What To Wear If You’re A Bride For The Second Time? The Only Rule Is That There Are No Rules
Brides who are walking down the aisle for the second time have no rules to follow, so their dresses can be as fabulous or as simple as they want. Sujata Assomull breaks down the
dress codes for second-time brides
Saying yes to the dress the first time around is an experience that turns even the most free-spirited woman into a bridezilla. This is something you are able to easily avoid if you are a second-time bride. This time, the only thing you need to break are rules – you do not have to wear a certain colour, a veil is not expected, and you might choose to skip the religious rituals. You are free to go the Meghan Markle route and be a full-on traditional bride or to be as boho as you want and take inspiration from the rainbow-coloured, kaftan-inspired dress that Elizabeth Taylor wore for her second wedding to Richard Burton. It will (hopefully) be your last and final trip down the aisle so you want to make sure you mark this special moment.
Dubai-based designer and couturier Rami Al Ali insists, “In my view, whether it’s for the first or second time, she’s still a bride and she has every right to celebrate this big important day in her life the way she wants and feels to do so.” Adds the designer, “I guess if you are older and wiser, and had the experience of the first wedding then maybe the second time round is even more perfect than you thought it was the first time.” His advice for brides-to-be who are taking the plunge for the second time is, “I would not treat a second-time wedding any differently to the first-time wedding. If the bride wishes to wear white, then she absolutely should do so.”
Indian fashion designer and actress Masaba Gupta, who recently married her co-actor from her Netflix show, Masaba, Masaba, Saytadeep Mishra opted for an intimate court ceremony and then a reception filled with her nearest and dearest for her second time saying ‘I do’. Details were kept secret until after the court ceremony. Masaba’s first wedding was a much grander affair and included a henna party, however she feels she was more bridal in her fashion choices the second time around.
Masaba muses, “The second time, for me I was more dressed up than the first time because I felt like I missed the idea of looking like a bride the first time around.” Gupta used the occasion to wear a piece from her own design label, House of Masaba’s newly launched bridal line. She chose a fresh pink and lime green lehenga worn with two dupattas, layered necklaces, and vintage hair jewellery. The founder of beauty brand, LoveChild, completed the look with fresh minimal make-up and kajal lined eyes. “I think second-time brides are a lot more relaxed, and have more clarity in terms of what they want to wear. Because I think the first time around, typically it’s more the idea of fantasy.”
In the past few months, Mashaba has dressed four second-time brides and is happy to see that more women are taking another chance on marriage. One thing she notices is that these brides have a clear budget and want to stick to it, are comfort-driven, and are also conscious of how they can re-wear their bridal outfit for future occasions. She also observes that they do not want to invest in heavy jewellery that will be locked up to live in safes. She herself chose to layer her necklaces that were repurposed from her mother’s collection.
While Rami understands that brides today want to make conscientious fashion decisions, he does feel that second time brides should wear something new and not look at renting or even a more circular fashion option. They should not feel guilty about splurging on something special. “I suggest wearing something totally new and fresh to mark a new chapter with new memories,” he declares.
One fashion rule that second-time brides might want to follow is that their first and second wedding dresses should have very different vibes, so they cannot be compared. What is most important is that it should speak of your style, be that elegant or avant-garde. UK-based designer Roksanda Ilinčić, known for structured garments that have a feeling of drape, states, “Whether re-wearable, new or old, a bride should choose what she believes to reflect herself.”
Make your own dresscode
Should a second timer be worried about what people think? Are they expected to be more elegant, more modest, and more toned down? Masaba feels, “In terms of silhouette, I don’t want to say it has to be traditional or that it needs to be more modern. I really think it depends on the bride-to-be. One client said she wanted to balance traditional bridal dressing with something more out-of-the-box. However she was clear she did want sequins and bling. So we went for a vibrant colour and used thread work.” It is very important that clients have open conversations with their designers or the fashion professional who is helping them choose their outfit, on their preferences and any apprehensions they have.
While the dress also needs to work with the location and the choice of ceremony, this really is your day. So you do not have to wear a gown, sari or lenghna – you can wear a cocktail dress, trouser suit or even a jumpsuit. If you do have a theme or a concept in mind, you may want to add it as a dress code to the invite, so that your guests know the direction you are going in. Roksanda, a Serbian-born creative known for her penchant for modest styles, says, “a secondtime bride should have the freedom to be even more playful and expressive, if she wishes to.” And from her own collection feels a tailored suit would work well for an understated bride and for those that like a femininity then a dress from her current season collection.
And… if you want to wear white and a veil, you can. Jennifer Lopez showed off a total of three wedding gowns for the celebrations to mark her fourth walk down the aisle last year, including a bespoke Ralph Lauren turtle-neck sleeveless dress featuring a 20-foot veil. It was elegant yet made a statement. It very much spoke of the celebratory mood but still felt very grown-up. Masaba chose to wear a black veil to her after-ceremony party teamed with an Azzedine Alaïa outfit, inscribed with the date of her wedding. It is these small details that will ensure that your wedding attire feels special and always holds an exceptional place in your wardrobe.
Whether you are a first, second or even third time bride, there is actually only one fashion rule to follow – it’s your big day, and you need to love what you are wearing. As Roksanda says, “I believe that no bride should follow rules or limitations but instead should listen to her emotions and feelings, wearing something that makes her feel elevated and beautiful, fully expressing her personality.”
From Harper’s Bazaar Arabia’s Brides Issue, June 2023
Photo: Elizabeth Taylor by Bettman Archive, Getty Images. Elizabeth Taylor and Michael Wilding, her second husband (of seven) pose for cameras following their marriage at the Caxton Registrar’s office in London. They were married in a simple 10-minute civil ceremony. Shuttershock, Bride collection images courtesy of Roksanda Illincic and supplied images.