Bridesmaid dress as wedding dress?

Question

How many of you have or are planning to wear a bridesmaid dress instead of a "regular" wedding gown? Were you able to have a train added or did that not matter for you? Were you happy or unhappy with your decision?
I've not decided on a dress, but found a great looking bridesmaid dress that I think I would wear.

Here's a pic of the dress in 'chocolate'. I would go with either white or ivory:
http://www.bonny.com/administrator/gowns/images/7728l.jpg
Even the "gowns" I've looked at are fairly simple, but this has sleeves, which is the one thing holding me back from the gowns I've seen. It would cost me so much to build up sleeves on a gown that I think I'm better off with this dress and adding a colored sash to fancy it up a bit more.

Answer 1

Very nice dress. Simple and elegant. And you don't really need a train, thats mostly just to show you are the bride (but you will be the only one in white anyway) and to look a little more formal in photos.

Answer 2

That dress is fabulous, I love it. I'll bet you'll look amazing in it. A train only matters if YOU care about it. Also, since the dress is going to be too long on you, unless you're really tall, you can have it hemmed so that there is a little sweep train, if you really want one. Since your gown is going to be simple, make sure the bridesmaids' dresses are simple as well, you might want them to wear something tea length or shorter.

Also, I think that a sash would completely ruin the line of this gown. The gown is so gorgeous the way it is, I think a sash would like an afterthought. Good luck.

Answer 3

She shouldn't stop you from buying a bridesmaid dress as a wedding dress. If she does, you need to find another store because something is definitely fishy about that. If you tell her what you're looking for than she may guide you to some more informal bridal dresses; if you want to try them that's fine but they may be more expensive than the bridesmaid dresses unless you find something on sale. Have fun. Most of the salespeople are nice. If you find any pushy ones just remember you are in charge. It's your wedding and there are a few shady shops out there. I spent less than $200 on my dress and it was lovely. I've never regretted it.

Answer 4

I think that dress is lovely. I'm wearing a formal (not billed as a bridesmaid dress, but not a wedding dress, either), in ivory. The style is much more suitable for my personality and the kind of wedding we're having than a big poufy, dress. Not to mention, I spent under $100. I don't like a lot of the traditional wedding dresses (strapless is just not a good look on me--or in my opinion, on many--and I think I'll look ridiculous in a huge, fussy dress). Mine doesn't have a train, but that's part of what I was trying to avoid having. I love the one I chose! However, if you're not sure of that style and want something fancier with sleeves, you can find wedding dresses with sleeves (do a search for "modest wedding dresses"), and many quinceanera dresses would be beautiful for a wedding (and often have sleeves or bolero jackets).

Answer 5

I will be wearing a dress that is marketed as a bridesmaids dress. It's available in ivory, which is what I'll be wearing. I'm having an outdoor wedding, and I don't want to drag a dress around outside, so I'm happy that I won't have a train. If you like the dress, go with it. I thought most bridal gowns were way too ornate for what I was looking for, so I'm happy with my decision.

Answer 6

Vera Wang makes quite few bridesmaids dresses in white and ivory that have a train. The trains are not quite as long as a regular wedding gown but still a train none the less. You could probably get one made with extra length so you can get the front hemmed and leave the back longer so the train is even longer.

Answer 7

I wore a bridesmaids dress for my wedding dress. It was a summer dress with a filmy scarf. I hired a seamstress to make me a jacket to match (it was white satin and we married in January in PA!). She took the filmy scarf and sewed it to the back of the dress with a bunch of silk roses. I found some pink braided rope and had her trim the hem of my dress and the jacket with it, just to "dress it up a bit" Since we got married in such a hurry, I was just happy to have a dress, but nope, I really wasn't happy looking back on it. But then again, that is just me. I had a real wedding gown before when I got married and I really looked like a bride, I didn't look like a "bride" in my dress with the jacket. I even got a veil and a headpiece, but it didn't help much. The marriage is wonderful, almost 6 years, so I guess the dress doesn't really matter for a 5 minute ceremony, but if I were even to renew my vows, I would want the whole gown thing!

Answer 8

I was originally looking at bridesmaid dresses for my wedding dress because I didn't want to spend thousands of dollars on my dress. I also wasn't too excited about the idea of wearing white. I tried on several bridesmaid dresses, but to appease my mom, I also tried on some "traditional" wedding gowns. It was one of these that I ultimately chose. Not only was it beautiful enough to change my mind about the color, but the price was extremely reasonable. But if your reasons for choosing the bridesmaids dress are less likely to change, then go along with it. It is a beautiful dress.

Answer 9

I seen this done a lot lately. My dress is being made by hand, and it was intended to be a prom dress, but on in the picture it has a train. If you find a good seamtress, i don't think it would be hard to add one. Here's a link to my dress if you want to take a look to get an idea http://www.simplicity.com/index.cfm?cat=1&type=1&sec=4&startrow=1

Mine is 3785 which will be done in white, with a light pink sash, and have more of the ball gown look.

Answer 10

That was my original plan but the gal working at the dress shop talked me into trying on one "gown" and it was all downhill from there, haha. Just wear what you want. It's you're wedding and you have to be happy with how you looked for the rest of your life. I tried on a ton of "bridesmaid" dresses that would have worked beautifully.