Rehearsal Dinner Dresses for Brides

The spring, summer, and fall months are the prime time for weddings, and with those celebrations comes the night before the wedding - the rehearsal dinner! If you're a bride-to-be seeking a dress to wear to your rehearsal dinner, one of these cute rehearsal dresses might do the trick.

This shopping guide will show you where to find some beautiful rehearsal dinner dresses to wear to your wedding rehearsal or wedding welcome party as you get ready to celebrate your upcoming nuptials.

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Rehearsal Dinner Dresses for the Bride

Image credits and shopping sources: 1. Mermaid Dreams Dress from Hello Molly 2. Elliatt 3D Floral Midi from Anthropologie Weddings 3. Ivory Tweed Mini Dress 4. Ivory Halter Slip Midi Dress from Lulus

Wedding Rehearsal Dresses for the Bride to Be

This shoppable section will show you some of our most recent picks for wedding rehearsal dresses for brides. And read more below for some more tips on wedding rehearsal dresse based on the venue and dress code. 

It has become a modern-day tradition that the bride-to-be wears white or ivory to many of the events leading up to the big day, including the rehearsal dinner on the night before the wedding day.

What to Wear to a Wedding Rehearsal as a Bride

While you don't want to go all out with a huge white dress at the wedding rehearsal since you'll have a big wedding dress reveal ahead of you, as both a host and a guest of honor you'll want to find a dress that stands out, and makes an elegant impression.

We think the ideal wedding rehearsal dinner dress suits not only the bride wearing the dress but also the dress code of the venue and the event itself. Depending on where the rehearsal will be held, you and your guests will want to wear a rehearsal dinner outfit that suits the special occasion.

What Makes for the Best Rehearsal Dress?

Here are some ideas for your rehearsal dinner look selected by the venue where the welcome party or rehearsal will be held. 

 If you are wearing a white dress, the key of course is to make it so that it doesn't upstage your own wedding dress reveal. For that reason, while a white maxi dress or a white long gown can certainly work, they can almost seem like wedding dresses themselves. This is especially true if your actual wedding dress is quite simple. We think white midi dresses, minis, or sundress styles can be a great choice to still be festive and bridal.

Wedding Rehearsal Themes and Dress Codes

Here are a few of the types of wedding welcome parties and rehearsal dinners we often see, along with the dresses we'd recommend!

Casual Backyard Reception

Many wedding rehearsal dinners are simple backyard events where the members of the bridal party and invited friends and family go to a family member's backyard for the evening celebration. You might be playing yard games, having a cookout and enjoying a fun bonfire the night before the wedding.

For an event like this, a casual look is a great choice. We love a jumpsuit, white romper, two-piece cotton or linen set, or a casual short cotton mini dress like this one from Lulus.

Intimate Dinner

Some couples choose to host an intimate dinner at a local restaurant or sit down dinner in beautiful location with a caterer. If it's an elegant dinner party or a intimate affair, then a sophisticated cocktail dress, sleek jumpsuit, or a long simple gown can be an elegant choice. Some wedding welcome dinners are black tie events, and in those cases, a long formal gown would be suitable.

Local Dining Experience

If your wedding is in an area known for a certain type of cuisine, then you might make that the focal point and theme of your wedding rehearsal.

For instance, a New England wedding might host a clam bake or lobster in the rough dinner, while the Mid-Atlantic might serve crabs, or you might have a Low Country Boil in the Southern US. In California or Oregon, it might be a wine tasting. If one of these outdoor themes is a part of your wedding rehearsal, then having your attire match the theme is a great idea.  This simple crisp white dress is perfect for any of those venues.

Boat Cruise

We live in a waterfront area, which means we see a lot of nautical-themed rehearsals as well as harbor dinner cruises for rehearsal dinners. Wearing a dress like this preppy eyelet style would be perfect for such an event. 

Garden Party

The garden party theme is big for weddings, but you might have it as a wedding welcome party or rehearsal dinner theme. In this case we love a sophisticated white floral dress like this.

Cocktail Reception

A cocktail reception is another type of rehearsal dinner celebration you might be throwing. This column sequin midi will be the perfect sparkling outfit for toasting with champagne.

Country Club

As we mentioned, white is the usual outfit color for the bride to wear to all of the bridal events leading up to the wedding, and for a country club rehearsal, we love a sporty classic dress like this midi with a bow. 

Historic Home or Museum

Perhaps you'll have a wedding welcome party on the grounds of a museum or historic home and gardens in your wedding location. A cute midi like this is perfect.

Brewery or Winery Welcome Party

If you are lucky enough to have a winery or brewery in the area where you're hosting your wedding, then you might be having your party there. This tiered ruffled midi is the perfect festive rehearsal dinner style.

