My June wedding date is creeping closer and closer. I picked out my ceremony dress months ago, but I’m still missing the main event: a wedding after-party dress to change into when the DJ starts turning up the beats. I’ll be saying “I do” in a field in the Hudson Valley, so my goal was to find a dress that’s playful but still fits the vibe of our celebration and venue. A bodycon style that might work great in Miami wouldn’t feel right against a backdrop of tall grasses and wild roses. Something too structured was also out—it would be too formal for our “bucolic cocktail” dress code.

So, I did what any fashion-loving girl does best: I got busy shopping. I spent a day hopping around SoHo, popping into various boutiques, and also ordered a few more styles online to round out my options. I wanted to keep an open mind, not committing to any one silhouette (or even to wearing white) until I’d seen what different versions of me would look like on my wedding night.

My Wedding After-Party Dress Wishlist

The Embellished Midi
Prada Sablé dress
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$4,600 PRADA

The Floral Mini
Dôen Adelia dress
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$798 DÔEN

The Cream-Colored A-Line
Toteme sculpted Sablé dress
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$1,180 NORDSTROM

The Bohemian Ruffles
Chloé high-low ruffled dress
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$6,590 CHLOÉ

The Playful Print
Bode Maestro Landis dress
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$1,600 FWRD

The Lace Slip
Colleen Allen silk column dress
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$2,950 COLLEEN ALLEN

The Pink Option
Cecilie Bahnsen Claudie gathered midi dress
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$1,300 NET-A-PORTER

I’m still in the final stages of deciding which dress to pick, but after trying on nearly a dozen options, I think I’ve found it. Keep reading to see all the styles I tested on my journey—and the reception dress I plan to call “the one.”

Prada
Courtesy of Aemilia Madden
Courtesy of Aemilia Madden

At Prada, I felt a bit like a fashion Goldilocks, trying on a bunch of different white dresses and trying to figure out which style fit best. This little linen dress was an early favorite. I know it’s not the most formal, but it matches the vibe of my wedding venue. I also like that it has a hint of sexiness with its tiny hem, but doesn’t go too far in that direction.

Next, my eyes went straight to the crystal neckline of this slinky midi, which hugged my hips in a way I didn’t expect at all. I went back and forth between thinking it could work for an after-party look and wondering if it might be better for a City Hall visit. Either way, it was a style that had me and my bubbly saleswoman repeating the word “pretty” back and forth.

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Prada embroidered linen dress
$5,000 PRADA

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Prada Sablé dress
$4,600 PRADA

Toteme
Courtesy of Aemilia Madden
Courtesy of Aemilia Madden

I stopped by the Toteme store looking for something more minimal to try, and came away with two very different (but tempting) options. The first was a silky set with a cropped camisole and a midi skirt. The fit was relaxed but still felt dressy. A two-piece wasn’t something I’d thought about before, but I imagined how good it would feel to show a bit of stomach on a sweaty night in mid-June.

The second style was a bit more traditional: a tweed dress that hugged my body like a glove, with a low scoop neckline, a racerback, and a swingy skirt. In the end, it was maybe a bit more fabric than I’m looking for, but it’s the kind of style I could see wearing again to a moody, candlelit city event.

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Toteme cropped satin camisole
$620 TOTEME

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Toteme layered satin skirt
$720 TOTEME
$720 NORDSTROM

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Toteme sculpted Sablé dress
$1,180 NORDSTROM
$1,180 BLOOMINGDALE’S

Bode
Courtesy of Aemilia Madden
Courtesy of Aemilia Madden

For something a bit more unexpected—and definitely a departure from traditional bridal white—I visitedAt the Bode store, it felt a bit like sneaking into my grandma’s closet—complete with antique mirrors and the smell of dust and patchouli. I loved that the dresses nodded to vintage styles; both the flapper midi and the halterneck maxi are based on 1930s silhouettes. The beaded shift is the kind of Gatsby-inspired dress made for dancing on the floor. There was something comforting about how heavy the dress felt—like putting on a weighted blanket or my own kind of fashion armor for the night. I know choosing a non-white dress is a bit unusual for many brides, but I think this plaid dress would definitely be memorable. In the end, I decided it might work better as a wedding guest dress, even though I loved the delicate fabric and playful ruffles.

