If You Don’t Know What to Wear to Your Next Bridal Shower, Here Ya Go (2024)

FAQs

Does it matter what you wear to a bridal shower? ›

Factor in the Venue and Locale

Lean into the casual vibes, and don't wear anything that would make you stand out or detract attention from the bride. Additionally, footwear is a primary factor to consider when looking at the shower's location.

Don't wear white. This wedding guest rule of etiquette applies to bridal showers as well. Since the bride-to-be often wears white to her shower, you don't want to seem like you're competing for her spotlight. Don't wear black.

Anything white! White is reserved for the bride during this time, and while it's not as bad as wearing white to a wedding (serious cringe) it's still not polite to wear white to a bridal shower. You should also avoid light shades of other colors since these can appear white in photos.

The bridal party, including the maid of honor and bridesmaids generally make the top of the guest list, followed by immediate family members from both sides of the aisle. If the bride welcomes children at her shower, guests may also include nieces, the flower girl and junior bridesmaids.

It's a way to describe an overall aesthetic that is basically not-all-the-way-formal-but-please-don't-wear-jean-shorts. It's about dressing up what you'd wear casually.

The short answer is, you should not invite anyone to your shower who will not be invited to the wedding. Your shower is an intimate gathering of some of the closest women (and men if you choose) in your life, and if anyone makes the cut for your shower, they should also be close enough to you to get a wedding invite.

Go Somewhere Unique. You're not obligated to sit on the back patio or stake out your parents' country club. Head to a pasta-making class, boozy art class, vineyard, brewery, salon, beach or gorgeous restaurant to spice things up and make your shower feel extra special (and worth the trip for any out-of-town friends).

We advise against wearing white to weddings, but a printed dress with a hint of white or ivory is definitely approved. A black-and-white dress is a classic choice, as long as the pattern isn't too distracting.

Since showers are intended for the bride's nearest and dearest, every shower guest must already be on the wedding guest list. Because it's understood that guests should bring a present to a shower, it's not appropriate to invite people whom you don't plan to include in the wedding.

No matter the season, a floral dress outfit feels festive and chic for a bridal shower guest. Lean into the prominent colors of the season; for example, in spring and summer choose bright and pastel colors that feel joyous. For fall, we love a floral dress in deep, rich hues like burgundy or burnt orange.

Can I wear jeans to a bridal shower? ›

Jeans might be appropriate for a very casual bridal shower, especially if it's a relaxed gathering at someone's home. If you decide to wear jeans, choose a pair that's well-fitting and in good condition. Elevate your look by pairing them with a chic blouse or a smart blazer, and add some classy accessories.

In short, the host is the one who pays for the bridal shower—or at least some of it. Most commonly, this is the maid of honor, but the couple's relatives, friends or even the to-be-weds themselves can all pitch in to cover the cost of the wedding shower.

A bridal shower should be an event for those closest to the bride, both in relationship and location. I'm often asked how many guests should be invited to a shower, and I usually recommend keeping it to around 25 guests if possible. Everyone wants to see their gift opened and the reaction on the bride's face.

“The wedding shower is co-ed and inclusive of anyone the couple wants to include in the celebrations,” says Martens. “Simply put, a wedding shower is for the couple and a bridal shower is for the bride.”

Since showers are intended for the bride's nearest and dearest, every shower guest must already be on the wedding guest list. Because it's understood that guests should bring a present to a shower, it's not appropriate to invite people whom you don't plan to include in the wedding.

Common bridal shower gifts include kitchenware, from small appliances or utensils to towels or dishes. Shower gifts tend to stick to the event's specific theme if it has one. A cooking class shower might require a gift of your favorite cookbook, while the hostesses of a lingerie shower will ask for, well, lingerie.

Although most assume that white is a shade that can only be worn exclusively on your wedding day, expert bridal stylists and wedding planners suggest that this age-old rule can be broken, as they say you can wear this iconic shade during all your pre-wedding events including the bridal shower, the bachelorette party, ...

In short, yes, it is rude to be invited to a shower but not the wedding. A few exceptions to this rule include elopements, micro weddings and destination weddings.