MULTIPLE WEDDING DRESSES & FATHER/DAUGHTER DANCES
Multiple Wedding-Day Dresses
Deciding on just one wedding dress is tough—so why not have more than one? Brides are not only wearing an alternative dress to depart the wedding, they’re changing gowns for for each phase of their wedding day. Kate Middleton even had one dress for her royal nuptials to Prince William and another for her reception. While some brides participate for cultural reasons, others just want to sport more than one dress or to simply be more comfortable and casual at the reception, which makes perfect sense when you factor in the size and weight of some of the more opulent contemporary dresses. Wearing such a huge dress for some six hours can be stifling to say the least let alone restrictive when you’re trying to have a good time, dancing and mingling with guests.
It’s not such a foreign concept, either. Brides all over the globe, from many different cultures, have been doing dress changes for centuries for a number of reasons. The traditional Chinese wedding dress is a one-piece frock called Qi Pao that’s usually red because it’s considered good luck. Indian brides wear different dresses that are representative of their native regions or cultural traditions. The Bengali Bride is draped in a sari with a veil over her head and is adorned with gold jewelry. Many multicultural brides living in North America will wear a more traditional white wedding gown for the ceremony and slip into something culturally appropriate for the reception. The selections are endless – ball gowns, short dresses, cocktail dresses.
I personally like the idea of a more formal, traditional gown for the ceremony and a party-dress type of outfit for the reception. I’ve even see brides wear bright-colored sequined gowns – no one said it had to be white. You have one day to shine, so if it’s in your budget to have more then one dress, go for it. It is an excellent way to showcase your personality and sense of style. You may be able to find different ensembles at bridal salons, but there are also plenty of other stores that sell formal wear that is still wedding-day appropriate for your wedding, such as Neiman Marcus and Bloomindales at The Mall at Millenia; Cache at The Altamonte Mall, The Mall at Millenia, Florida Mall and Seminole Town Center; and Saks Fifth Avenue and Nordstrom at Florida Mall.
Don’t forget your “send off” ensemble, a tradition less practiced than it was years ago. This is another area where you can showcase your personality or wedding theme, and have some fun! What about a white suit with a hat and corsage? That’s what my mom wore back in 1964.
A New Spin On the Father-Daughter Dance
The father-daughter dance is an intimate, long-standing, intimate tradition. We’ve all see the bride and groom (and sometimes their wedding party) boogie down with over-the-top performances at receptions. But I’m now hearing that these choreographed numbers are making their way into the father-daughter-dance arena. The father-daughter dance doesn’t have to be So-You-Think-You-Can-Dance-worthy; just fun and unique. Even learning a classic ballroom dance would work well. Personally, I’m a little more traditional and prefer the slow dance to a special song. But on the other hand, it sure does look like they are having a lot of fun, and it can be another way to showcase your family’s distinctive personality. A good compromise might be to start with a traditional slow dance, then break into a fun routine – that is, of course, if dad is up to it. You should respect his wishes — this is a special moment for your father, too, and he may have been thinking about this moment since you were born. Brides and grooms are still taking part in this not-so recent trend, so it might be fun to get dad involved, too. There are several dance studios in town offering traditional and ballroom dance lessons or uniquely choreographed routines – and at reasonable rates – such as Arthur Murray Dance Studios with locations in Lake Mary and Orlando www.ArthurMurrayOrlando.com <http://www.ArthurMurrayOrlando.com>; The Zebra Room, www.TheZebraRoom.com <http://www.TheZebraRoom.com>; and Studio K www.StudioKOrlando.com
