With my next wedding dress excursion right around the corner, I keep toying with the idea of what I will wear to our legal ceremony. We weren’t originally planning to have two ceremonies. But that all changed when DC made gay marriage legal this month! Now that the mayor has signed the bill, it’s feeling real and I’m getting really excited! Our plan is to drive into DC from Maryland on the day before our wedding with our parents. We will head right to the courthouse to make our marriage legal, and then take a few pictures before heading to the pre-wedding welcome party. (Hey, DC locals- Where would you take pictures? Dupont Circle? On the Mall?)
So, now my question is, what to wear? I don’t want to wear my wedding dress twice. The way I see it, my other options fall into three camps:
“she enjoys shakespeare in the park” by ban.do
1. The long white dress- Since, I’m wearing a tea length, white dress for the wedding, I could take the opportunity to wear a long, white dress. Pros: Strangers will know right away what’s up, and might even wish us congrats. I will get a chance to do the traditional bridal thing. I could find a flow-y one that would work with a wreath of flowers in my hair (I’ve always loved that hippie wedding look.) Cons: It might be too formal depending on what Ginger ends up wearing.
2. The Engagement Shoot Type Outfit- I don’t know what this would be exactly, but a casual, everyday look, like jeans and a nice top. Pros: I get to wear it again and again, and maybe recycle an outfit I already own. We will have some nice pictures of us in something other than wedding apparel. Cons: Boring? Not special enough?
3. Sexy and Bridal-ish- A white dress that hints at a courthouse wedding. Think little, white sun dress, or retro mini. Pros: Fun and appropriate for the couthouse Cons: Will I wear it again?
4. Welcome Party Dress- Ever since I saw this dress from Jenny Yoo’s new collection, I’ve been coveting it for the welcome party before the wedding. I love emerald green, and this dress just speaks to me. Should I just be practical and wear the same thing to both the court house and the party? Pros: Getting two events out of one pretty dress. Cons: Not wedding-y.
“Dylan” Bridesmaid Dress by Jenny Yoo
So I’m wondering, what are you wearing to your legal ceremony if you are having one? How did you decide? Which do you think I should go with?
Natalie and I did the same thing, except in reverse. We got married in DC and then this year got legally married in CT. I happened to have a wedding dress incident where I bought a dress and it got a huuuuge water stain on it. I ended buying another wedding dress because it cost less than what I was quoted to fix the first dress. So I ended up wearing that to the civil ceremony. Natalie actually went to Prom with me in a white dress. So she wore that to the civil ceremony.
But what you wear is up to you. We happened to have dresses that were very wedding like but your 4. option seems so cool! I love it!
In terms of pictures, I did a lesbian couple shoot in dupont circle and people were soooo excited! They honked! They cheered. Whereas when Nat and I went to the courthouses(in long white dresses) in New Haven, only *one* person said anything.
Here’s some dupont circle photos: http://www.kellyprizelphoto.com/?p=286
You have to now buy a permit for photos on the mall(it’s like $50). They used to not care but lately, they have been so strict about this. You could probably get away with this better if your not wearing white(they see a wedding couple and they come running to check permits) :D
I say go with the green one! Get both of you looking gussied up but not necessarily bridal–and then have some flowers. People will get it when you’re taking lovey wedding shots. We did the vintage courthouse wedding outfits for our legal ceremony in Boston and people definitely knew what was up (more of the knowing smiles variety than cheering, but it was POURING that day so people were a little more reserved). Plus then you get your fancy dress that you love and you still have the practicality of being able to wear it again (to other peoples’ weddings, for sure!).
I love the green dress. LOVE it! I think you should wear it for both events on that day – you will feel special all day and definitely stand out at both the courthouse and the welcome reception. But if you’re looking for a separate, outstanding look, I love the idea of a crisp white suit – if you get a skirt and jacket, you could definitely wear both pieces separately again. Congrats!
Thanks! I think I’m going to go with the green dress. I love it. And, so practical too! Kelly- thanks for the picture input. Really helpful!
I LOVE Jenny Yoo’s designs! Both my dresses are hers! Well spotted Wasabi!
I love living in DC. I love the monuments and I would say FDR or Lincoln like inside lincoln with the engraved text or columns behind you at night. I would also say somewhere in Rock Creek Park.