20 Stunning White Dresses for the Bride-to-Be for Your Engagement Party, Bridal Shower, and Rehearsal Dinner
Last updated on April 16, 2023
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With so many pre-wedding events to celebrate, you’ll need a white dress or two. Check out our top picks, below.
When you think about wedding outfits for the bride, the first thing that comes to mind is a wedding gown. But what about all of the other outfits brides need leading up to the big day? Here we break down all of the occasions brides can need an outfit for, and share our top picks for white dresses you can wear to these events.
Is it required that you wear a white dress to all of these events? Definitely not — you can wear anything you’d like! But many brides-to-be love to celebrate this special time in their life in white.
- Engagement Party: Engagement party dresses for brides can be chosen based on the type of party and location. If it’s a backyard cookout you’ll want something a little more on the casual side that’s easy to move around in if you decide to play a few games of cornhole. If it’s an evening cocktail party you’ll want something more formal and sophisticated.
- Engagement Pictures: Dresses for engagement pictures don’t necessarily need to be white, but you’ll want to decide if you’re dressing casual or formal and choose your dress accordingly.
- Bridal Shower: When looking for bridal shower dresses for brides, you’ll most likely be looking for a daytime dress, and can choose if it’s more casual or more formal based on the location.
- Welcome Drinks: If you’re having a destination wedding or a lot of people are traveling for your wedding weekend, you may be hosting welcome drinks a day or two before your wedding. This can be another opportunity to wear a white dress if you so desire.
- Rehearsal Dinner: The ultimate time to wear a white cocktail dress is your rehearsal dinner. When looking for rehearsal dinner dresses for brides, you can go for a more formal dress since this is an extra-special occasion.
- Wedding After-Party: If you’re having a wedding after-party at another venue or at your hotel bar, you probably want to change into something that you can move around in easier than your wedding dress. If that’s the case, you can go as fancy or formal as you’d like, because you’re the bride!
- Farewell Breakfast: If you’re having a farewell breakfast for your guests on the morning after your wedding, you might choose to wear a white dress to this event.
This article is about great little white dress options for brides: wedding rehearsal dinner dresses for brides, wedding engagement party dresses for brides, wedding bridal shower dresses for brides, wedding engagement pictures dresses for brides, wedding welcome drinks dresses for brides, wedding after-party dresses for brides, and farewell breakfast dresses for brides.
Table of Contents:
White Mini Dresses for the Bride
1. Pabla Mini Dress
Feminine and sophisticated, this ruffle-trim dress in a mid-weight stretch fabric is a great option for a cocktail party. Whether worn as your engagement party dress, welcome drinks dress for a destination wedding, or your rehearsal dinner dress, you’re sure to look polished and elegant. Pair with nude, metallic, or white heels and a metallic clutch.
2. Valli White and Metallic Shift Dress
This dress is beautiful from both the front and the back. The metallic detailing on the front that wraps around the scoop neckline in the back adds polish and sophistication to your typical little white dress. Easily pair with gold or silver heels or flat sandals, and gold or silver jewelry of your choice. This dress will work for a bride for any pre-wedding event, whether it’s your engagement party, engagement pictures, bridal shower, welcome cocktails, rehearsal dinner, or after party.
3. Floral Appliqué A-Line Dress
This dress is a stunner. With all-over floral appliqué flowers, the texture gives this dress so much dimension. This A-line dress has a flattering boat neck and a concealed back zipper. Perfectly suited for a cocktail party, whether it’s your engagement party, welcome drinks, or rehearsal dinner, but can also work for your bridal shower or farewell breakfast the morning after your wedding.
4. Ruffle Hem Dress
This elegant halter dress has ruffle detail at the hem. Pair it with statement earrings, a bracelet, and sandals or heels. This will make a great bridal shower dress, welcome drinks dress, rehearsal dinner dress, or will work well as a dress for engagement pictures.
5. V-Back Floral Lace Cocktail Party White Dress
Brace yourself, because this dress comes in three sleeve length options! You have the choice of sleeveless, short-sleeve, or 3/4 length sleeves. These dresses are elegant with floral lace, and hit above-the-knee. Its versatility means it will work well for an an engagement cocktail party, rehearsal dinner, bridal shower, or after party.
6. Tiered Eyelet Mini Dress
This eyelet swing dress is both cute and fun, with ruffle tiers and a sweetheart neckline on the inside layer. A great daytime option for indoors or outdoors, this dress for the bride-to-be will be a good fit for a bridal shower, engagement pictures, welcome cocktails, and farewell breakfast, among others.
