34 Incredible Second-Look Wedding Dress Changes by Real Brides

5 months ago 428

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 34 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. Robyn's French Lace Gown

For her destination wedding in Italy loaded with thoughtful details, Robyn was breathtaking wearing the textured ballgown Elegance wedding dress by Reem Acra. She took everyone's breath away once more with her second wedding dress which was a vintage-inspired French lace gown by Australian designer Kate Willa. Boasting light-catching hand-beaded pearls and sequins, she shone in every moment.

2. Trudy's Marilyn Monroe-Esque Maxi

Trudy's tulle and lace wedding dress was a true statement of luxury and elegance for her regal Tankardstown House wedding and she sparkled the night away in a glorious gold glitter gown for the afters.

3. Shauna's Tailored Mini

Shauna's bridal style was s-t-u-n-n-i-n-g for her Bellingham Castle celebration with a bold hint of rouge which saw her wear sleek short wedding dresses by Chosen by Kyha paired with breathtaking pieces by Irish luxury bridal accessory designer Lori Muldoon.

4. Delani's Bodacious Bow Mini

For her gracefully romantic mansion wedding, Delani wore two elegant, bold, and undeniably unforgettable dresses. For the ceremony she wore the Veronica dress by Galia Lahav, a trumpet-style gown which boasts three-dimensional embroidered lace and soft ruffles. Later she changed into a mini dress with a scene-stealer bow for the after-party.

5. Kate's Darling Bows

For her Virginia Park Lodge wedding with a zesty spin, Kate utilised beautiful bows to bewitching effect. She was spellbinding in a Lihi Hod column gown with a bow neckline adorned with romantic floral embroidery which cascaded into a fairytale train at the back. We're also completely obsessed with Kate's reception dress which was dotted with cute, colourful bows.

6. Lynn's Breathtaking Ballgown

For her French Garden-inspired destination wedding in Ireland, real bride Lynn slipped into a shining silk crepe Danielle Frankel gown for her first look with her very soon-to-be husband! She took our breath away again as she switched into a fairytale-worthy Zuhair Murad ballgown adorned with floral embroidery.

7. 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.

8. Jessie's 3D Floral Mini

Fashion influencer Jessie Willis's breathtaking ceremony look was inspired by Princess Diana! She wore a classic yet contemporary strapless fit-and-flare gown by Ria Tener which she paired exquisitely with a very on-trend bridal neck scarf. The glowing bride changed into a modern romantic mini dress by Lovers & Friends for the reception with a textured floral neckline and a flirty flared skirt.

9. Linda's Classic-Meets-Girly Mini

Bow wedding dresses are as beautiful as can be! For her sun-kissed and glamorous Marbella wedding influencer Linda Smyth put her own stamp on her Mikaella Bridal ballgown by having a stunning asymmetric bow detail added at the back to bring a "girly and youthful touch". For the reception, she was a vision of romance in her off-the-shoulder chorded Chantilly lace mini wedding dress by Australian brand Aston Bridal. Her satin corsage heels were the sweetest sartorial cherry on top. You can check out the rest of her incredible wedding wardrobe here.

10. Bronagh's Fabulous Feather Dress

Bespoke style reigned supreme at this festive Lough Eske Castle wedding. Our jaws plummeted when we saw Bronagh's ruffle-tastic gown which was created bespoke by Emma Beaumont which she accessorised with a captivating glittering and pearl crystal Lori Muldoon hairpiece. The bride made a truly fabulous change with her slinky halter gown created by Una Rodden which was adorned with feathers. We can only imagine it was so fun to hit the dancefloor in!

11. Katie's Captivating Cape

For her magical Markree Castle wedding at Christmas, Katie exuded ethereal elegance in her beaded top and pleated tulle tiered maxi skirt ceremony look. For the reception she changed into a voluminous baby doll short wedding dress with a dramatic puff sleeved cape.

12. Ginny's Main Character Mini

Ginny's enchantingly ethereal wedding dress inspired her Shakespeare-inspired celebration! Her Martina Liana ballgown with lace appliqué and a dramatic full skirt gave true fairytale vibes. For their reception party, Ginny changed into a short dress with peplum waist train, and an off-shoulder neckline which mirrored her wedding gown. Special mention has to go to the sequin cowboy hat too, yehaw!

