Cars are not the only convertibles arriving at weddings. Just today, Style Me Pretty featured former Miss USA Nia Sanchez' wedding, where she wore a gown by Pnina Tornai. While it is not uncommon for a bride to purchase more than one dress for her special day, we have not seen a bride pair the two into one dress. The outcome, as you can see above, was flawless. The second I saw the transformation, I joined the millions with my obsession.
Traditionally, brides prefer the ball gown look for their ceremony. While flattering, the circumference of this style tends to interfere with festivities towards the end of the night - just imagine avoiding food stains in that skirt. It is at this time that brides change into a more fitted dress, one that is more mobile in order to interact with guests and dance more freely.
So, what are the advantages to having these two styles combined into one dress? Well, for one, your wallet will be thanking you. Designer wedding dresses can breach into the thousands (at least), and, while I have not researched it, I cannot imagine the price of a tutu skirt extension coming close to the price of a full gown. Another advantage to this style is the simplicity of the dress change: it does not require taking time away from your guests to formally change wardrobes. Just simply untie the extension as if you were bustling a dress. This convenience becomes an advantage from a photographers standpoint, as the photographer is able to easily capture the bride in both dresses during a First Look session. Once the sun sets, it is difficult for a photographer to capture portrait photos without shadows. With a gown this gorgeous, you are going to want both styles photographed in natural light. Lastly, there is only so much time in one's wedding day. The time it takes to change into a completely different gown is more than any bride wants to spend away from sharing the night with their loved ones.
So, what's next? Personally, I could see this trend expanding into convertible sleeves, especially for wedding ceremonies that take place in a holy setting, exposing the arms for the reception. And, who knows, we may be seeing this incorporated into bridesmaids dresses as well!
Photo credit: Natalie Schutt Photography