Turns out, many of you struggle when it comes to what to wear to a formal engagement party. Dressing for an engagement party doesn’t have to be as overwhelming as you think. I put together a guideline to help you with figuring out what to wear when dressing for your next engagement party. Here are some things to consider.
Where is the Engagement Party Taking Place
Typically engagement parties take place at the family’s house and are more casual similar to bridal showers. But not in all cases. I have been to a few engagement parties that took place in a more formal setting and my most recent engagement party was also at a venue. Venue engagement parties tend to be more formal and much fancier than an at house party. Depending on where the party is will help you decide is you should wear something casual or formal. But keep in mind, even if the party takes place at a house that doesn’t mean you should show up in jeans or that the party is not going to be formal. Dress a little bit fancy or make an effort to look polished regardless of where the engagement party is happening. If you want to opt for something simple you can do that, just make sure to jazz your outfit with some flashy yet elegant accessories that will make you stand out.
Look At The Invitation
Usually if there is a strict dress code like if it is a black and tie event, it will be stated in the invitation. Take a look at the invitation and if it is unclear you can also ask the bride or the groom ahead of time. to determine how formal the event is. There is nothing worst than showing up at an event under-dressed.
Don’t Wear White!
Even though this just an engagement party and not the wedding, do not wear white. That is the bride’s colour for all wedding-related events – engagement party, bridal shower, wedding etc. Whatever you do, don’t wear white. Also, stay away from other traditionally-bridal colors, like champagne or blush. If you want a more subtle colour dress go for pastel hues that fall outside of those colours.
Cocktail Attire for The Win
When in doubt wear a cocktail dress. I love dresses and especially a good cocktail dress regardless of the occasion. I got the prettiest romantic gradient pleated mesh tulle cocktail dress from Chicwish, and I am so in love with it. I actually wore this dress to my friend’s engagement party and I got so many compliments on it. Her engagement was at a venue and a formal event, The tulle and ruffle detailing of the dress added the elegant element to it, making it the perfect dress for any occassion, especially for an engagement party. This dress checks off all the must have guidelines for what to wear as a guest at an engagement party. I got a size medium, I would recommend going a size down, from your regular size. It definitely runs big, mostly because of the elastic band around the waist there is definitely lots of room to move around even if you get a smaller size.
Would you wear this dress at an engagement party?
Photography: Laura Clarke Photography
