Can You Wear a Wedding Dress to Renew Your Vows?

Just as brides worry over the do’s and don’t’s of bridal etiquette, married women looking to renew their vows often find themselves in the same situation. This is especially true when it comes to the dress. For a vow renewal or the wedding itself, we often find ourselves wondering if it’s right to choose a certain color, style, or type of gown. So, when it comes right down to it, Avery Austin is ready to give our happily married women the same advice we always give our new brides asking if they can wear a certain type of wedding dress: YES. Yes, you can wear a wedding dress. Renewing your vows, saying “I still do,” is a very special celebration, and you should allow yourself to wear whatever makes your heart happy. So go out there and wow your spouse again when you re-tie the knot in whichever style of vow renewal dress you choose! If you’re still on the fence about wearing a wedding dress for your vow renewal because they’re “just for brides,” then read on! Let’s cover a few reasons why it’s well worth it to consider a vow renewal wedding dress.

4 Reasons to Wear a Wedding Dress for Your Vow Renewal

Feeling on the fence about wearing a wedding dress for your vow renewal? Many of us do feel that way before making a final decision about vow renewal wedding dresses. There’s a sort of tension about bridal dresses because many people strongly feel they are truly only for brides. Others find ways to accessorize or dye bridal gowns in new ways to use them for any number of special events, including prom, anniversary celebrations, and vow renewals (to name a few). If you’re not quite sure which camp you fall into, consider the following four reasons to wear a wedding dress for your vow renewal and see if any of those reasons speak to you!

1. Vow Renewals Are Highly Personal. There are no standard community expectations or dress code rules or other traditions to worry about following. The freedom to choose is entirely yours, so if wearing a vow renewal wedding dress is your dream, then you don’t have to worry about breaking a few rules to do it. Just go for it! A vow renewal ceremony is truly a celebration of your relationship, so it can be as unique and personal as the two of you.
   
2. A Vow Renewal Wedding Dress Can Offer Sweet Nostalgia. Tap into that feeling you had the first time you walked down the aisle to say “I do” by rewearing your wedding dress for your renewal ceremony or choosing a style that is reminiscent of your original gown (maybe even with a bit of modern flair).
3. A Vow Renewal Wedding Dress Can Demonstrate Your Personal Growth. Not feeling like the same person who walked down that aisle all the years ago? You’re not alone! Many women feel like they grow and evolve into someone new throughout their relationships. Choosing a vow renewal wedding dress that better reveals who you are now at this stage of your life and marriage can be empowering, especially when you can hold your photos from past and present together, side by side!
   
4. There’s Still Time to Bring Your Wedding Dress Dreams to Life. Maybe the first time you got married your dream gown remained just that…a dream. You may have borrowed a bridal gown, worn a keepsake hand-me-down, or purchased a beautiful style within your budget, but you still have that dream tucked away deep down. Years later, if you find yourself financially more established or you’ve been working hard to save up, then there’s no reason you can’t get that dream wedding dress for your vow renewal ceremony. It’s never too late to bring your dreams to life!

There’s no time like the present to start picturing yourself in a wedding dress, this time for your vow renewal! You can start shopping for style inspiration with Avery Austin’s full collection of wedding dresses. Need a little more help on how to choose a vow renewal wedding dress? Check out the advice below before diving into the shopping fun.

Tips for Choosing a Vow Renewal Wedding Dress

Once you’ve decided that a wedding dress is the right choice for your vow renewal celebration, it’s time to choose one that’s perfect for you at this stage of your life. You may not be a new blushing bride anymore, but you’re proud of the love (and maybe even family) you’ve cultivated over the years, and that deserves a dress that makes you happy! Let’s take a look at a few tips on how to go about choosing a vow renewal wedding dress that you’re sure to love.

• Be as Traditional or Non-Traditional as You Please. If you want the classic white or ivory wedding dress, then go for it! If you want to break from tradition with a different color, like an elegant black wedding dress or a bridal gown in a vibrant, colorful hue, then you do you for your “I still do’s!” Some women even choose to go for bridal jumpsuits for their vow renewals, so consider all the possibilities and what will make you and your spouse happiest.
• Consider Involving Your Family in the Dress Selection. Remember how much fun it was to have your bridesmaids with you when you searched for your “yes dress” the first time? You can absolutely recapture the magic of that moment for your vow renewal! While you might not have a bridal party this time, you can still invite close friends and family, even your children. The company might be the same or quite different this time around, but either way, choosing a wedding vow renewal dress with the special people in your life is the perfect way to make new memories.
• Choose a Style that Flatters You. Consider your current style preferences, body type, and age when shopping for a vow renewal wedding dress. A vow renewal dress for an older bride celebrating her 50th anniversary will likely look very different from that of a younger bride renewing her vows. The same can be said for women of different body types: Different dress silhouettes and features can be more or less flattering on certain body shapes, so vow renewal wedding dress styles vary greatly. If you need tips for shopping by body type, check out this blog by Avery Austin with dress style suggestions by body shape. For advice on finding a vow renewal dress for an older bride, take a look at Avery Austin’s, "Best Wedding Dress Styles For Women Over 50" blog post.
• Don’t Get Caught Up on Length. You truly can wear whatever makes you happy (and yes, we’ll keep saying this until you believe it!). Your vow renewal wedding dress can be short, knee length, midi, or floor length. Usually long gowns are reserved for formal vow renewal celebrations, while shorter dresses fit in well at cocktail-style events or casual events. While it’s encouraged to match the length of any dress to the formality of the celebration, you can break that rule too if you really want to (we won’t tell).
  
• Tune Out Any Negativity. People of all ages have opinions on what you should or shouldn’t wear to a wedding and to a vow renewal, but it’s completely reasonable to tune it all out and center yourself on what YOU want. Afterall, this celebration is all about you and your spouse, so what you choose to wear should reflect what makes you both happy, comfortable, and confident. Whether you want to wear a wedding dress for your vow renewal or a style that’s not quite so bridal, hold firmly to what you want and remember that this isn’t about pleasing everyone else. It’s about the married couple celebrating so many wonderful years together!

When you’re ready to re-tie the knot, remember that yes, you can wear a wedding dress to renew your vows if you wish to do so. Relive one of the most beautiful moments of your life by saying “I still do” in a vow renewal wedding dress. Even on a budget, you can find a dream bridal gown for your vow renewal celebration when you shop at Avery Austin. With a collection of wedding dresses under $500, you can find a mix of classic ball gowns, elegant and simple styles, or intricately embellished designs, so you’re sure to find the right look for your vow renewal. Let us help you say yes without the stress…again!