A Guide to Choosing the Right Reception Dress
2020-05-02

Source: Celia Michon on Unsplash

Besides the conventional white wedding dress that the bride wears during the ceremony, there has been an increasing trend of brides opting for a second dress, which is also known as a reception dress. There are several reasons as to why getting a reception dress has been gaining popularity, one of which includes the advantages of comfort. Conventional ceremonial dresses often come with a long train or heavy beading, which many brides may find uncomfortable and impractical to wear throughout the reception.

Another reason is because of the opportunity to try out a different style from their wedding dress. As opposed to the traditional white and long ceremonial dress, getting a reception dress gives you the benefit of switching to a bolder style together with a more prominent colour.

If you’re not sure how to go about choosing your reception dress, here’s a guide for you!

Selecting based on your skin tone 

While there is no fixed set of colours that you should follow based on your skin tone, choosing certain colours over others for your reception dress can help to flatter and enhance your natural complexion. As such, we have broken down the colours that you can consider for each skin tone. 

You can be “cool” and fair, or “warm” and fair!
Source: www.beadsandpieces.com

Keep in mind that you also will have to take into consideration your undertone - if you have a cool undertone (the veins on the underside of your wrists look blue/purple) you should select cooler hues, and if you have a warm undertone (the veins on the underside of your wrists appear greenish), you would look more radiant in warmer shades of colours. If you have a neutral undertone, congratulations! You’ll look great in any hue.

Very fair to fair 

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Generally for fair-skinned brides, opting for stronger colours such as rose pink and deep purple are a good option to contrast against your fair skin complexion. Jewel tones such as emerald green and turquoise are also great colours that can flatter your natural complexion. 

Olive to light brown 

Source: Arun Sharma on Unsplash 

Brides with olive to light brown skin tones can lean towards muted, earthy colours, which includes browns and khaki. Colours such as cream as well as black are also suitable. For those who wish to experiment with bolder colours, gold is a good option for both dresses as well as accessories, and will serve to enhance your natural complexion.

Dark brown 

Source: Arvind shakya on Pexels 

For brides with dark brown skin tones, the world of colours is your oyster. As you don’t run the risk of being washed out like those with fairer skin tones, you get to look amazing in most hues and shades. However, keep away from brown as it won’t contrast clearly enough with your skin.

Be bold to try different styles 

Source: sparklygowns

As mentioned above, a reception dress allows you to experiment with bolder styles. Since most weddings end off with a party, you may be inclined towards choosing a dress of a shorter length, which may be more party-appropriate as you dance the night away! Furthermore, brides may also be much more comfortable with opting for a more revealing style for the reception event as opposed to the ceremony itself. 

Source: Muhamad Habibi Azmi on Pexels 

Alternatively, for those who want the ultimate comfort, why not ditch the mainstream dress style and opt for a jumpsuit instead? Not only are they perfect for walking around comfortably, but jumpsuits can also bring out your chic fashion style and fun personality. Especially for brides who are tall, jumpsuits can accentuate your long legs, which may be otherwise hidden beneath a dress.

A modern spin

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For those who are worried about the extra costs that come with purchasing a reception dress on top of the ceremonial dress, there are gown designs that offer a two-in-one bridal outfit. These convertible dresses often offer a detachable skirt, which reveals a lace sheath silhouette underneath it. Not only are they much more cost-friendly as opposed to purchasing a second dress, but convertible dresses also make outfit changes much easier and convenient!

With the huge variety of choices available, choosing the perfect reception dress may be an overwhelming task. Just like choosing a ceremonial wedding dress, picking the perfect reception dress would be to follow your heart to showcase your personal style. After all, the perfect dress is one that represents you the best!