Engagement Party Dresses for Brides to Be

While engagements happen at all times of the year, the fall and winter holiday season is especially known for the influx of engagements.  So, if you have become recently engaged, one of the first parties you might be attending is an engagement party thrown in your honor. 

Of course, as a guest of honor, this means finding an engagement party outfit worthy of the occasion. To help you we've found some of the prettiest dresses to show off your new bride-to-be status and created this collection of engagement dresses to make finding the perfect engagement party dress a breeze.

Our editors select each of these dresses for their suitability for engagement parties. Affiliate links are used in this post. 

Engagement party image credits and shopping sources: 1. Lulus Long Sleeve Sequin Maxi Dress 2. Pippa One Shoulder Pearl Dress by Sachin + Babi at Anthropologie 3. Pearl White Luella Dress from Petal + Pup 4. Anya Tulle Mini Dress by Petal + Pup

Over 50 of the Best Engagement Party Dresses for Brides

Our editor has hand-picked these dresses to create a curated collection of the top styles for engagement party dresses for brides-to-be. We've chosen these for their overall look and aesthetic appeal as well as their suitability for engagement parties in all sorts of venues.

What Does a Bride Wear to an Engagement Party?

White is a traditional bridal color, and so many brides-to-be choose to wear little white dresses for many of the wedding-related events leading up to the upcoming wedding to get that unmistakable bridal style. However, it's your party and we think you can wear what you want to.

The most important thing is that you and your partner feel comfortable and like yourself in your engagement outfits. If you have a signature color or already own a dress you love, feel free to wear that.  Some brides choose floral patterns or blue dresses as a way to tie in something blue, while others might opt for little black dresses as a chic and timeless style. 

That said, white attire is usually reserved for brides to wear to all of the celebrations and parties leading up to the big day like bridal showers, brunches, and bachelorette parties. While you can't beat the classic ivory or white dress, we love the idea of changing up the white dresses you wear by adding a subtle print on a white background or adding texture by choosing a sequin, beaded, eyelet, or other fabric that shows a bit of interest.

What are the Best Dress Styles for an Engagement Party?

An engagement party is a special occasion and worth dressing up for. You'll be showing off your engagement ring, and wanting to find the perfect ensemble for the party ahead.

When deciding what to wear, as with all things wedding attire related, you'll want to let the style or theme of the party, location, time of day, season, and weather dictate to a certain extent what you'll wear. The rest is up to your personal preferences.  Here are a few of the engagement party themes we can imagine, along with the dresses we'd pick to wear to each one! These also make perfect choices if you'd like to wear white for engagement photos!

White Sweater Dress

If you just got engaged in the winter season, you might be looking for the perfect white dress to wear in cold weather.  Perhaps you'll celebrate your engagement with a date night with your new fiance,  in a casual setting surrounded by family and close friends. We think this cozy but dressy ivory sweater dress style on a long sleeve wrap dress is the perfect thing to wear for casual get-togethers or informal cold-weather engagement party events.

White One Shoulder Mini Dress with Fringe

This dress looks ready to celebrate! With one-shoulder styling and fringe down the side, we'd wear this one to an engagement cocktail party at an elegant venue, a chic dinner party celebrating your engagement, or a night out on the town with friends for drinks and restaurant hopping.

White Lace Midi Dress

Midi dresses are always an excellent choice for all of life's special events. The in-between length is classic and tasteful while also being a modern look. This sweet style would be the perfect look for a backyard barbeque engagement party thrown in your honor, a warm weather party, or a springtime dinner party for the newly engaged couple.

White Maxi Dress

While you may be planning a long white dress for your wedding day, it needn't be the only long white dress you purchase. White or ivory maxi dresses are the perfect thing to wear to your engagement party or rehearsal dinner. We think this white sequin dress is a stunner worthy of celebrating!

Short Lace Mini Dress with Long Sleeves

This short lace dress is sure to make an entrance and a statement for your engagement party. We love short dresses like this shift-style and the long lace sleeves that give this a very retro look.

