Last month I was conducting a wedding at a country house in the idyllic South Staffordshire countryside. As is always the case, the bride and I have a chat before the wedd
ing and once the practicalities have been covered the conversation usually ends with a thorough (and often more interesting!) dress and hair discussion. I commented on how unusual (in a good way) her dress was and without a moment’s hesitation the bride told me that her dress was in fact a separate top and skirt. The top she informed me she had bought from Oasis and the skirt from Coast. This got me thinking about how most brides wear dresses usually sourced from designer wedding dress boutiques. Whilst these dresses are always beautiful they do usually some with a very hefty price tag. Given that wedding dresses are usually only worn once, it got me thinking about the advantages of a two piece bridal (and also guest wedding outfit):
- If you choose two separates your wedding outfit is likely to be unique. Whilst only the bride (one hopes!) is likely to turn up in a wedding dress, it is not usual to turn up to a wedding as a guest to find someone else in the same outfit. With separates this is far less likely to be the case.
- Many women find that their top half may be one size and their bottom half another. They therefore usually not only spend a lot on their wedding dress but they also spend a lot on having the dress altered (often more than once). By buying separates you can buy the perfect size without having any extra expensive alterations.
- By buying separates the bride is likely to be able to mix and match her wedding gear with other outfits so that she can wear her wedding day clothes again – without being mistaken for Miss Havisham!
- Most weddings take place in the afternoon with extra guests often being invited for the evening. If you are wearing a two piece then you can easily change your top or bottom half for something more ‘eveningy’. If it has been a hot day then a change of top also gives you the chance to freshen up and surprise your guests with a new look.
- Finally, if you are in the company of young kids (or like me you always drop food down your front when wearing anything new/expensive or pale in colour) then a separate top is a handy extra to have packed in your bag!
A final note to all those brides currently trying to hunt down their perfect wedding outfit – take someone with you who you know will give their honest opinion on what does and doesn’t suit you. Whether it’s a close friend, relative or even a personal stylist – shopping with someone is a useful second opinion and someone to have lunch and a giggle with afterwards!
Photo by Scott Webb on Unsplash