Gorgeous Bridal Shower Dresses for Bridesmaids That Guarantee Stunning Photos
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There are plenty of articles on what a bride should wear to their bridal shower – but almost no guidance for bridesmaids!
As a key wedding party member you must meet attire expectations at all pre-wedding parties, including the bridal shower.
In this post, you’ll learn how to put together the best outfit as a bridesmaid to wear to the bridal shower.
What is a bridesmaid’s role in the bridal shower?
A bridesmaid’s official role in the bridal shower varies widely. It all depends on what the bride and the bridal shower host determine they need help with.
Traditionally, the bridesmaids pay for and help host the bridal shower. However, this hasn’t seemed to be that common in the last few years. Instead, the bridesmaids are critical players in the bridal shower who help fill any gaps. This can be anything from greeting guests to cutting and serving cake.
If you’re a bridesmaid, open up communication with the maid of honor, bridal shower host, and bride as early as possible. Then, maintain that communication throughout the entirety of the wedding planning process.
As a bridesmaid, you want to help the bride and maid of honor with whatever they need. Open lines of communication make sure that no matter how well the bridal party knows each other, key players can reach out when they need help.
If you’re hosting the bridal shower, inform the bridesmaids of their expectations and make sure they can meet them. While bridesmaids are able to open lines of communication, it’s best when driven by the bride or maid of honor.
Whether you’re a bridesmaid helping to host the bridal shower or just attending as a guest, make sure you’re available to help. Offer your help multiple times throughout the process to ease any stress the bride or bridal shower host is feeling.
RELATED: 17 Bridal Shower Decoration Ideas for an Unbelievably Gorgeous Party
What does a bridesmaid wear to the bridal shower?
Similar to a bridesmaid’s role in the bridal shower, this varies widely.
There are no hard rules for bridal showers as a whole. They’re smaller, less complex parties that couples opt in or out of – but it’s not something guests expect.
Considering you have open lines of communication with the bride and bridal shower host, ask them if they’d like bridesmaids dressed in any specific attire. While less popular, some brides have color palettes they’d like the bridal party to adhere to, although most want the bridesmaids to blend in with the rest of the guests.
You’re often not expected to wear anything different from the dress code expected of all guests.
How to Choose an Outfit
Choosing an outfit for a bridal shower takes a bit more effort than you may be planning for. This is especially true for bridesmaids or anyone else in the wedding party.
Begin by looking over everything you were sent about the bridal shower – there’s likely a dress code on the invitation. Then, look up the venue and the weather on the day of the shower. If you want to put in some extra effort, you can try to match a theme, if there is one.
Looking through pictures of the venue can help point you in the right direction within your dress code. Each dress code category has its own spectrum. If the invitation says the dress code is cocktail and the venue seems much more formal than that, dress on the more fancy end of the cocktail attire category.
Finally, taking note of the weather, make sure you’ll be comfortable throughout the party. As a bridesmaid you could be acting as a host, meeting relatives of the couple, or completing other odds and ends. Considering this, choose an outfit that can do well both indoors and outdoors.
From here, see what you already have in your closet. There are a lot of costs associated with being a bridesmaid. If you can dress up something you already own, do so.
If you must buy something new for this event, make it something you can wear again. Think through events you may have to go to in the next few years – weddings, formal dinners, etc. Try to find a piece that would work at those events, too.
Oh, and stay away from white!
Bridal Shower Dresses for Bridesmaids – Recommendations
If you find yourself having to buy a new dress or outfit for this bridal shower, we put together some highly-rated options. These picks work for many events and are at a very affordable price.