Wedding Dress - Mass day after

[Princess18]

My niece received her first communion a few weeks back and our pastor asked all the first communicants to wear their “outfits” the next day to Mass so that everyone could see that they had just received the sacrament and could share in their joy.

Anyone ever heard of a bride wearing her dress to Mass the day after her wedding?

Thanks!

 

[jmdsc]

My niece received her first communion a few weeks back and our pastor asked all the first communicants to wear their “outfits” the next day to Mass so that everyone could see that they had just received the sacrament and could share in their joy.

Anyone ever heard of a bride wearing her dress to Mass the day after her wedding?

Thanks!

Yes, it wasn’t that long ago that brides wore their gowns several times in the first year following their wedding - without the veil of course! (In my family, it is tradition that the bridal gown is cut down and re-designed to become an evening/cocktail gown and the “left over” fabric is used for a baptismal gown or the first communion dress of the first daugher!)

I have to assume that the pastor implied that the dresses be worn without the veil?

If we can accept this idea, how would it be any different from wearing anything else?

Most of these dresses are expensive and I would have a hard time paying for a little girls dress that was only going to be worn once!

 

[puzzleannie]

My niece received her first communion a few weeks back and our pastor asked all the first communicants to wear their “outfits” the next day to Mass so that everyone could see that they had just received the sacrament and could share in their joy.

Anyone ever heard of a bride wearing her dress to Mass the day after her wedding?

Thanks!

since the first communion dress is NOT analagous to the wedding dress, the comparison is not apt. As a matter of fact in many times and places, the wedding dress became the woman’s best Sunday dress for as long as she could still wear it, at least for the first year, and was chosen accordingly, and not necessarily white for that reason.

 

[SeekerJen]

I haven’t experienced what you have described, but that’s because my parish wisely splits up the first communicants between the Sunday Masses and they receive, all dressed up, with the rest of the congregation. Baptisms are also often done as part of regular Mass, and occasionally so are confirmations. As for wedding clothes, my friend and her husband did don their wedding attire (tux, dress, veil, and all) for a private audience and blessing from Pope JPII during their honeymoon. I have a great photo that they sent out of the two of them in St. Peter’s Square in full garb. The orthodox parish that I grew up in had all of the first communicants and confirmandi (girls were required to wear white dresses for both sacraments at that parish) dress up in their special outfits and process in to the church for the May crowning. I presume that it was to allow the rest of the parish to see who had received the special sacraments and to celebrate with them.

I’m not sure if you have a problem with what the parish did. If you do, perhaps you should take it up with the pastor.

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

I don’t understand the big deal. As puzzleannie said, the comparison is not analagous. There is not an analogy between HFC veils and wedding veils, either.

My parish growing up, the parish where my eldest made her FHC, and the parish where my next daughter made her FHC all had the first communicants come to May Crowning in their outfits.

I also wore mine fo 40 Hours Devotion Procession, as did the other nine girls who had dresses. It was right after Vatican II, and parents were encouraged to let their girls wear slips under these hideous white robes. We wore them with our veils.

The eldest wore hers with her fancy ponytail holder, as she refused to wear a veil. The next daughter wore hers with her veil.

I also wore mine for a party dress, as did my friends who had them. They were shorter than FHC dresses nowadays, and little girls dressed up for parties. I took care of it, but when I outgrew it, it went to Sister #3, who wore it for her FHC, et al. These dresses, even back then, cost too much money to sit in a closet and not get use.

You are about the age of my eldest, OP. I don’t understand why it effects you so.

It just occured to me that seniors, particularly the down-right elderly whose children don’t bring the little ones to visit, LOVE to see babies in their baptismal gowns, and the first communicants in their finery. Maybe your pastor was just trying to give the older generations a little joy in their Sunday.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

My niece received her first communion a few weeks back and our pastor asked all the first communicants to wear their “outfits” the next day to Mass so that everyone could see that they had just received the sacrament and could share in their joy.

