What to Wear: Best Bridal Shower Guest Outfits for 2022 | Emmaline Bride (2024)

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If you received a bridal shower invitation and you’re wondering, what do I wear to a bridal shower as a guest, you’ve come to the right place!

Whether you haven’t been to a shower in a while or you’ve never been to a bridal shower as a guest, we’ll show you the most stylish bridal shower guest outfit ideas for 2022.

This blog post was inspired by reader and wedding guest, Kate, who wants to know what to wear to her friend’s bridal shower. She writes,

“Hi Emmaline, I’m invited to a wedding shower for my friend but I don’t know what to wear to a bridal shower as a guest. Do you wear a dress or is it more casual? Thank you!

Hi Kate! Great question. We’re happy to help! Personally, I think it’s much easier to decide what to wear to a bridal shower as a guest than it is as the bride. There are so many different things you can wear, from blouses and skirts to daytime dresses, whereas the bride chooses something in white. Easy, but not as versatile!

What to Wear: Best Bridal Shower Guest Outfits for 2022 | Emmaline Bride (1)
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As a rule of thumb, a bridal shower guest always dresses up to the event. In order to avoid a faux pas, here are three DON’TS to follow when picking out your attire.

1. Don’t wear jeans to a bridal shower.

You’re not supposed to wear jeans as a guest. Can you wear them? Sure, we can’t keep you from doing what you want to do. But are you supposed to? According to proper etiquette, no, you are not supposed to wear jeans to a bridal shower.

2. Don’t upstage the bride.

The bride will likely be wearing a short white dress or a white jumpsuit for the bridal shower. Similar to the wedding day itself, a guest’s outfit at a bridal shower shouldn’t be fancier than the bride’s.

What to Wear: Best Bridal Shower Guest Outfits for 2022 | Emmaline Bride (2)
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3. Don’t wear white.

See #2. :)

Now that you know what not to wear, let’s show you some examples of what to wear to a bridal shower as a guest.

Bridal Shower Outfits for Guests

Bridal shower guests are expected to dress up for the occasion, but that doesn’t mean you have to wear a co*cktail dress. :)

Do not wear jeans to a bridal shower.

Can you wear jeans? You can, but you’re not supposed to wear jeans as a part of your bridal shower guest outfit.

Instead, opt for dress pants or a skirt.

Bridal Shower Guest Outfit Ideas

A proper wedding shower outfit as a guest would include any of the following:

Blouse

A dressy blouse, sweater or button-down shirt is a great outfit choice. Browse blouses for examples.

Sweater

A nice sweater for cooler months, paired with a pencil skirt, mini skirt, or midi skirt, makes a lovely outfit for the guest.

What to Wear: Best Bridal Shower Guest Outfits for 2022 | Emmaline Bride (3)
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Skirt

You can pair a blouse or sweater with a nice skirt, like any of these.

Dress Pants

Pair dress pants with a dressy blouse.

Jumpsuit or Romper

Bridal shower guests can also wear jumpsuits or rompers. Choose light-colors and floral prints for daytime attire.

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Dress

You can wear a short dress, midi length, or a long maxi dress to a bridal shower. Choose more of a casual style dress vs. a formal one.

Keep in mind the time of day the bridal shower takes place: it is usually in the afternoon, sometime around 12pm to 3pm or 1pm to 4pm. This means you should choose daytime colors, rather than dark evening colors unless it is a floral print. As an example, you wouldn’t necessarily wear a bright red or a little black dress to a shower as a guest; dress not for co*cktail hour, but instead for an afternoon luncheon. Think: day party dresses for inspo.

Bridal Shower Guest Dresses

The most popular outfit to wear to a bridal shower is a dress. We found some beautiful bridal shower guest dresses to share on this list. Which style is your favorite?

My favorite place to shop guest dresses for bridal showers or weddings is Lulus.

Orange Floral Print Dress

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Dark Green Jumpsuit with Cut-Out

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Long Sleeve Midi Blue Dress

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Blush Pink Floral

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Green Floral Maxi

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Wrap Dress

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Dusty Rose Midi Length Dress

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Peach Multi Floral Dress

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Dusty Blue Floral Jacquard

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Tiered Floral Print

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Navy Flower Design

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Dressed Up Floral

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Navy Blue Off-the-Shoulder Dress

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Navy Blue Maxi Dress

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Short Wrap Dress

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Lovely Yellow Floral Print

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Sage Floral Satin Maxi Dress

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Navy Floral Print

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Two-Piece Multi Floral Dress

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Mauve Long Sleeve

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Floor-Length Floral Dress

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Mini Dress

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Lily Print High-Low Maxi Dress

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Mauve Print Midi

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Smocked Skater Dress

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Blooming Mini Dress

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Olive Green Wrap Maxi

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Browse more styles here.

What kind of shoes to wear to a bridal shower

For shoes, you can go more informal or formal, depending on the venue. If the bridal shower is held at an upscale restaurant or venue space, wear heels or dress shoes. If the event is less formal, you can opt for sandals or closed-toe flats.

