Every Wedding After-Party Dress I Tried on in My Search to Find “The One”

My June wedding date is sneaking closer and closer—and while I picked out my ceremony dress months ago, I’m still missing my pièce de résistance: A wedding after-party dress to change into when the DJ starts to bump up the BPMs. I’ll be saying “I do” in a field in the Hudson Valley, so my personal goal was to find a dress that, while playful, still fit the vibe of our celebration and venue. A bodycon style that might be ideal in Miami wouldn’t feel quite right against a backdrop of tall grasses and wild roses. Something too structured was also off the table for me; a bit 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 bopping around SoHo, popping in to various boutiques, and also ordered a few additional styles online to round out my options. I wanted to cast a wide net, not committing to any one silhouette (or even to wearing white) before I’d given myself the chance to get an idea of what different versions of me would look like on my wedding night.

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

Prada

At Prada, I felt a bit like a sartorial Goldilocks, trying on a whirlwind of different white dresses and trying to get a read on which style best fit the bill. This little linen dress was an early contender for personal favorite. I know that it’s not the most formal, but it matches the vibe of my wedding venue. I’m also attracted to the fact that it has a hint of sexiness to it with its teeny-tiny hem, but doesn’t skew 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 that I hadn’t expected at all. I waffled between considering it for an after-party look and wondering if maybe it better fit the bill for a visit to City Hall; either way, it was a style that left me and my bubbly saleswoman repeating the word “pretty” back and forth.

Toteme

I popped into the Toteme store looking for something more minimal to test, and came away with two very different (but tantalizing) options. The first was a silky set combining a cropped camisole and a midi skirt; the fit was relaxed, but still had a dressy vibe. A two-piece wasn’t something I’d considered before, but I imagined how good it would feel to bare a bit of stomach on a sweaty night mid-June.

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

Bode

For something a bit more unexpected—and definitely a departure from traditional bridal white—I visited the Bode store, which felt a bit like sneaking into my grandma’s closet, complete with antique mirrors and the smell of dust and patchouli. I liked that the dresses nodded to vintage designs; both the flapper midi and the halterneck maxi are based on silhouettes from the 1930s.

The beaded shift is the kind of Gatsby-esque number made for swinging around on the dance floor. There was something comforting about how heavy the dress felt—like I would be putting on a weighted blanket or my own sort of fashion armor for the evening. I know going for non-white is a bit out-there for many brides, but I think this plaid dress would definitely be memorable. Ultimately, I decided it might be better-suited to wearing as a wedding guest; though I loved the delicate fabric and playful ruffles.

Dôen

As someone who has worn many Dôen dresses to other people’s weddings, it only made sense that I try on a few of the brand’s romantic dresses for my own big day. I’m most drawn to the brand’s textural 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 the way the dress looked with a pair of kitten heel Manolos already 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 would spend all night trying to tug it down.

Chloé

Color me shocked when the store attendant swept this aqua-colored high-low dress into my dressing room. I was thrown by its voluminous body, 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 transfixed by Alexa Chung’s purple Chloé mini last year, I wanted the chance to try on a similar babydoll dress, and was drawn to the way this saucy little number sits right on the cusp of the shoulder. While I’m not generally a fan of ultra-mini silhouettes on my frame, I found the swingy, teddy-like shape to really work for me here.

Colleen Allen

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

At the end of my try-on saga, 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.

Shop More Great Wedding After-Party Dresses:

Kamperett

Anemoia blouse + Brise skirt