Anyone ever heard of a bride wearing her dress to Mass the day after her wedding?

Thanks!

No, but we have the newly Baptized wear their white sash for the Sundays of the Easter season after they are Baptized at the Easter Vigil.

So why not have the First Communicants do the same?

 

[puzzleannie]

our parish church is too small for a celebration with all the communicants or even one class, so we spread them out over Sunday Masses in the Easter season. We encourage parents to buy clothes that can become the child’s Sunday outfit for the rest of the year, the only requirement being modesty, any color okay. Those whose family prefer traditional dress will have it, usually paid for by godparents, but nothing that costs money is required. We get quite a variety. the heirloom lace gowns from the Philippines are gorgeous.

In my day our confirmation dress was usually our first grown up Sunday dress and worn all year for Sunday Mass. they were usually white (custom, not requirement) and definitely a coming of age affair.

 

[CB_Catholic]

our parish church is too small for a celebration with all the communicants or even one class, so we spread them out over Sunday Masses in the Easter season. We encourage parents to buy clothes that can become the child’s Sunday outfit for the rest of the year, the only requirement being modesty, any color okay. Those whose family prefer traditional dress will have it, usually paid for by godparents, but nothing that costs money is required. We get quite a variety. the heirloom lace gowns from the Philippines are gorgeous.

In my day our confirmation dress was usually our first grown up Sunday dress and worn all year for Sunday Mass. they were usually white (custom, not requirement) and definitely a coming of age affair.

I think we are of the same generation, and I remember wearing my First Communion dress a number of times. I remember it was a little too big for me, so I actually wore it for 2 years, because we used to have outdoor processions at church, and my grandmother would dress me up in it to be in the processions. I remember that it was a little too short for me by the last procession I was in

In those days, you got the most use out of anything you had–no such thing as buying something to wear once.

 

[puzzleannie]

whenever there was any parish even going on, those who had recently made 1st communion or confirmation were expected to wear their dress or suit, and I do remember processions–40 hrs especially sticks in my mind.

someone asked on another thread why we don’t do processions any more, like on Corpus Christi, IMO its because without those armies of nuns there is nobody to line the troops up and keep them in order, stop them fidgeting, perfect the “wait two pews’ length, then step with your partner, right foot first, and stay together” classic Catholic processional walk.

when DD was asked to be flower girls in my sister’s wedding, she wore her 1st communion dress–at the suggestions of the Baptist in-laws! so she would get more wear out of and because she looked “so precious”. worried because we could not make it in time for rehearsal, the FIL said “no problem, if there is one thing Catholic school children learn it is how to process.”

 

[Princess18]

You are about the age of my eldest, OP. I don’t understand why it effects you so.

It doesn’t “effect” me, I don’t think … (I’m not really sure what you meant there). I’m getting married in a few months and so my brain is fairly fixated on all things wedding. I just wanted to know if brides ever do that for the same reason – to show that they just received a sacrament. My curiosity has nothing to do with first communicants looking like brides with veils, it’s that they both happen to wear very distinctive clothing for the sacramental ceremony. Apparently it was a stupid question? :blushing:

On a side note, her first communion was the first time I’d heard of wearing it the next day and I thought it was lovely. When he first said it, I thought it was kind of silly until I sat in Mass the next day and saw all the kids dressed in white sitting with their families. All the families sitting around congratulated the kids and their parents and truly shared in the joy. I hope they continue that tradition.

 

[puzzleannie]

It. I just wanted to know if brides ever do that for the same reason – to show that they just received a sacrament. .

DD had the first wedding reception in our newly build parish hall, and by the time it was over nearly time for Sat evening Mass, so most of us went, she was still in her dress, had taken off veil and train, She and hubby looked smashing and it was a chance for a lot of parishioners and neighbors to congratulate and rejoice with them. You often see this in Mexico when couples who have just been married in the civil office come to Church often at a regular Mass to have their marriage validated in the Church.

 

[Princess18]

I’m not sure if you have a problem with what the parish did. If you do, perhaps you should take it up with the pastor.

