As any bride will know, there are ample events in the lead up to your big day that require sartorial consideration. While plenty of emphasis is placed on the wedding dress itself, there’s likely also the engagement party, the hens celebration and a bridal shower to be outfitted for.

Finding the perfect bridal shower dress is no easy feat. While the engagement and bachelorette parties typically lend themselves to a more party-ready look, a bridal shower leans slightly more traditional.

When it comes to choosing a bridal shower dress, there are a few practical factors to consider. The season, time of day, and venue for your celebration will impact the look and feel of your outfit. Are you keeping things low-key with a summer backyard soirée in the early afternoon? Or perhaps your bridal shower falls in the chillier months, so you've decided to opt for an indoor celebration at your favourite restaurant.  Whatever vibe you're going for, look—and feel—your best with RUSSH's guide to finding the perfect dress for every kind of bridal shower.

A garden celebration

If you're dreaming of an outdoor celebration—be it in your own backyard, or a local garden—embrace the occasion with romantic ruffles and whimsical romantic details, and perhaps a subtle nod to florals. On a practical note, if you're likely to be standing on grass, opt for shoes with a thicker or block heel, and steer clear of stilettos.

FAITHFULL Vence Midi Dress in white 

Rotate Bridal Rosita floral-appliqué mesh minidress

Posse Coby Strapless Dress

An afternoon tea party

For everything you need to know about a tea party-style celebration, you need only re-watch Lillian's bridal shower in Bridesmaids (before it descends into chaos, obviously). For a more traditional occasion of this kind, embrace semi-formal looks with sophisticated detailing: a string of pearls and dainty earrings would work well here.

Vivienne Westwood White Sunday Midi Dress

Matteau Gathered Drop Waist Dress

Jacquemus Favola midi dress

A bachelorette-meets-bridal-shower hybrid

If you're feeling overwhelmed by the sheer volume of events in the lead up to your wedding (we get it), but don't want to forgo any of these very special traditions, why not merge your bachelorette party and bridal shower? For this kind of occasion, it's likely dancing will be on the agenda, so you'll want an outfit you can move freely and comfortably in. Bonus points if it's made from something that will shimmer under the dance floor lights.

Maison Essentiele Buckle Mini Dress

Rebecca Vallance Alicia Strapless Mini Dress

Majorelle Matteson Mini Dress

Sandy Liang SSENSE Exclusive Off-White Arden Minidress

An evening cocktail occasion

If you've been dreaming of sharing cocktail hour with your nearest and dearest, we've got you covered. Arguably the kind of bridal shower that's closest in nature to the actual wedding itself, a cocktail party allows for something a little more formal, but not quite as sophisticated as what you'll walk down the aisle in. Think: sleek silks, sensual draping, and perhaps a cut-out here and there.

Maggie Marilyn Cover Girl dress in ivory

Shona Joy Status Lace High Neck Maxi Dress in ivory

Isabel Marant Jadel silk-blend satin midi dress

Vivienne Westwood SSENSE Exclusive White Zora Minidress

Need more help in the lead up to your big day? Why not peruse our guide to the best bridal earrings, or brush up on the unconventional wedding dress designers we can't get enough of.

Feature image: one, two.