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Be mindful of wearing sandals or open-toed shoes and give yourself a pedicure! :)

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Now that you have some suggestions, what are you going to wear to a bridal shower? What are your favorite bridal shower guest outfits?

Hope it helps!

xo
Emma

Like it? Please share it with a friend!

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Emma Arendoski

Emma is the CEO of Emmaline Bride, The Handmade Wedding Blog, published author, leading wedding expert, and wedding planner. Read her latest book: The Inspired Wedding. Wife, mother, coffee lover. Follow on Instagram and at Emmaline Baby for baby + kids inspiration.

What to Wear: Best Bridal Shower Guest Outfits for 2022 | Emmaline Bride (2024)

FAQs

What does a bride to be wear to a bridal shower? ›

While white seems to be the shade most brides choose for a bridal shower, both Brickman and Cartledge agree that there is no rule on what color you should wear. "A lot of my brides don't opt for white at all, instead choosing a color that makes them feel confident or matches their wedding," Cartledge says.

What should an older woman wear to a bridal shower? ›

“Nothing too risqué, nothing to overshadow the bride in any way, and nothing too formal,” says Abbasi. “Go with fun, comfortable, and whatever makes you feel your best self.” Simply put, no white ensembles, no outfits with extravagant silhouettes, like ball gowns, and no skin-barring getups.

Does the bride wear white to a bridal shower? ›

As for color and pattern, wear any hue or print you love. Many brides choose to wear white to all of their pre-wedding events. That includes their bridal shower, bachelorette party, and rehearsal dinner. You can't go wrong with a pretty white dress — no matter the fabric or silhouette!

What to wear to a bridal shower not a dress? ›

If the event is more casual, Singla said guests "could pair a blouse and trousers, a flowy dress, or a jumpsuit." Whatever you decide to wear, aim for something photo-friendly. According to Young, this is especially key if you're family or close friends with the future bride and groom.

What color should a bride wear to a bridal shower? ›

"Typically, the first formal pre-wedding event is your bridal shower, and this is a great party to own the tradition of the bride in white," Fritz says.

What not to wear to a bridal shower? ›

ALWAYS THINK OF THE BRIDE — IT'S HER DAY!

It seems obvious, but it must be said: steer clear of wearing white or anything close to white. The traditional hue is reserved for the bride-to-be. Save that little white dress for another non-wedding related event.

What color should an older bride wear? ›

White is a classic and timeless choice for wedding attire that symbolises purity, new beginnings and the celebration of love. It's a beautiful option for brides of any age who want to embrace tradition or who simply love the elegance of a white gown.

Are there colors you shouldn't wear to a bridal shower? ›

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.

Are you supposed to dress nice for a bridal shower? ›

More conservative than the bachelorette party looks but less formal than the actual wedding ceremony attire, the bridal shower is the time to bring out the sweet floral dresses, midi skirts, and jumpsuits. It's the chic moment before the turn up and boy, do we love to turn up.

What to wear to a bridal shower as a guest? ›

Bridal shower guest attire can include short, midi and maxi dresses, or jumpsuits and dressy separates, including tops and blouses, trousers, jeans and skirts.

Is black ok to wear to a bridal shower? ›

Black is often a darker color or associated with mourning and while it is definitely one of my go-to colors, I think it is best saved for other events, like the bachelorette party or even a rehearsal dinner.

Is it frowned upon to wear white to a bridal shower? ›

This is one reason why wearing white as a guest has been traditionally frowned upon — it's seen as an attempt to upstage or overshadow the bride on her special day, whether that's the wedding itself or associated celebrations like the bridal shower.

What can a bride wear instead of a dress? ›

Seriously cool separates and one-pieces

Separates and jumpsuits are fabulous options for your wedding, and there are a huge variety to choose from. White bridal jumpsuits are very chic, and with full-length/wide-leg trousers can give you the illusion of a dress with the comfort of trousers!

How do you make a bridal shower not awkward? ›

Plan Activities

Offering something interactive and hands-on, or even hiring an outside pro like a sommelier or mixologist, is a great way to help guests who don't know each other feel more comfortable and welcome.

Do you bring a gift to a bridal shower? ›

In short, yes. If you're attending a bridal shower, you should always bring a gift with you to congratulate the bride. This is considered good bridal shower etiquette. Even if you're a part of the bridal party or wedding party, a gift is still necessary.

What is the meaning of bride to be? ›

Britannica Dictionary definition of BRIDE–TO–BE. [count] : a woman who is going to be married soon.

What is an appropriate amount of money for a bridal shower gift? ›

First, keep in mind that bridal shower gifts tend to be less costly than wedding gifts. The average you should spend on a bridal shower gift is around $50 to $75. If you're especially close to the bride, you may spend upwards of $100. But no matter what, the amount you want to spend is up to you!

How do I make my bride feel special at the bridal shower? ›

Include the bride's faves.

This is her day after all! For example, you could serve up her favorite foods and signature drink, decorate in (or wear) her favorite color or reference a film or book she loves in the theme and décor. It's a fun way to make the bride feel extra special on her big day.

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