Bridal Shower Dresses: White Dresses for the Bride and What Guests Wear
Bridal Shower Dresses: White Dresses for the Bride and What Guests Wear
The short answer: a bridal shower dress for the bride is a white day dress, usually knee length to midi, in a fabric with some texture. Our first pick is the St Ives Midi Dress by Rebecca Vallance, an ivory cotton broderie anglaise midi with a boat neckline, which suits the garden party and long lunch where most showers happen. If you want something with a little more polish, the Christopher Midi Dress is the dress the brand itself lists in its Bridal Shower edit. Browse all white dresses on Coveti. Shop wedding guest dresses and the full designer dresses edit at Coveti.
A bridal shower is a daytime event, hosted by friends and family, usually in the daytime, at home, in a garden, over lunch at a restaurant. The bride is the only person in white, and the dress needs to look lovely in daylight and in close up photographs. That rules out anything too formal, too sheer, too short. What works is a dress that would also look right at a summer lunch, in crisp cotton, stretch crepe, broderie.
Bridal shower dresses at a glance
| Shower | Our pick | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Garden party | St Ives Midi Dress | Ivory broderie cotton, boat neckline |
| Restaurant lunch | Christopher Midi Dress | Ivory crepe, square neckline, bow trim |
| At home, relaxed | St Ives Mini Dress | Short sleeves, circular skirt, cotton |
| Playful theme | Bacio Short Sleeve Mini Dress in Cream | Cream with a black spot print |
| Afternoon tea | Christopher Short Sleeve Midi Dress | Shawl lapel with scallop trim |
Our picks for the bride
1. St Ives Midi Dress
Ivory cotton broderie anglaise with a fitted bodice and a boat neckline. Cotton is cool on a warm afternoon, and the broderie gives it texture without lace.
2. Christopher Midi Dress
Ivory crepe with a square neckline, a bow trim and a circular skirt. The brand puts it in both its Bridal Shower and Engagement edits.
3. St Ives Mini Dress
The short version of the St Ives, with short sleeves and a circular mini skirt. Easy for a shower at home.
4. Christopher Mini Dress
Ivory, with a stand collar and short sleeves. Neat, structured, and it works under a jacket if the day turns cold.
5. Christopher Short Sleeve Midi Dress
A shawl lapel with scallop trim and short sleeves. The most tailored dress here, for an afternoon tea.
6. Bacio Short Sleeve Mini Dress in Cream
Cream with black spots and a boat neckline. Polka dots read as joyful, and they suit a shower with a theme.
7. Noemie Midi Dress in Cream
A fit and flare midi with diamante at the crew neckline, for a shower that runs into the evening.
8. Jacquie Mini Dress
Cream, with a crew neckline, short sleeves and an A-line mini skirt. A simple shape for a bride who wants one clean line.
What guests should wear to a bridal shower
Guests wear colour. Pastels, floral prints and soft blues all suit a daytime shower. The Yorkshire Short Sleeve Midi Dress in blossom pink and the Fleur De Lis Midi Dress in the brand’s custom floral print are good choices. Avoid white, ivory and cream.
How to choose a bridal shower dress
Keep it daytime. The shower is not the wedding, so leave the sequins and long gowns for later. Cotton, crepe and broderie are right.
Think about the whole wedding wardrobe. Many brides wear white to the engagement party, the shower, the hen party and the rehearsal dinner. Choosing different shapes for each, a midi for one and a mini for another, keeps it fresh.
Choose comfort. You will be standing, hugging and opening gifts for hours. A dress with a lined bodice and a skirt that moves is easier than a tight pencil.
Sizing is simple. Rebecca Vallance says its dresses fit true to size, and AU sizing matches UK sizing. Our size guide has the chart.
Frequently asked questions
What does the bride wear to a bridal shower?
Usually a white day dress, in ivory and cream too, at the knee to midi length. Broderie cotton and structured crepe are the most popular fabrics because they look fresh in daylight.
Should a bridal shower dress be white?
It does not have to be, but most brides choose white, ivory and cream, and it helps the bride stand out in photographs. A pale print on a white ground works too.
Can guests wear white to a bridal shower?
It is best not to. White is generally kept for the bride at every wedding event. Pastels, florals and soft blues are all better choices.
Does Rebecca Vallance make bridal shower dresses?
Yes. The brand has a Bridal Shower edit, led by ivory dresses such as the Christopher Midi Dress, and a wider white range including the St Ives, Noemie and Bacio dresses.
For more, read our engagement party dresses guide, the Rebecca Vallance white dresses edit, and our guide to bridal after party dresses.
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