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Calling all brides-to-be - don't forget your outfits and wedding attire beyond the bridal gown. From your rehearsal dinner to your bridal shower to the bachelorette party, there are so many different outfits that the bride needs to plan. And, don't forget your engagement photo session and what about the wedding morning? What is the bride going to wear to all of it? What are the secrets to feeling confident and comfortable? Don't worry, we've got your back and will go over it all today so that you, the bride, can feel amazing, not just at your wedding, but throughout your entire wedding planning experience.
I am confident you are focused on your wedding gown - as you should be, it's one of the most important pieces of clothing you'll ever wear! You're getting married and if you've used my bridal fashion timeline, I know that you are prepared for all of the other wedding day accessories, bridal shoes and undergarments. But, what about all of the events surrounding the wedding? Do you have your outfits planned out for what you'll wear beyond the wedding day?
Planning your outfits beyond your wedding dress is key! Working ahead, mapping your outfits out and ordering early is the best thing you can do for yourself to have a stress free wedding planning experience. When you're uncomfortable and you feel stressed, it will show all over your face no matter how hard to try to hide it. To help you feel confident, comfortable and stress free is I made The Ultimate Bridal Fashion Timeline for brides in the first place. (If you haven't gotten the timeline, you can get it here for free!)
Planning out each piece of every outfit is important to make sure you have everything you need and have the time to shop for and order it all, too! (Rush shipping and not being able to return adds up and can cost you a lot of money!) This wedding advice post is filled with some extra fashion advice you'll need as the bride for more than the wedding day.
So, beyond the obvious bridal look for your wedding day...what other outfits do brides need? Don't worry, we've compiled a list for you here to ensure you don't forget a thing!
Congrats, you're engaged! Let's celebrate with a party! Your wedding engagement party will be filled with lots of questions about your ring. Get ready to show it off in style. While this is your first official wedding event as a bride to be, you don't have to wear white to your engagement party.
In fact, most brides simply choose something they already own, something they love and feel confident in for their engagement party outfit.
If you're in the mood for something new for your engagement party, here are a few outfits that we love that are perfect for brides to wear to their engagement celebration...
After the ring, comes the pictures. Wedding engagement photos serve so many purposes, but most importantly it's a way to document an oh-so-special time in your life. You'll cherish these photos for years. Think holiday cards, your wedding save the date invitations, hanging on your wall - there are so many uses for your engagement session pictures.
Confidence is key when taking your engagement photos and in order to feel confident, be sure you are comfortable in your outfit. If you aren't feeling comfortable, it will show all over your face in your photos.
Discuss with your photographer what you and your partner will wear for your engagement photo session, because you may want to change outfits to have a formal look and a more casual look. Your photographer will give you the best advice for what to wear, what will work with the and how best to match (or not) your partner.
Here are some of our favorite ideas for the bride to wear to her wedding engagement session photographs...
If you need more engagement photo outfits, check out Light & Airy Dresses & Skirts For Engagement Photos.
Plan ahead for what you'll wear to your bridal shower! This may be the event where you opt to wear a casual or formal white dress depending on the style of your bridal shower. You will be the center of attention at your bridal shower and there will be lots of photos taken - you'll want to look and feel your best.
Another popular option for brides at their bridal showers are floral dresses or dresses in your wedding colors. But, no matter what you choose, you may need to order your dress or it may require some minor alterations to fit you perfectly. So, planning ahead will be the key for your bridal shower outfit.
Here are a few of our favorite bridal shower outfit ideas...
If you need more bridal shower fashion inspiration, check out What To Wear For Your Bridal Shower.
The bachelorette party is your time to have FUN being the bride. Enjoy your bachelorette party with your bridesmaids and friends. Your bachelorette party outfits will largely depend on the location and style of your party or weekend getaway. If you're going away to the beach for the weekend with your friends or if your bachelorette party is a fun night out with the girls close to home, you'll want to plan your outfit ahead. As with all events, if you're uncomfortable, you won't be present in your moment and it will be written all over your face.
(I know this is supposed to be about the bride, but we love these cutie matching t-shirts for the bachelorette party!)
