What to wear to your engagement party, bridal shower, & rehearsal dinner!
Engagement Party
As with all of the events leading up to your big day, it is customary for the bride to wear white or cream. What better way to debut your new sparkler at your engagement party than a dress that’s simple enough to let your big “I’m engaged!” smile shine?
Typically engagement parties involve a cocktail hour so a fitted mini lace dress is the perfect frock for the occasion. Wear it with a sparkly bib necklace and a fun pair of heels to add a splash of personality to the look!
Bridal Shower
Once again any shade of white is advised if you are going the traditional route. However, if your favorite color is pink–go for it! This is your party so you can wear what you want. The only reason why white is a good idea is because guests often know that the color is reserved for the bride-to-be and it is a nice way to standout in all of your photos.
Since most bridal showers take place during the daylight hours, a pretty day dress is best. When searching for a shower dress, look for something with a little feminine flair such as bows or lace. Showers traditionally include only female attendees making them a great opportunity to channel your girly side.
For our shower look, we fell in love with this beige short-sleeve chiffon wrap-dress with a girly bow at the hip. We were especially keen on this dress because it looks as good as it does sitting down as it does standing up–a major requirement since photos are often taken of brides while they sit and open gifts at the shower.
Rehearsal Dinner
While white is the traditional color of choice for most brides, don’t be afraid to venture out and break the rules. For our rehearsal dinner look, I wore a taupe lace dress that was offset by a bright lip. The three-quarter sleeve is perfect for a dinnertime event and the flirty skirt is forgiving enough to allow the bride to indulge in dinner (and maybe even dessert).
To give the look a nighttime approved finish, I wore a bold pink lip and loads of lashes with thick black liner and a chic pair of black points to tie it all together. No matter where you decide to do you rehearsal dinner, I suggest wearing whatever you feel special in…after all, you are the belle of the ball!
If you’re still searching for the perfect dress for any of these occasions, one of my favorite resources for online shopping is ShopStyle. Simply plug in what you’re looking for (“white cocktail dress”), pick your price range, and shop!
>> Read more: Party Fashion
Decoding the Holiday Dress Code — What to Wear to Every Single Party
The start of December marks a very special time in our hearts — party season! That said, the slew of holiday invitations are rolling in and before you get befuddled on what to wear, we suggest you take special note of the holiday dress code. If you're wondering what all of those little terms mean — casual, cocktail, formal, black-tie — we're here to break it down for you, all with a holiday twist. After all, nothing is more awkward than being the only girl in the party wearing jeans while everyone else is decked out in pretty little dresses. Read all about it below.
- If the dress code on your invite says casual, you're in luck. This is your chance to show your style cred in a multitude of ways; dark skinny jeans, leather leggings, miniskirts — everything goes. Just remember to add a little shine on the top (metallic blazers, red silk tops, sequin tees), or bottom (beaded skirts, jacquard trousers, shiny shorts), to show off your holiday spirit.
- The cocktail dress code category is one of our favorites. Why, you ask? Because you get to wear pretty little dresses and jumpsuits without the worry of looking too "dressed down." It's all about having fun here, so go on and pull out that little red dress you've been aching to wear, and if you're feeling experimental, we love the idea of dressing up a chic black jumpsuit with statement jewels and accessories.
Now, it's time to talk about the trickier categories.
- If your invite reads "formal," your party hostess is asking you to step up your style game. For this, you must wear either a formal cocktail dress (think elegant, and stay away from anything too short or tight) or a long gown. Since it is the holiday season, show off your spirit in pretty jewel tones like dark red, aubergine, and forest green, and if you want to shine bright, try out a sequined or metallic gown, like this gorgeous Michael Kors rendition.
- The black-tie dress code is the highest dressing tier in the book — and for good reason. Get ready to pull out all of the bells and whistles for this holiday spectacular. A long gown (we love the idea of donning an ethereal white gown or beaded number) or super fancy cocktail dress is a must, but that's not all you need. In addition to finding the right dress, it's essential to complete the look with sleek heels, jewelry, and a fancy updo and flawless makeup palette. If you're looking for no fail brands, Marchesa, Monique Lhuillier, and Elie Saab always take our breath away with their gorgeous gowns and dresses.
