2 Looks, 1 Wedding Dress
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| Catherine Deane - Uno Topper |
Do we all agree that we would love to be Paris Hilton and have 7 whole outfit changes in one wedding? Maybe 7 is too much..so is 2 looks better? How many times have we seen Say Yes To The Dress and the bride is torn between either two silhouettes or two entirely different looks? It's either traditional versus classic, fitted versus princess or detailed versus simple. I see this happen COUNTLESS times in the boutique. Would it not be better to have the best of both worlds?. "Well we would love to Laura but will you be paying for that??" I hear you ask. Obviously I won't be doing that..BUT we do have other options in the form of "convertible" dresses/looks. This way, you get that desired second look or reception dress and only pay a fraction of the cost of two whole gowns!
OVERSKIRTS
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| Zavana Couture - ZC9401 |
Probably one of the most common and most used form of achieving that second look would be the use of an overskirt. Overskirts in themselves come in a massive range of materials, textures, shapes and colours. In theory, you can put an overskirt on any dress you like , Will it look amazing? Sometimes no and sometimes a dress really doesn't need it. But again, this is your day and you do you. For the brides torn between fitted dresses and ball gowns - an overskirt can easily be attached to create a more classic look for the ceremony and then be removed for the reception showing that fitted gown underneath. An overskirt in this instance could either be a sheer tulle so that you can see the detail of the fitted dress through, you can have a peekaboo skirt where the front part of the dress is still shown, or you can have a completely opaque skirt so that you can't even see the other gown (or jumpsuit, shorts or pants for my daring girls). I love this gown by Zavana Couture as it is a great example of how an overskirt can transform a look. The overskirt is made to look like it is a part of the actual dress with matching beaded appliques placed at the top of the skirt. An overskirt option is definitely worth playing around with and your bridal stylist would more than likely have some options available if your favourite dress doesn't come with an overskirt.
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| Catherine Deane - Anya Topper |
TOPPERS
Toppers are fairly new to me but I cannot stop thinking about them!. Toppers are little tops or wraps that can be put over pretty much anything. They look absolutely amazing over a simple and plain dress or to add more sparkle, more special to any gown and/or jumpsuit. Added bonus for the ability to wear it again and again for other occasions. Toppers are great for brides that love the look of a simple dress but find that sometimes they are too plain. Or, a bride that would love to be comfy and wear a jumpsuit but wants it a little more of a bridal look to it. There are soooo many types of toppers on the market - all different materials and lengths to match whatever outfit you wear on your big day. A designer that does amazing toppers would be Catherine Deane out of the UK. They have toppers that are beaded and sparkly and ones that are more boho and even some sheer wrap toppers to soften any look.
OVERLAYS
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| A.B. Ellie - Harlow |
SUBTLE OPTIONS
Sometimes when adding the extra costs of significant add-ons such as overskirts, overlays and toppers - they do add up and a lot of the time these may not be a financial option. However, there is no need to sacrifice your dream look. Consider options such as detachable sleeves, capes, accessories such as belts and gloves or even adding in a slit to the skirt of your dress but kept closed for the ceremony and open for the reception. Another suggestion (and probably the most ballsy and crazy) would be cutting your wedding dress. I do not encourage this one unless you have someone at your wedding that is incredibly handy with a pair of sharp scissors! A less scary option for those not wanting to touch your dress is changing up your hair. A very simple option but can actually make a lot of difference to the overall look.
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| Karen Willis Holmes - Erin Wrap & Gloves |
You can change up any wedding dress you want to whether that be changing an entire silhouette or something more subtle like detachable sleeves. These options are such an amazing alternative to buying more than one wedding dress and really gives you so much room to customise and create a look that is truly unique without spending a bunch of money! So whether you are torn between styles or wanting that party/reception change - have a play around with these concepts as it may be exactly what you need to achieve your perfect wedding dress!
