Rehearsal Dinner Dresses: Shona Joy for the Bride and Guests

A rehearsal dinner dress should be dressier than a shower look and quieter than the wedding gown. For the bride, Shona Joy’s ivory satins and lace are the natural fit: the Iza Silk Contrast Maxi Dress, the Miro Slinky Jersey Cape Draped Maxi Dress, the Labyrinth Sheer Lace Panelled Maxi Dress in Ivory and, for a shorter look, the new Simona Lace Mini Dress in Ivory. For guests and the wedding party, the Savanna, Miro and La Lune satins come in colour.

What is the dress code for a rehearsal dinner?

The rehearsal dinner is usually held the night before the wedding for the couple, their families and the wedding party. It is an evening event, often at a restaurant, so cocktail to semi formal is the usual dress code. The bride often wears white and ivory, a softer version of the wedding look. Guests wear colour, and black is fine at night.

For the bride: ivory maxi dresses

The Iza Silk Contrast Maxi Dress pairs matte finish satin with sheer silk organza panels at the waist and skirt. It has a cowl neckline, adjustable straps and an asymmetrical maxi skirt, so it reads as bridal without looking like a gown. It suits a candlelit restaurant dinner.

The Miro Slinky Jersey Cape Draped Maxi Dress is the most comfortable option for a long night. It is a lined slinky jersey of 91% viscose and 9% elastane with a high neckline, a cape draped sleeve, a V panel, cut outs at the sides of the bodice and a gathered draped skirt. Jersey stretches, so it moves easily through speeches and dancing.

For lace, the Labyrinth Sheer Lace Panelled Maxi Dress in Ivory has a boat neckline, sheer lace panels, ruffles along the sleeves and back seams and a flared maxi skirt. It is the most romantic of the three and suits a garden dinner.

For the bride: a shorter look

A mini feels fresh the night before a formal wedding. The Simona Lace Mini Dress in Ivory is a matte satin slip with lace at the square neckline and hem and adjustable straps. The Eniko pieces work as a set: the Eniko Lace T-shirt in Ivory with the Eniko Lace Split Midi Skirt in Ivory. For a bride who wants trousers, the La Lune Flared Sleeve Belted Blazer in Cream with the La Lune Bias Cut Pant in Cream makes a soft satin suit. Our bridal suits guide covers more options.

For guests: colour and satin

• The Savanna Racer Back Maxi Dress in Chilli is a satin acetate maxi with a low T bar racer back. Chilli is a bright red that suits an evening.
• The Miro Slinky Jersey Long Sleeve Plunged Maxi Dress in Sky is a fitted jersey maxi with a plunged gathered neckline and a twist knot at the front.
• The Savanna Scoop Neck Top in Champagne with the Savanna Bias Cut Pant in Champagne is a satin set for a guest who prefers trousers. Champagne is a warm sand gold, so it is clearly not white.
• The La Lune One Shoulder Cowl Back Maxi Dress in Black is a bias cut satin with a low cowl back. Black is right for an evening dinner.

For the wedding party

If the bridesmaids want to coordinate, the La Lune satins come in the same shades as the bridesmaid dresses they will wear the next day. A bridesmaid in Lemon on the wedding day can wear a different La Lune style in a neighbouring colour for the rehearsal, and the photographs from the two nights will sit together. Our guide to Shona Joy La Lune explains the range, and our bridal shower dresses guide covers the earlier celebrations.

Shoes, layers and accessories

• Keep the heel lower than the wedding shoe. A rehearsal is long, with standing and speeches.
• Bring a layer. A tailored blazer over the shoulders works with every dress here.
• Add movement with a scarf. A long Shona Joy Lucent Scarf over the neck turns a slip dress into an evening look. See how to wear a Shona Joy scarf.

Frequently asked questions

What should the bride wear to the rehearsal dinner?
Most brides wear white and ivory, in a simpler style than the wedding dress. An ivory satin maxi, a lace dress and a white mini dress all suit a rehearsal dinner.

What is the dress code for a rehearsal dinner?
Usually cocktail to semi formal, because it is an evening event the night before the wedding. Check the invitation for the venue.

Can guests wear white to a rehearsal dinner?
It is best to leave white and ivory to the bride. Guests should choose a colour, and black is fine for an evening dinner.

Which Shona Joy dress is most comfortable for a long night?
The Miro slinky jersey dresses are the most comfortable. The jersey is 91% viscose and 9% elastane, so it stretches and moves easily.

Can a bride wear trousers to the rehearsal dinner?
Yes. A satin suit such as the La Lune Flared Sleeve Belted Blazer and Bias Cut Pant in Cream is a good alternative to a dress.

What is the Iza Silk Contrast Maxi Dress made of?
Matte finish satin of 55% polyester and 45% acetate, with sheer panels of 100% silk organza.