Many brides don’t consider the reality of wearing their bridal gown all through the day and into the night on their wedding day. As the evening of the wedding starts, the amount of fabric and often tight midsection of the dress can be a hindrance. To stay comfortable, having a stylish and on-theme evening bridal dress ready can be a life saver. In this post we’ll be discussing the benefits of an evening wedding dress for the bride, along with examples of dresses that are perfect for wearing late into the evening.
What is an evening dress?
If you’re researching what dress to wear into the evening as the bride, you’ve probably seen many different terms. Wedding dresses, evening dresses, party dresses, and more are likely to come across your radar, but which is best for a bride? An evening dress is exactly what it sounds like – a gown that is designed only to be worn at evening occasions. If your wedding is due to take place over the course of an entire day (as many do), having an evening wedding dress to change into can help you stay comfortable. While there aren’t any hard or fast rules on what an evening wedding dress should look like, although it’s recommended to be more moveable. Here are some ideas to get you started:
- A shorter style that reveals your shoes.
- A different colour dress.
- An altered, pre-loved dress.
- A bridal jumpsuit.
For those who have the challenging task of finding the right evening dress for a wedding outside of the country, we’ve put together a helpful guide in our other blog ‘How to pick evening dresses for weddings abroad’.
History of evening gowns
Nowadays there aren’t many requirements for ‘evening wear’. However, this was not always the case. Historically, all women were expected to have an evening dress that was intended for dinners and other special occasions. There was no such thing as wedding party dresses. These long gowns were first popularised under Queen Victoria in the 1800’s. It was then in the 20th century that evening wear for women began to take on more fashion elements. This included bows, ribbons, frills, ruffles, new designs, and exciting colours. It was around the mid 1920’s that Coco Chanel introduced the simple one-piece ‘little black dress’. This would form the basis of many summer and evening dress designs for decades to come.
Stunning evening dresses for brides
As mentioned previously, evening dresses for weddings can serve as a way for the bride to embrace the informal atmosphere of the night as it progresses. The following are our top picks for bridal evening dresses:
Wrap Dress
Where your bridal gown will often have heavier fabric that won’t move around as much when dancing, a wrap dress can provide the flowing material you need in the evening. This Margot dress is made from medium weight, high quality matte satin that hangs beautifully. It’s also incredibly flattering and easy to change into.
Slip Dress
Going for a neutral tone in your evening dresses can be a great combination alongside the white bridal dress. The slight change in colour signals that the event is taking an informal turn. What’s more, it looks stunning on a dress that hangs as effortlessly as this Stella slip dress. The modest V neck and spaghetti straps are also perfect for tying into the evening/bedtime.
Cowl Back Dress
With a high neckline and sweeping cowl back, this Eadie dress has a great mix of sophistication and evening flair. The flowy cap sleeves work wonderfully with the slim tie feature. What’s more, the satin has a perfect amount of sheen to catch the changing light.
Shop online for evening wedding dresses
At Maids to Measure, it’s been our mission to provide dresses for any occasion that are both stunning and affordable. All our wedding guest, occasion, and bridesmaid dresses are available in a huge range of colours to allow you to find the right look. If you need to test out your fabric and colour combination, simply request a sample to be delivered. Then when you’re confident in the dress options, book an appointment at our showroom to see how your evening dress looks on your frame. We look forward to seeing you!