Picking out the one perfect wedding dress for your wedding day can be quite a challenge. With so many options (who knew there were so many shades of white?) a bride-to-be can become quickly overwhelmed. Do you want a traditional style, long flowing dress with a six foot train? Or would a short, sassy dress be more your style?

Many brides have decided to take the hassle out of picking only one wedding dress, by picking two instead. Typically, they will wear a longer, more traditional dress for the wedding ceremony. Then they will change into a shorter number, so they can have fun on the dance floor at the wedding reception.

Sometimes family tradition plays a part in their decision. When they are expected to wear a wedding dress that has been passed down through the generations, it may not always reflect their own personal style. To keep the peace, the bride will wear the family dress for the ceremony, then do a quick costume change to a dress that brings out her personality.

Intercultural weddings can also dictate two dresses. Switching between multiple dresses can bring a new level of depth to a wedding that could be overwhelmed by only one culture’s influence.

The one problem with multiple dresses is the added cost. How do you beat the budget crunch? One way is to acquire the second dress from a consignment shop, or even a lower-cost retail store. Since the second dress is less formal and more fun, you do not have to go to a wedding dress vendor.

As long as you find a second dress that lets the real you shine though, it does not matter where you purchase it. Your wedding day is all about you, and what makes you feel the most comfortable.

Are you planning on more than one wedding dress? Tell us all about it in the comments.