I am sometimes asked if the bride should change for the evening party and there isn’t really a right or wrong answer to this question. Around 25 years ago it was the norm to have a second dress for the evening event but then brides did not tend to spend as much time and money on their wedding dress. Now most brides want to keep their wedding dress on into the evening – and some would like to keep it on forever!

The decider might be the style of your wedding dress: if your gown is puffy with a lot of layers and a train it will be hard to manoeuvre around the dance floor so you may be keen to change and relax into the evening. Another factor is that the number of guests invited to a wedding has grown and often many will only be attending the evening event and would like to see the bride in her wedding dress.

Occasionally, if budget permits a bride may want a second dress for the evening. However most brides opt for a wedding dress that will transform for the evening with a removable overskirt, or a train that hooks on to a button at the back.

When Laura came to see me she wanted a dramatic look for her church wedding and I made her a stiffened overskirt that she wore with a slinky sheath dress and a long veil. The ivory silk taffeta overskirt was appliquéd with hand-cut flowers to compliment the elaborate appliqué on her dress and on her cathedral veil. The waistband of the overskirt was heavily beaded with my Deco style beading using Swarovski crystal, ivory pearls and vintage beads in a subtle mix of silver and antique gold. I made a matching belt so when the overskirt was removed in the evening her waist was still shown off by my signature beading.

Another option is to have a button or loop to lift the train of the dress off the ground for dancing. Jessica opted for this and had a tiny covered button that disappeared in the flower appliqué of her dress. This allowed her wedding dress to be transformed for the choreographed first dance with her groom and on into the evening without worrying about her train getting in the way or damaged.

Leigh-Anne, bride wearing Elizabeth Bessant couture wedding dress with the train attached to her wrist for the evening dancing

My bride Leigh-Anne wanted a more dramatic solution and asked to have a loop that she could put over her wrist to lift her train. She enjoyed the drama of swishing her train as she danced with her new husband. This is a traditional way of lifting a wedding dress train.

Whatever you decide it is your day and your choice but do remember your dress will get dirty and may be damaged if you keep the train on the ground while dancing and mingling with your guests -who may tread on it accidentally.

If you would like advice about options that allow you to feel comfortable in your wedding dress at every stage of your celebrations please contact me at [email protected]