No matter the location, there are some fun options for bachelorette party outfits that are perfect for the bride...
Your wedding welcome party is the perfect opportunity to try something fun with your fashion. Don't feel tied to white for this occasion, unless you love it, of course! The wedding welcome party is a chance to do something totally different than what you'll wear to the wedding!
Research outfit options to compliment the style of your welcome party. Are you hosting a tropical party at your beach destination wedding or perhaps a formal cocktail party in a downtown location? There can be a big difference in outfit options for wedding welcome parties, so be sure to choose a style that matches your event.
Here are some of our favorite outfit ideas for what the bride can wear to her wedding welcome party...
Since the wedding rehearsal dinner typically follows the wedding ceremony rehearsal, most brides opt for a white dress. During your wedding ceremony rehearsal, you'll practice walking down the aisle and at your rehearsal dinner you'll want it to be clear that you are the bride! So, a white dress is a great choice. Opt for something casual or formal based on the style of your rehearsal dinner.
From cocktail rehearsal dinner parties to backyard bar-b-ques for the rehearsal dinner celebraion there's a white dress for every style. Here are our favorite ideas for what the bride can wear to her wedding's rehearsal dinner...
If you need more rehearsal dinner fashion inspiration, check out What Should I Wear To My Rehearsal Dinner? & Accessories For Your Rehearsal Dinner Outfit
What you'll wear on the morning of your wedding is another important time to consider an outfit, even though it's not a high-style event unless you want it to be. You'll need something to wear while you're getting ready on your wedding day morning before you put on your wedding dress. You might be hanging out in a bridal suite, getting your hair and make up done and talking with friends and family, so you'll need something to wear. Plus, photos will be taken on your wedding morning.
Your wedding photographer will likely capture some fun images of you and your bridesmaids with the hair and makeup stylists - plus some fun ones together in the getting ready room, perhaps even a champagne cheers! The key to wedding morning attire is choosing something that's easy to remove without interfering with your face or hair. The most popular choice is bridal robes or bridal party button down shirts! We also love these rompers for the bride!
Here are some of our favorite outfit ideas for the bride on the wedding morning...
If you need more bridal robe ideas, check out Where To Find Bridal Robes For Wedding Morning or our post on What Should I Wear On My Wedding Morning?
Often overlooked, wedding night attire is an important outfit you'll need to pack for your wedding weekend. (Don't forget to check out or post on what to pack for your wedding weekend!)
So many brides forget this key outfit because it's a no-brainer. Whether you choose some silky lingerie or a cozy set of pjs, be sure to write this into your packing list and pack early so you don't end up having to sleep in your bridal gown!
Here are our favorite outfit ideas for what to wear on the wedding night...
If you need more wedding night outfit ideas, check out Bridal Lingerie Ideas & Inspiration or our Guide To What To Wear On Your Wedding Night.
This could be considered your bon voyage attire, as the post wedding brunch is the last many of your wedding guests will see you before your honeymoon or leave your wedding weekend.
For your post wedding or going away brunch, choose something comfortable and relaxing. This wedding event is a great one to try an outfit other than a dress. This is your chance to relax now that the big day is over!
Here are our favorite outfit ideas for what to wear to your going away wedding brunch....
How about that honeymoon? It's time to jet set off and away with your new partner. Whether you go on your honeymoon right after your wedding or if you wait for some times to plan your trip, it's all about planning your honeymoon outfits ahead of time. Choose a variety of items you can use throughout your honeymoon trip and obviously tailor it to your destination and the activities that you'll be doing. But, make it bridal still!
Take advantage of this final wedding event where you can still be considered the bride with some fun attire as a new Mrs!
Here are some of our favorite honeymoon outfit ideas for the bride...
There you have it! Our list of wedding events you'll need outfits for, beyond the bridal gown. Sometimes, these events seem so simple that they are easily overlooked - don't let that happen to you - make an all encompassing bridal fashion plan that includes these wedding events, too. If you need help with making your plan, be sure to get our free bridal fashion timeline, it has a free printable plan in there so that you don't forget anything for your wedding and beyond.
With love,
The Garter Girl
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