For those who can’t decide between a princess ball gown or a sexy mini, they wear both. That’s right—the growing trend is to wear two dresses: a Cinderella-inspired gown for the ceremony and then a fun, flirty (think comfortable) cocktail dress for the reception. This gives brides that perfect mix of style and comfort.

Judy Fletcher, owner of the Wedding Store at Liz Clinton’s in Andover (973-786-5330; myweddingatlizclintons.com), agrees that most brides still want the traditional white wedding gown, but she has had a couple of customers wanting the option of wearing two dresses. “We had a bride that wanted to do the ‘Dirty Dancing’ routine,” she says, “so she changed into a different dress for that. I think the decision to wear two dresses is not for everyone—it depends on the personality of the bride.”

Dina Dolan, salon manager at Priscilla of Boston in Short Hills (973-376-2345; priscillaofboston.com), has seen her fair share of brides who desire the best of both worlds for their wedding dress. “Typically, the bride who is interested in purchasing two dresses will choose a long wedding gown with a train to wear to the ceremony, and then select a short gown to change into halfway through the reception, or for an after-party following the reception,” she says.

But don’t be fooled—these shorter dresses can be very elegant. “The considerations for wearing a second dress are both practical and stylish,” she adds. “While allowing more comfort and movement for dancing, the necklines can be more revealing, with a fit that highlights the body. For the bride who wants to be chic and modern, or feminine and flirty, a second dress captures all of these elements.”

New Jersey bride Samantha Mitchel, who got married last May to Charles Boyle at the Chart House in Weehawken, agrees. “I wanted to have the best of worlds—a dress to get married in, and a dress to party in. A shorter dress is more comfortable and fun.” And she brings up an added bonus: “Seeing my husband’s reaction to me in not one but two white dresses was enjoyable as well. After the wedding we all went to an after-party and I was very happy to be in a shorter, less ‘wedding’ dress but still look like the bride,” she says. And what was the reaction of her guests? “People loved it!” she says. “Original and fun.”

Perhaps the best part about buying a second dress is that it can be worn on more than one occasion. Jade Elsayed, one of Priscilla’s customers, loves this trend and will be testing it out for her own wedding. “Because I love to dance,” she says, “I knew I wanted to wear something fun and flirty, and I wanted to be comfortable. That’s why I selected a shorter dress to change into for the after-hours party at my wedding. Our venue will be turning the cocktail room into a lounge-inspired club with a deejay.”

Many designers have recognized the two-dress trend and are even creating “convertible” dresses, where brides can sport two looks with one dress. For example, a bride can choose to wear layers of organza in a full skirt with a long train for her ceremony, and then remove the skirt for the party to reveal a strapless sheath.

Mary Helen Ranieri, owner of Suky in Ardmore, Pennsylvania (610-649-3686; sukyoccasions.com), loves the idea of brides being able to achieve both a traditional and a more glamorous look for their wedding. “We have seen several of our brides choose this path,” she says. “In fact, one of our customers had a traditional Indian wedding, which included a three-day celebration, and had to purchase several gowns for each night.”

For some brides, wearing two wedding dresses is not just about style; it’s about honoring their family heritage. In fact, it’s common for American women of Asian, Indian, or Arab descent to wear a traditional-style white gown, and then change into a colorful Eastern-inspired design on their wedding day. For example, a Chinese woman may want to honor her heritage by wearing the color red.

A Hindu bride may wear a traditional bridal gown to her ceremony and later change into a colorful sari in the traditional colors of red and white. By wearing two dresses brides really can have the best of both worlds. Whoever said you can’t have it all?