Finding the wedding dress of your dreams is one of the most exciting elements of wedding planning, so we say why not double the fun? Lots of brides are opting for a second look on their wedding day, meaning a dress to head down the aisle, before changing it up to party the night away. If you’re considering getting a reception dress, you’ve come to the right place!

To inspire you, we’ve put together a list of real brides who wowed us with their wedding dress changes. From beautiful bows to ornate embellishments, vibrant colour and pretty floral prints, and everything in between, these fabulous brides prove that there are no rules when it comes to your wedding day wardrobe. It’s all about expressing your personal style and feeling as absolutely fabulous as can be. So let’s get going…

Dazzling Wedding Dress Changes

1. Dana’s Vintage Elegance

For her spring Cotswolds wedding, Dana exuded old-world elegance in a lace wedding dress by Suzanne Neville which was purchased second-hand and tweaked to perfection. Originally strapless, with the help of a friend, Dana added dramatic mutton-leg sleeves and a high neck. Later, she changed into a party-ready bronze dress by Bronx & Banco looking like an Old Hollywood movie star for her reception.

2. Whitney’s Cali Cool Vibes

Real bride Whitney served up Cali cool style at her colourful Killruddery House wedding. Her square-neck gown with ruffled tulle sleeves by Danielle Frankel was wondrously romantic. She transitioned from day to night, pairing a buttery soft satin mini dress with a sweetheart neckline and floaty skater skirt with oh-so-cool leather platform loafers.

3. Aislinn’s Midnight Blooms

For her modern and minimalist Dromquinna Manor wedding, real bride Aislinn chose an ethereal Newhite gown with a strapless, sculpted bodice underneath a delicately pleated tulle over skirt, with romantic sleeves. She was a blooming beauty during her reception as she took on the floral wedding dress trend with the vibrant Martin dress by Bernadette.

4. Shannen’s Statement Bow

In a superbly stylish wedding in Seville, real bride Shannen wore a languid languid silk crepe handkerchief gown by Danielle Frankel by day and when the sun set, she slipped into a mini dress with a statement bow.

5. Erika’s Sleek Ruffles

Erika’s bridal wardrobe exuded cool-girl glamour for her wildflower-filled Virginia Park Lodge wedding starting with her pearl-dappled gown by Sarah Seven, complete with show-stopping detachable ruffled sleeves. Keeping with her ruffled style thread, her after-dark look was a slinky maxi from Show Me Your Mumu which was covered in romantic pleats.

6. Chelsea’s Flirty Mini Dress

Real bride Chelsea donned a superb Elysian Bridal gown which had a dramatic high-leg slit for her timeless wedding at Luttrellstown Castle. She proved that short wedding dresses can make a huge statement as she rocked a flirty white mini dress with an oversized bow for her reception.

7. Niamh’s Candy Colours

It was a stunning sustainable style moment for Niamh’s creative Castle Leslie Estate wedding. She sparkled in a vintage-style dress before embracing her bright side for dancing in a candy-hued, pre-loved gown by Betsy Johnson.

8. Clara’s Night at the Opera

A magical monochrome Ballymagarvey Village wedding saw real bride Clara deliver a masterclass in elegance with her square-neck bodice gown by Chosen by Kyha. Before she hit the dancefloor she changed into a short wedding dress with a statement train, which she paired with satin opera gloves.

9. Joi’s Elegant Embellishments

Real bride Joi was all about the texture for her destination wedding in Portugal. For her ceremony she wowed in the Kristiane dress by Watters which boasted a skirt of cascading ruffles and rosettes. She picked the prettiest pearl-dusted curve-hugging gown for the afters which she wore with a matching bridal scarf.

10. Katie’s Second-Chance Second Dress

For her elegant and romantic Dromoland Castle wedding, US real bride Katie donned a textured Amsale gown with a ballgown skirt. After dinner she made a stunning and very sentimental dress change into her mother’s wedding dress which she had shortened.

11. Natasha’s Sequinned Moment

For her all-white wedding on Lake Como, Natasha oozed graceful glamour in her Antonio Gual gown which featured a fit-and-flare silhouette. She made a dazzling dress change with her art deco-inclined, semi-sheer beaded gown in a champagne hue.

12. Alexandra’s Audrey Inspiration

Audrey Hepburn served as inspiration for Alexandra for her fairytale Markree Castle wedding. For her trip down the aisle, she opted for a timeless off-the-shoulder ballgown by Anne Barge and to party the night away she swapped into a dancefloor-ready fit-and-flare midi dress by Amsale with a frothy tulle skirt, perfect for twirling.

13. Aiste’s Sweet Floral Motifs

For her sun-kissed wedding in Lithuania Aiste chose an A-line lace gown by Evie Young Bridal with a majestic skirt which boasted eyelash lace trims. Then it was the turn of her super sweet puff sleeve mini dress with floral lace motifs.

14. Morgan’s Slick Separates

US real bride Morgan dazzled her loved ones as she walked down the aisle in a Sarah Seven column gown with a flowing sheer cape. She dialled up the drama with her Nadine Merabi outfit with a bodacious bow for the festival-style reception at Langtons Hotel Kilkenny.

Want more bridal style inspiration? Check out our extensive archive of Real Weddings!