<p>News this morning said there were 14 bridesmaids</p>
<p>14 bridesmaids? Wow.</p>
<p>Alicia Keys got married this weekend too…</p>
<p>I had read that Chelsea changed into a different dress for the reception. I have never heard of doing that. I assumed she would stay in that gorgeous wedding gown for the entire wedding party.</p>
<p>soozie, I think the ceremony gown was too old and used up by the time the reception started. 
:p</p>
<p>I just have never heard of not wearing the wedding gown at one’s reception. Also, for all that went into getting that gown, I’d think wearing it for more than an hour makes sense! She really did look lovely in it.</p>
<p>Or maybe it wasn’t comfortable enough to wear for hours of dancing, given the posts above about the construction of strapless dresses, and the devices used to fasten them securely to the body.</p>
<p>I have a feeling that no more photos are coming. A similar handful of beautiful photos were released of Jenna Bush’s wedding (I loved her dress), and I don’t think any more ever came out.</p>
<p>The people who traveled to Rhinebeck hoping to see a major celebrity must have been disappointed! I smiled when I read about teenage boys chasing Madeleine Albright for an autograph!</p>
<p>does anyone know what was in the frame shown behind the both of them under the chuppah? I guessed either the poem that they read or a katubah?</p>
<p>I can’t imagine two dresses (decision making and expense…) although her ceremony gown would have been difficult to dance in…</p>
<p>I have been to weddings where the bride has two or even three dresses. One for the church (fairly modest), one for the first part of the reception and one for late night dancing. These are women who LOVE clothes.</p>
<p>
It’s very common here to have two different dresses. Heck, many girls have two dresses for the prom and after-prom.</p>
<p>Re the change in dress, I too assume it was because Chelsea wanted to be able to dance freely at the reception without harming or worrying about the gown.</p>
<p>It is actually a tradition in some cultures to have changes of wedding clothing. I once attended a Chinese wedding in which the bride wore three different outfits during the course of the reception. I believe the three outfits (and twelve courses for dinner) are a cultural tradtion. </p>
<p>In this case I assume it was personal choice. The skirt of Chelsea’s gown looked very delicate, and I can understand not wanting it torn, and not wanting to spend the reception worrying about it. Of course, that could have been factored in when choosing the gown, but in this case the bride was presumably free to do exactly what she wanted.</p>
<p>I am still amazed at the total control the Clintons pulled off for this. Not ONE leak, even with so many guests and not even after the event!</p>
<p>It was also kind of big to move around in, and probably had a train. </p>
<p>Speaking of traditions, there was a piece on msnbc on weddings of presidential daughters (why have there not been many presidential sons?), and it was mentioned that there was a tradition, now lost, that the previous presidential child to marry would be invited.</p>
<p>rodney, the framed print in the photos under the chuppah was their Katubah. I read that. </p>
<p>I guess I am not up on weddings and have only ever known brides to be in their wedding gown at the reception. I can see how her dress would be hard to dance in. I read she had some grecian style ivory gown with a black sash. </p>
<p>When I got married, when the wedding was ending, I changed into my “going away on my honeymoon outfit” for the “send off”. I think that was a traditional thing to do at the time. But I did wear the wedding gown for the reception.</p>
<p>so called “reception dresses” are the rage now…at least here in the NY area.D is not doing this at her wedding next May, but at each bridal shop visited while dress shopping she was asked about needing the 2nd dress. Usually the 2nd dress is lighter,easier to dance in. Sometimes its short.</p>
<p>I’ve never been to a wedding that featured this, but I’ve heard of a bride having a second gown for the reception. At the Clintons’ income level, I say why not. </p>
<p>I’m surprised to see that strapless is seen as “trendy” - I think it’s very classic – albeit not flattering on anyone other than a slender, non-busty person. I think Chelsea’s fit her very nicely, though. And I thought Bill looked great. Good for him for losing the weight. </p>
<p>I haven’t met the Clintons, but my mother did and reported that Hillary Clinton is very attractive IRL and pictures don’t do her justice.</p>
<p>^^another expense and decision to deal with; I’m breaking out in hives and my kids are not of "marrying age)…</p>
<p>Can you imagine someone who has trouble making a decision making the decision on two dresses!!!</p>
<p>soozie: thanks for the clarification…didn’t know that a katubah could be issued for a “mixed” marriage…</p>
<p>There was one young woman on *Say Yes to the Dress *who was shopping for her *third *dress. I couldn’t figure out how she was going to find an occasion for the third.</p>
<p>I would say that 90%+ (probably higher) of the dresses that are featured on Say Yes to the Dress are strapless. Some of the orthodox Jewish brides are looking for covered shoulders, but many just have a shrug made that goes over the strapless dress.</p>
<p>Strapless is a trend. It doesn’t matter if most girls would look better in a different style - it’s what is in now, so that is what is sold.</p>
<p>Learn something new every day! I didn’t realize some brides had a second dress for the reception. I haven’t been to a wedding in a very long time.</p>
<p>My bigger problem is why everything has to be sleeveless these days. I am sure I am not alone in saying that it isn’t flattering! I’m not overweight, but I don’t have Michelle Obama arms, that’s for sure.</p>
<p>“Strapless is a trend. It doesn’t matter if most girls would look better in a different style - it’s what is in now, so that is what is sold.”</p>
<p>This drives me nuts. I know that the point of the dress is to make the bride happy, and nobody elected me Fashion Cop, but ugh. It’s possible for a short, chunky bride to look gorgeous and glamorous, but not in the flavor-of-the-year strapless princess ball gown. Honey, go for something with vertical lines. Also, if you have linebacker shoulders, this is not the neckline for you. There are plenty of silhouettes that don’t work on me, but I try to steer clear of them!</p>