Okay, so, I got invited to be a bridesmaid, which is super exciting, but then came the whole “what do I wear to the rehearsal dinner?” situation. I mean, it’s not the actual wedding, but you still gotta look decent, right?
First, I scoured the internet for some inspiration. I found a ton of articles and blog posts about bridesmaid dresses, and that gave me a general idea of what’s appropriate. Most of them talked about finding a balance between elegance and comfort, which sounded good to me. Some articles mentioned that casual and dressy casual are the common dress codes, it depends on the tone of the venue. I keep that in mind.
Then, I started thinking about the venue. The rehearsal dinner is at this somewhat fancy restaurant, not super formal, but definitely not a jeans-and-t-shirt kind of place. So I ruled out anything too casual. At the same time, I didn’t want to go full-on ballgown either. It’s a fine line to walk!
I decided to go for a dress, because why not? There are many options for me, elegant dress, chic jumpsuit, wide-leg pants. I love dress anyway. I remembered someone saying white dresses are usually for the bride, even at the rehearsal dinner, although it’s a semi-formal event and not as formal as a wedding ceremony. So I steered clear of anything white or too bridal-looking.
- Hit up a few stores, tried on a bunch of dresses. Some were too plain, some were way too over-the-top.
- Finally, I found this really pretty navy blue dress. It’s got a nice flowy skirt and some subtle lace details.
- It felt fancy enough for the restaurant but not so much that I’d feel out of place.
Accessorizing was the next hurdle. I picked out some simple jewelry – nothing too flashy. And for shoes, I went with some comfortable heels that I know I can actually walk in.
The dinner itself was a blast! The dress worked out perfectly. It is a semi-formal event, everyone looked great, and I felt good, which is what really matters. Plus, I got a few compliments, so that’s always a nice bonus. I think I nailed the “bridesmaid at the rehearsal dinner” look, and I didn’t even stress about it too much.
So yeah, that’s my whole rehearsal dinner outfit saga. Hopefully, my little adventure can help someone else out there who’s stressing about what to wear. Just remember to keep the venue in mind, avoid the bride’s color, and most importantly, pick something that makes you feel good!
