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.
お色直しをする。
To do a costume change.
お色直し後に新郎新婦が再入場した。
After the costume change, the bride and groom re-entered.
花嫁は白無垢から色打掛にお色直しをした。
The bride changed from a white wedding kimono to a colored uchikake.
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 CONTEXT:
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.