Deciding what to wear to a bridal shower can be stressful, as you will no doubt want to pick an outfit that flatters you and helps you look your best while not overshadowing the bride or going against dress code requests.
Since there are likely lots of pictures taken at a bridal shower, you will surely want to ensure your bridal shower outfit perfectly fits into your event’s theme. Our article gives you more details on what to expect at a bridal shower in addition to ideas on what to wear and special items to consider when picking your bridal shower outfit.
What to Expect at a Bridal Shower
Bridal showers are typically more casual and intimate gatherings that are held for a bride before her big day. Both family and friends are usually invited to bridal showers, and the vibe of these events varies greatly from a bachelorette party, which is generally more upbeat and limited to members of the bridal party. It’s often more similar to an engagement party, though both these and bridal showers can vary depending on their theme.
At a bridal shower, you can expect a nice lunch or dinner, gift-giving, and bridal games to celebrate the bride and have a nice time. Depending on your bride’s wishes, family and friends may swap stories about the bride, there may be time for pictures and videos and best wishes on the upcoming marriage.
Today, bridal showers are becoming more all-gender events, and couples may be invited to celebrate both the bride and the groom.
What Should I Consider When Choosing a Bridal Shower Outfit?
When choosing your bridal shower outfit, there are a few very important things that you should be keeping in mind. We list these factors below so you know what to look out for when choosing your bridal shower style.
Make sure you consult with the bride or individual hosting your bridal shower event if you have any questions about the venue, dress code, or other important bridal shower items. Doing so will help you avoid accidentally committing a fashion faux pas.
Venue
The venue where your bridal shower event is held plays a very important part in your outfit. For example, if you are outdoors in a park in the middle of summer, you will likely want a more loose and flowy summer dress.
Conversely, if your bridal shower is being held in a hotel or other upscale lounge, you may want to pick something that is a step above casual.
Weather and Season
How hot or cold it is outside paired with the season in which a bridal shower event is held should factor into your bridal shower outfit.
In general, spring and summer bridal showers lend themselves to brighter clothing, flowy items, and pastel colors. Fall and winter bring cozier clothing, long-sleeved dresses, and accessories like scarves, and warm jackets.
Dress Code Requests
Following the dress code requests of a bridal shower is very important, as you will want to make sure that you follow the bride’s wishes and that you don’t stand out too much. A bridal shower is not the time to debut your new risqué outfit, nor is it the time to take fashion risks and hope they pay off.
You should be doing your best to dress within the formality requirements of the bridal shower, look your best, and ensure that your bride feels the most special they can during their shower.
Comfort
Your own comfort is very important with a bridal shower outfit, especially if you know that there will be games or other events where you might be expected to move around. In some cases, bridal showers will have interesting themes, and you will need to dress comfortably within the parameters of that theme.
You should consult with the organizer of the bridal shower if you have any questions about the events or games being held throughout the bridal shower.
Outfit Ideas for a Bridal Shower
Dressing for your next bridal shower as a guest doesn’t have to be as challenging as you might think. There are several different options for bridal shower outfits.
As long as you keep important factors in mind like the formality of your event and any dress code requests, you should easily be able to find the perfect outfit.
Dresses
Dresses are very common for bridal showers, and casual dresses make for the best choices. Depending on the season, you could wear a summer dress, or a longer slip dress in colder months paired with a jacket.
In general, you won’t want to wear anything too formal, and bright colors and pastels typically complement most bridal shower themes and the fun of the occasion.
Skirts and Blouses
Skirts and blouses are another classic choice for a bridal shower, and you can easily keep your outfit more casual or dress up your skirt and shirt outfit for a slightly more upscale bridal shower.
We recommend flowy skirts and blouses that fit well but aren’t too revealing or low-cut, as most bridal showers tend to be modest and casual affairs.
Pants and Blouses
If you aren’t much of a skirt person, you may want to wear a nice pair of dress pants or slacks and a suitable blouse for a bridal shower.
This is perfectly acceptable, though you should likely stay away from jeans or other ripped and loose-fitting pants unless the dress code of your bridal shower specifies that denim is acceptable.
Suits
While some types of suits may be too formal for a bridal shower, a neatly tailored suit or a pair of dress pants and a collared shirt do make for a great option. With the right styling, a suit can be perfect for those bridal showers that aren’t quite formal but are a step above casual.
You can leave off the ties or suit jackets to dress down your suit and make sure that your items are tailored to your body to ensure a good fit and a presentable appearance.
Where Can I Buy My Bridal Shower Outfit?
Purchasing your bridal shower outfit can be confusing, but there are, fortunately, plenty of places that allow you to browse suitable bridal shower outfits.
We recommend looking around your local mall or shopping at boutique stores to find the perfect outfit. Thrift stores are great options if you are on a budget, while online shopping is an easy way to filter the styles, colors, and sizes you are interested in and purchase your favorite bridal shower.
Dressing Your Bridal Shower Best
Choosing what to wear to your next bridal shower doesn’t need to be anxiety-inducing. To make this process simple, keep in mind important factors of your bridal shower event. These include the dress code, the venue, and the weather or season, and make sure that you are prepared if there are games or other events.
You can wear any type of outfit that makes you feel comfortable and look your best, and you should be prepared to have a great time and celebrate the bride.