1.
costume change at a wedding reception
The bride's (and sometimes groom's) midway change of outfit during a wedding reception, typically from a traditional white kimono or white dress to a colored kimono, gown, or other festive outfit.
Literally 're-coloring' — refers historically to swapping the bride's pure-white wedding garment for a colored one to symbolize her becoming part of her husband's family. The polite お prefix is always included.
Common collocations
- お色直しをする: to do a costume change
- お色直し後: after the costume change
- お色直しの間: while the costume change is happening
- お色直し回数: number of costume changes
Cultural note
A traditional feature of Japanese wedding receptions. The bride typically leaves the hall for 20–30 minutes to change, often with a video or speech filling the gap. Common changes: 白無垢 → 色打掛 → western evening gown. One or two changes is standard.