One Wedding Dress Only: The Pros and Cons of Having a Ceremony Without a Change of Attire

2019.10.01 published

About Wedding Ceremony Without Outfit Change *

Weddings without color dresses or traditional attire.

Recently, the trend of changing from one white dress to another white dress has emerged. Rather than wearing two wedding dresses, some couples choose a ceremony where the bride wears the same wedding dress from the ceremony all the way through to the end of the reception, resulting in a wedding ceremony without any outfit change.

Personally, I would love to see the bride in her changed attire, and I am very interested in what kind of traditional kimono or colored dress she would choose. However,

✅ I loved the wedding dress too much.

✅ It's a waste to change out of an expensive dress after just an hour or a few minutes.

✅ I didn't find a kimono or colored dress that I liked.

In these cases, it is also an option to have a reception without an outfit change and stick with just one wedding dress.

In this article, I will introduce the advantages and disadvantages of holding a reception wearing just one wedding dress without changing, as well as some key points. *

Advantage 1: Budget Reduction

First, one of the advantages of not changing outfits (only wearing one dress) is that it reduces the budget.

By not spending on the rental fee for an additional dress, you can save between 150,000 yen to as much as 400,000 yen.

Advantage 2: You Can Wear Your Favorite Dress the Whole Time

A major reason couples consider not changing outfits is that they are simply too in love with their wedding dress.

Indeed, you can only showcase your wedding dress to guests for about 30 minutes from the ceremony to the start of the reception. If you include some time for a pre-ceremony photo shoot, it might be a bit longer.

Instead of feeling like you are spending tens of thousands of yen just for that short time, or searching for a colored dress that you like less than your wedding dress, deciding to spend the entire time in your favorite wedding dress is likely to make you happier while preparing for your wedding. ♡

Advantage 3: More Time with Guests

Also, when you don't change outfits, you won't lose time for changing, so you can spend longer with guests at the reception.

(Typically, changing into a colored dress alone takes about 10 minutes of actual downtime. For changing into a traditional attire, it takes around 20 minutes just for dressing.)

It's a trade-off: by choosing only one outfit, you gain more of your own free time...

Sometimes, couples who initially planned on changing outfits end up skipping it because their invited friends have offered to perform entertainment, making the schedule tight, and choosing not to change becomes a solution.

Do You Still Take a Break?

Even if you wear just one dress without changing outfits, many couples still take a brief break. *

This might be to allow guests to enjoy their meal at a relaxed pace or to do a small outfit change.

<Ways to Do a Mini Outfit Change>

✅ Change the bouquet

✅ Change the hairstyle

✅ Change accessories like earrings, headpieces, or necklaces

✅ Add or change a sash belt

These can usually be changed within a few minutes (though hairstyling can take a bit longer depending on the arrangement).

You might worry, "Will it be noticeable that I changed?" or "Is it okay to re-enter since there isn’t much change?", but since re-entrances usually involve doing table rounds, not having much of an impact from outfit change is acceptable and not awkward.

(Still, it makes you happy if some guests notice the changes in your hair or bouquet.)

Additionally, if the newlyweds plan to dance or perform during their re-entrance, doing so after taking a break can make the transition smoother.

If you’re worried that not changing outfits might lack excitement, think of entering while dancing or singing as an option! *

Conversely, what are the disadvantages of not changing outfits?

Disadvantage 1: You Only Wear One Dress and Can't Show Off to Guests

One clear disadvantage of not changing outfits is that you can only wear one dress. Some may think, "I've already worn a colored dress or a traditional kimono for the photoshoot, so I don’t need to wear them again!" but guests won’t get to see them directly.

Some guests might be looking forward to what color your outfit change will be, so wearing just a single wedding dress may leave some feeling disappointed.

Disadvantage 2: Can't Have a Color Dress Guessing Game

One of the disadvantages is that you cannot have the classic "color dress guessing game" typically held at weddings.

The color dress guessing game is a popular guest participation event, as common as the cake cutting or the first bite ceremony, but if you are only wearing one wedding dress, it cannot be done.

There are plenty of alternative events available, but keep in mind that "the options become limited."

Disadvantage 3: No Time to Rest, Can't Go to the Bathroom

The time spent during an outfit change can also serve as a breather for the newlyweds, allowing them to go to the bathroom or touch up their makeup.

Constantly engaging with guests or having a smile can be tiring. Taking a moment to rest during the reception can help ensure that you enjoy the latter part of the reception as well, but if you're not changing outfits, there won't be any downtime.

While having a mini outfit change could be a solution, if you choose not to have one, it's a concern to keep in mind.

It's Not Weird to Just Have One Wedding Dress!

We explored the thought of only wearing one favorite wedding dress without changing into a colored dress or traditional attire. *

If you're a bride wondering if it's odd to just have one wedding dress, rest assured! ♡

If, due to tight timing during the reception, you find yourself unable to change outfits but still want to wear more bridal attire, consider wearing different outfits for a pre-event photoshoot, or for a second party, or even a honeymoon photo.

May you find the best wedding dress that makes you think, "I want to wear it forever! I don't want to take it off!" for your ceremony and reception. ♡

(All images in this article feature collaboration wedding dresses by KIYOKO HATA × marry. ♡)