Other Rehearsal Dress Ideas

A little white dress, romper, or jumpsuit seems to be one of the most frequent choices for brides-to-be to wear to pre-wedding events; especially the wedding rehearsal the night before!

While a white dress isn't the only choice, it's such a popular choice, that most of these dresses in our round-up post are white or ivory. But if white isn't your personal style you'd like to wear a dress of a different color, there are plenty of choices there too. In fact we love the idea of wearing a light blue dress as your something blue, or wearing a white floral dress to add a bit of color or interest, or wearing one of the wedding theme colors or a color scheme that matches with your rehearsal dinner party. If you'd like to wear something other than white, check out our dresses by color!

If none of these seem like the right look for you, have lots of picks for more white dresses for pre-wedding events, white dresses under $100, or white jumpsuits.

Don't forget to check out our ideas for bachelorette party dresses, engagement party dresses and bridal shower dresses.

What to Expect at Your Wedding Rehearsal

The rehearsal dinner is not only a little celebration after you practice some of the logistics of your ceremony and with your wedding party and officiant, it's also a chance to have an intimate pre-wedding celebration.

Usually, the wedding welcome party or rehearsal dinner is a small celebration with family members, the wedding party, and traditionally out-of-town guests are invited as well. You might make a few speeches thanking those closest to you for their help with the wedding that is about to take place. It's also a great time to hand out any wedding party gifts and go over any last-minute instructions for the bridal party on the big day.

Styling a Rehearsal Dinner Outfit

If there's one style collage we haven't done nearly enough of, it's wedding rehearsal outfits and rehearsal dinner dress ideas! After all, besides the wedding dress, brides often need outfits to wear to the wedding shower, engagement party, and something for the wedding rehearsal and dinner.

Here's one idea for how to accessorize your rehearsal dinner outfit. While it's fun to all new accessories, it can be a great time to re-use elements of other outfits you might have had throughout your pre-wedding parties and celebrations.  A pair of simple earrings,  some ankle strap heels, and a wedding clutch are the perfect understated wedding rehearsal look.

Image and shopping sources:  Dress: One Shoulder Peral Trim by Eliza J at Nordstrom | Earrings: Imitation Pearl Hoops from Nordstrom  | Bracelet: | 'pearls of wisdom' bracelet by kate spade new york at Nordstrom |  Clutch: 'Diamond Drips' Clutch by Whiting + Davis at Nordstrom |  Shoes:  Easter Ankle Strap Sandals by Jewel Badgley Mischka

Past Features and Credits

This post was originally published in September 2013, and was updated in March 2021 and two articles were updated and combined September 2023. These credits are for previous product mentions and images that are sold out. The images have been removed but they were a part of the original post and may have been pinned on Pinterest. We keep this list for credit and continuity. 

This collage is a part of the original post. It has been left here as a courtesy, along with the links to the original products, in case you arrived here from an old reference or pin.  These items are now out of stock. 

Ivory and Black Trim Dress by Eliza J from Nordstrom / The Riviera Dress from BHLDN   /  Chi Chi London Best Impressions Fit and Flare Dress from ModCloth / Wish Crop Top and Skirt from Show Me Your Mumu /Embellished Ivory Kimono Sleeve Short Dress for Rehearsal Dinner : The Riviera Dress from BHLDN / White Fringe Spaghetti Strap White Dress with Black Belt: Roosevelt Dress by Ali & Jay from Nordstrom / White Lace Maxi Dress by Lilly PulitzerMelody Maxi Dress by Lilly Pulitzer, available at Nordstrom / White Lace Midi Dress with Full Skirt for a Rehearsal Dinner: Defining Divine Midi Dress in White from ModCloth / White Strapless Cocktail Dress Likely Driggs Dress in White from Revolve / Short Pleated Midi Dress with Lace Top and Long Sleeves: Little Mistress 3/4 Sleeve Lace Top Pleated Midi Dress from ASOS /White Cotton Eyelet Dress: Donna Morgan Eyelet Dress from Anthropologie Blush Embroidered Floral Dress: Chi Chi London Best Impressions Fit and Flare Dress from ModCloth/ Bell Sleeve White Lace Dress:Eliza J Bell Sleeve Lace Fit & Flare Dress in regular, petite and plus size from Nordstrom/Sleek Ivory V Neck Sheath Dress:Emmett Dress from BHLDN/ White Lace Midi Dress with Spaghetti Straps: ASTR the Label Lace Midi Dress from Nordstrom / Short White Sequin Dress with Long Sleeves: Dress The Population White Carlene Dress from Rent the Runway/Classic Pearl Trimmed White Fit and Flare Dress with Short Sleeves: Victoria Pearly Trim Fit & Flare Dress by Gal Meets Glam from Nordstrom