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Bode
Sea Flower beaded silk dress
$2,200 NET-A-PORTER
$2,310 NORDSTROM

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Bode
Maestro Landis dress
$1,600 FWRD
$1,600 BODE

Dôen
Courtesy of Aemilia Madden
Courtesy of Aemilia Madden

As someone who has worn many Dôen dresses to other people’s weddings, it made sense to try on a few of the brand’s romantic dresses for my own big day. I’m most drawn to their textured pieces, and the mini-length Adelia dress—with a shift silhouette and floral appliqués—had just the right party vibe for pairing with a disco ball and some sparkly sunglasses. A bonus: I loved how the dress looked with a pair of kitten heel Manolos I already had in my closet (something old, and something blue).

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked the Junia dress. It has a nightgown-like silhouette with lace cutouts and a high neck. The slinky silk was so comfortable, and the hemline didn’t feel so short that I’d spend all night trying to pull it down.

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Dôen
Adelia dress
$798 DÔEN

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Dôen
Junia dress
$498 DÔEN

Chloé
Courtesy of Aemilia Madden
Courtesy of Aemilia Madden

Color me shocked when the store attendant brought this aqua-colored high-low dress into my dressing room. I was thrown by its voluminous shape, but once I put it on, the way it billowed behind me made me feel like a pop star with a wind machine—as if the word “glamorous” had been invented just for me.

Having been obsessed with Alexa Chung’s purple Chloé mini last year, I wanted to try on a similar babydoll dress. I was drawn to how this playful little number sits right on the edge of the shoulder. While I’m not usually a fan of ultra-mini styles on my frame, I found the swingy, teddy-like shape really worked for me here.

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Chloé
high-low ruffled dress
$6,590 CHLOÉ

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Chloé
short-sleeve mini dress
$3,990 CHLOÉ

Colleen Allen
Courtesy of Aemilia Madden
Courtesy of Aemilia Madden

I’ve had my eye on emerging New York designer Colleen Allen for a while; her pieces walk the line between delicately witchy and elegantly simple. This silky column dress was delicate, almost like slipping into an old nightgown. Mostly, I couldn’t get over how soft and supple the fabric was, and how the hem floated around me as I test-walked around my room: ethereal and slightly ghost-like, in a good way.

At the end of my try-on journey, this was the dress I couldn’t stop thinking about. It hints at sexiness without being too over the top—absolutely perfect for a night spent barefoot, dancing under the stars.

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Colleen Allen
silk column dress
$2,950 COLLEEN ALLEN

Shop More Great Wedding After-Party Dresses:

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Self-Portrait
asymmetric midi dress
$555 NET-A-PORTER

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Cecilie Bahnsen
Claudie gathered midi dress
$1,300 NET-A-PORTER

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Khaite
Merith dress
$2,500 KHAITE

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Magda Butrym
floral silk satin minidress
$2,055 MYTHERESA

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Emily Dawn Long
Dammit Janet dress
$495 NORDSTROM

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Merlette
Soliman dress
$360 NORDSTROM

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Sandy Liang
Naomi Dress
$495 – SANDY LIANG

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Kamperett
Anemoia Blouse + Brise Skirt
$1,490 – KAMPERETT
$895 – KAMPERETT

Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs based on the topic Finding the perfect wedding afterparty dress

BeginnerLevel Questions

1 What exactly is a wedding afterparty dress
Its a second outfit you change into after the main reception typically for dancing latenight snacks or hanging out with friends Its usually more comfortable shorter and easier to move in than your ceremony gown

2 Why cant I just wear my wedding gown to the afterparty
You can but most wedding gowns are heavy have long trains or are hard to dance in An afterparty dress lets you move freely keep your dress clean and gives you a fun new look for photos

3 Do I have to spend a lot of money on an afterparty dress
Not at all Many brides choose affordable options like a white mini dress a jumpsuit or even a cute dress from a fastfashion store The goal is comfort and fun not expense

4 When do I change into the afterparty dress
Usually right after the formal reception ends often when the DJ starts playing dance music or when the crowd shifts to the latenight venue Many brides change during a quick break

5 What styles are most popular for afterparty dresses
Short and flirty sparkly or sleek White is common but some brides go for bold colors like red black or metallics

AdvancedLevel Questions

6 Ive tried on dozens of dresses and none feel like the one How do I know when Ive found the right afterparty dress
Stop searching for perfection Look for a dress that makes you feel confident lets you dance without worry and matches the vibe of your afterparty If you smile when you put it on and dont want to take it off thats your sign

7 How do I avoid the I tried on every dress and hated them all frustration
Narrow your focus Before shopping decide on two things your budget and your movement needs Then only try on dresses that fit those criteria Avoid browsing aimlessly