Hmm, you’re the second person to suggest I have a problem with what happened, so I take it that I did not word my original post very well, because that’s not at all what I was saying. I’ll try again:

I thought it was neat that the first communicants wore their stuff the next day so everyone could see and know that they just received the sacrament. Has anyone ever heard of a bride showing up specifically to Mass on Sunday (the day after her wedding) in her wedding dress for the same happy reason - so everyone could see she just got married?

(Better? )

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

Nope, not a stupid question, just needed explanation.

I think it would be LOVELY if you had a dress that could be worn again, or even one that maybe others wouldn’t but that you chose to wear to Mass the next day or even next week or two, when you are back from your honeymoon. The old ladies in your parish would really get a kick out of it,as would a lot of parishioners!!!

 

[Princess18]

Nope, not a stupid question, just needed explanation.

I think it would be LOVELY if you had a dress that could be worn again, or even one that maybe others wouldn’t but that you chose to wear to Mass the next day or even next week or two, when you are back from your honeymoon. The old ladies in your parish would really get a kick out of it,as would a lot of parishioners!!!

Yay! For a minute there I couldn’t figure out why I was getting fussed at about first communicants! Maybe I sounded argumentative. Sorry 'bout that.

 

[jrabs]

DD had the first wedding reception in our newly build parish hall, and by the time it was over nearly time for Sat evening Mass, so most of us went, she was still in her dress, had taken off veil and train, She and hubby looked smashing and it was a chance for a lot of parishioners and neighbors to congratulate and rejoice with them. You often see this in Mexico when couples who have just been married in the civil office come to Church often at a regular Mass to have their marriage validated in the Church.

That’s what I did too for my recent wedding. My reception ended at 7pm - mass was at 7:30pm and we were heading out at 4:30am on Sunday morning so we went straight from the reception.

The priest asked up to bring the gifts up.

Though I would probably not opt to wear it the next day for Sunday mass to show I had just received a sacrament. I think the rings are sufficient for that .

 

[jrabs]

I have an idea. Are you going on a honeymoon? Perhaps out to a very special restaurant while honeymooning? Wear your dress out. That may be fun too.

 

[Princess18]

I have an idea. Are you going on a honeymoon? Perhaps out to a very special restaurant while honeymooning? Wear your dress out. That may be fun too.

That’s a good idea, but it’s a little away from what I was thinking. I really wanted to wear it more so everyone in our parish could see that this man and I just received a holy sacrament … we’re not two people any more, we’re one. (That part really flips me out, I’m so excited). Strangers on the street see it and say “ooh pretty dress” but it doesn’t mean much to them. Catholics at Mass … well, we get it.

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

Yay! For a minute there I couldn’t figure out why I was getting fussed at about first communicants! Maybe I sounded argumentative. Sorry 'bout that.

Naw, it’s just that you brought the first communicants into it, and didn’t explain that you’d like to wear your wedding dress to show you’d just had a sacrament as well.

 

[jrabs]

That’s a good idea, but it’s a little away from what I was thinking. I really wanted to wear it more so everyone in our parish could see that this man and I just received a holy sacrament … we’re not two people any more, we’re one. (That part really flips me out, I’m so excited). Strangers on the street see it and say “ooh pretty dress” but it doesn’t mean much to them. Catholics at Mass … well, we get it.

I guess I would chat with my priest and see if he is on board.

 

[Phemie]

That’s a good idea, but it’s a little away from what I was thinking. I really wanted to wear it more so everyone in our parish could see that this man and I just received a holy sacrament … we’re not two people any more, we’re one.

Errr…you may be one flesh but you are still two people.

As for the first communicants, our bishop asked that we discourage the parents from dressing the kids as little brides and grooms, encouraging instead the concept of ‘clean and modest’ as being the only requirement for First Communion and Confirmation. We still have the white dress & veil show up but fewer each year. I don’t think I’ve seen a boy in a suit in a few years.