Hi, lovelies! It’s time for a new advice question! Bride-to-be Leslie writes to us about a short wedding reception dress to wear and she says,

“Hi Emmaline! I’m looking for cute short wedding reception dresses. Ideally, it would be a short wedding dress for the reception (to change into after the ceremony) and also to wear to my bridal shower and brunch the morning after the wedding. Do you have any suggestions for where to buy short wedding reception dresses or what styles are trending? Thanks!”

Hi, Leslie — thanks for writing. Great question!

When I got married — and it wasn’t even that long ago, you guys — a reception dress for the bride to change into weren’t even a thing.

One dress, that’s it.

But now we’re seeing this trend of a short reception dress for the bride worn on the dance floor, in the photo booth, at the food truck, exiting in a grand sparkler send-off… and we’re kind of loving the look!

Do I Have to Wear a Separate Reception Dress?

Heck no! It’s totally optional. Some brides want to wear their gown all day; others want to change into a short dress for the reception. You do you!

How Much Should I Spend on a Reception Dress?

That is totally up to your budget and style: you’ll see a variety of price points listed below. Honestly, how much would I want to spend on top of your wedding dress? That would depend largely on how much I loved the look — and how often I can wear the dress.

Remember, you can also wear a short reception dress to your engagement party, bridal shower, bachelorette party, rehearsal dinner, the morning after the wedding… so think of it as one dress, many ways. :)

Can I Wear a Short Dress All Day?

Of course! Some brides opt for short wedding dresses right off-the-bat. The look is completely up to you!

Where to Buy Reception Dress for Bride

If your heart is set on a second dress, i.e. a wedding reception dress that is short, fun, and flirty, here are a few suggestions we found.

On my quest to find you cute short dance-ready dresses, we found one of the best places to buy reception dresses is here at BHLDN, who is kind of killin’ it right now on the reception dresses front. They keep adding new styles and even alternatives to dresses — like jumpsuits! — all the time. (Keep updated by following the shop here!)

I always loved the jumpsuit but I’m not sure if I could pull it off. What do you think about short reception dress trend, or jumpsuits, or the fact that brides are buying a beautiful gown and wearing it for the ceremony and then switching into a shorter dress for the reception?

We’d love to hear your thoughts in the box at the end of this post.

Now… on to the short reception dresses for the bride! Which one is your favorite?

If a short wedding reception dress is what you’re after, you’ll find it right here. We found several styles in a variety of price points to make every bride’s dream come true!

1. Romantic Long Sleeve Short Reception Dress

By Needle & Thread.

2. Tiered Skirt Short Reception Dress

By Hayley Paige.

3. Ruffled Tulle Mini Dress

A stylish dress with tiers of sweet ruffles! By Sachin & Babi.

4. Long Sleeve Short Mini Dress

This is my ideal combination for fall and winter weddings: short length for dancing, long sleeves for staying cozy — and stylish! By BHLDN.

5. Love Sequins Dress

This sleeveless dress has Love emblazoned on the bottom with rose gold sequins. Beautiful! By Theia.

6. Wide Sleeve Short Reception Dress for Bride

This stylish throwback style has long sleeves that flare out and sparkle! Great for dancing the night away. By Sachin & Babi.

7. Fringe Short Wedding Reception Dress

Ah, what goes better than fringe on the dance floor? Oh, champagne, of course! This dress is the perfect little white dress for every occasion, from the bridal shower to the last dance. By Aiden Mattox.

8. Long Sleeve Sequin Dress

By BHLDN.

Finish The Look:

We spied these adorable heels, earrings, and more to complete your reception-ready quick change!

– Heels, by Bella Bride

– Earrings, by Serefina

– Clutch, by St. Xavier

What do you think of these short dancing dresses?

Are you switching to a short reception dress for your wedding? Why or why not?

Tell us your thoughts in the comment box below!

Happy Planning!

xo
Emma