7. Ruffle Neck Swing Dress
This crepe swing dress is classic and sophisticated. The back ties with a bow, meaning it’s great for an updo. Pair with metallic heels and a statement bracelet and earrings. Will be great for a cocktail party event such as your engagement party, rehearsal dinner, wedding after party, or welcome drinks cocktail party. This can work year-round but is especially great for winter, fall, and spring.
8. Brooklyn Ruffle Mini Dress
This mini dress will make such a cute cocktail dress for the bride-to-be. An excellent choice for a little white dress for your engagement party or rehearsal dinner with heels and statement earrings. The 3/4 sleeves on this dress mean it will work well for spring, summer, fall, or winter, and the stretch in the fabric will keep you comfortable all night.
9. White Scalloped Dress
This scalloped dress is chic and fun. It features a square scalloped neckline and scalloped hemline, and a concealed back zipper. This will be lovely for a bridal shower, engagement party, welcome drinks cocktail hour, or your rehearsal dinner.
10. White Floral Lace Dress
This romantic and sophisticated sheath dress has a lace floral overlay and features lace short sleeves and a simple gold detail at the neckline. Its versatility means brides can wear it to any wedding events, including engagement pictures, bridal shower, welcome drinks, or your rehearsal dinner. Pair with nude or metallic heels, sandals, and a pretty bracelet and earrings.
11. One-Shoulder Jacquard Romper
Feminine and fun, this looks like a dress but is actually a romper underneath. The ruffle neckline and white jacquard are a great combination, and this romper has slits on the side. You won’t have to worry about accidentally flashing anyone! Will be great for spring and summer wedding events, and would be super cute for engagement pictures, your bridal shower, rehearsal dinner, or farewell brunch.
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White Midi and Maxi Dresses for Brides
12. Lace Midi Dress
Pretty, sophisticated, and stylish, this lace midi dress makes for a great wedding event dress for a bride. It has puff sleeves and a smocked bodice. Pair with a delicate necklace and earrings to really dress it up. This will be a great engagement party dress for a bride, rehearsal dinner dress for a bride, or wedding after-party dress for a bride.
13. Catalina Fit and Flare Cocktail Dress
This off-white simple-yet-elegant cocktail dress will be the perfect dress for a bride to wear to a cocktail party engagement party, welcome drinks at a destination wedding, for your rehearsal dinner, or your wedding after-party. This dress is also a nice option if you’re taking more formal engagement pictures.
14. Floral Appliqué Sequin Fit & Flare Dress
Shimmery and stunning, this midi floral appliqué dress is covered in sequins and textured flowers. It has a v-neck in the front and back. This dress will make a statement at your rehearsal dinner or your wedding after-party.
15. White Sleeveless Tie-Waist Wrap Dress
This midi dress is simple and chic for a beach destination wedding, and can be dressed up with metallic sandals, statement earrings or a statement necklace, and gold or silver bracelets. It will work for your farewell breakfast, engagement pictures, an outdoor engagement party, or welcome cocktails.
16. Sweetheart Midi Dress
This fitted dress was practically made for an engagement party or rehearsal dinner. It features a sweetheart neckline, a slit in the back, and a slim silhouette. Pair with white, neutral, or metallic heels, and a silver or gold necklace, earrings, or bracelet.
17. Midi White Eyelet Shirtdress
If you’re looking for a dress with sleeves that won’t be too hot, this eyelet shirt dress is a winner. The fit-and-flare silhouette is flattering and there are so many nice details that elevate this dress to be something special for a soon-to-be bride, like the tie detail at the sleeves, waist sash, oversized eyelet pattern, and buttons. This dress will work for any pre-wedding event, and would also be nice for your farewell breakfast the morning after your wedding.
18. Elegant Ruffle Cap Sleeves Midi Dress
Another great option for a daytime event, whether it’s engagement pictures, an indoor or outdoor bridal shower, or your outdoor garden engagement party. Features ruffled cap sleeves and a detailed pattern. Will be great in spring, summer, and fall.
19. White Lace Sheath Dress
A great dress for engagement pictures, your engagement party or your rehearsal dinner. Would be great as a wedding after-party dress. This dress is sophisticated and feminine, and has a square neckline and adjustable straps.
20. Smocked Flutter-Sleeve Dress
With smocking, a v-neckline, flutter sleeves, and flowy tiers, this dress is one you’ll continue reaching for after your bridal days are over. Perfectly pretty for any daytime pre-wedding event, such as a bridal shower, engagement pictures, or daytime engagement party, as well as your farewell breakfast.
This article was about stunning white dresses that brides can wear to all of their wedding events. Whether your events are formal or casual, and whether you prefer mini dresses, midi dresses or maxi dresses, there are so many great options to choose from.
Which of these white dresses is your favorite? Let us know in the comments.