Crochet Ivory Mini Dress

This ivory mini dress has a boho vibe that is perfect dress for a warm-weather outdoor engagement party at a beach or desert destination.

Classic Satin Shoulder Ivory Satin Dress

This ivory satin midi is a classic and classy engagement party outfit. The midi length and ivory satin style have very bridal vibes. This is perfect for a semi-formal engagement party at a country club or other elegant venue. Tea length styles like this can also work perfectly for short wedding dresses if that's a look you're going for!

White Jumpsuit

For the modern woman, engagement jumpsuits are gaining popularity. White jumpsuits are chic and contemporary alternatives to traditional dresses. Whether it's an all-over ivory lace, or a chic white wide-leg style, a wedding jumpsuit is a versatile and comfortable choice. Another great look is a two-piece set with wide-leg pants and a white long-sleeved top or suit jacket.

 See more of the white jumpsuits we love!

Long White Sequin Gown

Some engagement parties are exceptionally dressy events where only formal dresses will do. If that type of elegant event is being thrown to celebrate your love story, be sure to choose a long dress that is in keeping with the formality of the event.

If you are wearing a long white or ivory gown for your wedding dress, you'll want to choose a formal gown that differs from your wedding dress in some way, so that you don't take away from the big reveal of your dress on your special day. Perhaps choose a sleek white sequined gown like this one with a touch of vintage charm or a white gown with some special detail like delicate embroidery or a subtle floral pattern. 

Outfit Ideas for Brides to Wear to Engagement Parties

Here are a few ideas for a complete look styled with accessories, statement earrings, and shoes!

Shopping details and product sources:  Casey Lace Mini Dres by Bronx and Banco from Revolve |  Crystal Cluster Earrings | Marchesa Bracelet from Nordstrom | Loeffler Randal Clutch from Revolve | Sam Edelman Granger Heels|

This chic little ivory lace mini dress with long sleeves and belt is a chic look for your engagement party, rehearsal dinner, or any elegant pre-wedding party. Best of all, the accessories shown here add special touches that can be worn again as a part of your wedding ensemble! It's the perfect way to break in new shoes and get to wear them twice!

More Wedding Style Ideas

If you're just starting to plan your wedding, don't forget to take a look at our picks for wedding dresses under $1500, the best wedding dresses you can buy online, as well as bridesmaid dresses by color and our picks for the most elegant mother of the bride dresses and outfit ideas. And for more ideas for your pre-wedding celebrations, check out our favorite bachelorette party dresses for brides and bridal shower dresses for brides-to-be.

Past Features

This article was first published in January 2014 and updated most recently on December 30, 2023.

These outfit ideas was from our original article published in January 2014 and 2015. We keep them here for image continuity in case you have reached this page from an image search or pin. 

It's bridal, elegant, and supremely a stand-apart dress which will allow you to literally shine!

If your family and friends are throwing an engagement party in your honor, I don't think you can go wrong with this gilded number!

Exquisite Taste Dress by Osman at Rent the Runway / Icarus Necklace by Sequin  /Gold and Opal Bracelet by INC /Small Gold Clutch by Russell + Hazel /  Malia Peeptoes by Michael Kors

Did you get engaged recently? If so, congratulations! I hope you're planning on celebrating! This dress will make you feel like a bride-to-be in no time!

The time as a bride-to-be is so finite, that I think it's fun to plan to celebrate and dress-up! If you're looking for a dress that seems to be just made for a bride-to-be for an engagement celebration or rehearsal dinner, this would be one of my top choices.  This dress is so ornate it could even stand in as a wedding dress for a civil ceremony, and will work as a reception dress. Another idea is to give your guest a hint of your wedding colors by wearing your favorite shade or one of the colors from your wedding theme for your engagement party or rehearsal dinner.  Whatever style you choose make it a special look, and celebrate this fun time with your spouse-to-be!

Dress: Astor Dress by Marchesa at Rent the Runway // Earrings: Solar Flare Earrings at Rent the Runway // Bracelet: Geneva Crystal Bracelet from Chico's // Clutch: Bugle Bead Satin Foldover Clutch from BCBG Max Azaria // Heels:  Gelana Sandal