Fancy605]

Oh goodness, I think deciding what to wear away from the reception was probably one of the most needlessly difficult decisions I made. I had a whole thread about it.

So, basically, my husband and I had to be at the airport to leave for our honeymoon at like 6:30 am the day after our wedding. The airport is about 1.5 hours from our venues, so we had to leave from the reception to go to the airport hotel we chose. I didn''t want to have my dress stored at the hotel, and my mom volunteered to take it and have it cleaned while we were on the honeymoon, so I needed to leave it with her after the reception. That meant I would need a second outfit. Well, I ended up with a second, somewhat bridal looking dress. (I wanted to still be bride-y looking if we did anything afterwards). I originally had a really cure short white dress planned, but I word it to my bridesmaid''s luncheon and on my honeymoon instead.

I would say the bride left in her wedding dress at about 60% of the weddings I have been to. But at the other weddings I''ve been to, the couple was in my situation where they had to head to a hotel near an airport the day OF the wedding (either that or they had after parties). In those cases, the bride and groom both changed. I had a friend wear white crop pants, a black top and her veil, I have had many friends leave in short white dresses, that sort of thing.

Here''s what the dress I used to "run away" (this is us in the car)