13. Alexis's Wife of the Party Midi

For her stunning summertime Tankardstown House wedding, Alexis was a picture of refined romance in her Jane Hill off-the-shoulder ruched bodice ballgown. She sparkled as she took to the dancefloor in a bewitching beaded Nadine Merabi dress later.

14. 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 by pairing a buttery soft satin mini dress with a sweetheart neckline and floaty skater skirt with oh-so-cool leather platform loafers.

15. 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 and a delicately pleated tulle over skirt and 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.

16. Michelle's Floral Jacquard Mini

For her Castle Leslie Estate wedding "dripping with florals", Michelle wore a floral applique ballgown by Vladiyan which was worthy of a fairytale celebration and her accessories included custom sleeves by Sewing by Heather. Her V. Chapman mini dress with a ruffled skirt was perfect for twirling the night away on the dancefloor.

17. Joi's Elegant Embellishments

Real bride Joi was all about the texture for her dreamy destination wedding in Portugal. For the ceremony she made jaws drop with her 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.

18. 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.

19. 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.

20. Jan's Ornate Gown

This bride really lived up to her nickname, 'Glam Jan', during her elegant black-tie wedding at Luttrellstown Castle. First Jan donned a modern and romantic gown by Vera Wang with a plunge illusion neckline and a statement bow on the neckline. Then she sparkled all night long as her reception dress included pretty pearl straps and glittering sequins throughout.

21. 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.

22. 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.

23. Sarah's Sumptuous Silk Gown

It was love at first sight for Sarah with the Grace gown by Lihi Hod, it was her dress of dreams for her sun-kissed California wedding. She actually wasn't planning to wear a second dress but everything changed when she discovered the Cecelia gown by Katherine Tash. She was a bridal bombshell in the strapless silk crepe gown with an effortlessly elegant and curve-celebrating silhouette.

24. 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.

25. 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.

26. Róisín's Balletcore Beauty

Róisín runs her own luxury womenswear brand so she jumped at the chance to design the wedding wardrobe of her dreams and a capsule bridal collection for other brides-to-be! For her for destination wedding in Barcelona, she wanted a princess-style gown that wasn't traditional and expressed her love for bold, statement silhouettes with a playful edge. The result was nothing short of magical, as Róisín created a fit-and-flare dress with a dash of drama thanks to a pleated neckline crafted from silk taffeta. She designed a short wedding dress to dance the night away in complete with a dazzling tulle tutu skirt dotted with satin bows.

27. Kerry's Captivating Corset Gown

There was no surprise that bridal boutique owner Kerry's destination wedding style was simply spectacular. Her custom Kyha wedding dress was classic, refined and utterly breathtaking. In fact it was born from a dream fitting with Kyha Scott herself a few months before the big day! She absolutely wowed in a Katherine Tash gown with an engineered lace corset later.

28. Nicole's Beautiful Bardot Mini

We were blown away by Nicole's glam bridal style for her romantic Castle Leslie Estate wedding. To walk down the aisle she wore the jaw-dropping Envy Dress by Eva Lendel which boasts a draped corset and a transparent lace gusset. Her Rosie Etienne mini crafted from European lace with shimmering beading throughout was the swoon-worthiest choice for the after-party!

29. Shannen's Statement Bow

In a superbly stylish wedding in Seville, real bride Shannen wore a 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.

30. 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.

31. Alyssa's Heirloom Mini

For her monochrome micro castle wedding, Alyssa wore the Sloan dress by Alexandra Grecco. She incorporated elements of her mother's wedding dress with the skirt being used to make the lace pattern on her veil. Her second dress was made from the top of her mum's bridal gown - absolutely incredible, right?!

32. 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.

33. Karen's Golden Goddess Gown

For a fun-filled celebration at No.1 Pery Square, Karen wowed in an off-shoulder, puff sleeve gown in French taffeta by Etsy bridal designer Le Bride Atelier. Those who want to incorporate elegant colour into their wedding day look need to take a leaf out of Karen's bridal playbook. She shone bright when the sun set in her liquid satin gown in a golden hue.

34. Morgan's Slick Separates

US 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!