What makes a good bridal or getting-ready robe?
A good getting-ready robe opens at the front, so you can step into your dress without pulling anything over your hair and makeup. It should be short enough to move in, opaque enough for photos with family in the room, and in a fabric that photographs well, usually satin or lace.
For the bride, white or ivory lace or satin is the classic choice. For the wedding party, the easiest approach is one robe style in one color, ordered in everyone's size, with the bride in white so she stands out in the photos.
Order early enough to allow for exchanges, check that the style comes in every size your party needs, and plan what goes underneath, because many lace robes are sheer.
The wedding morning is one of the most photographed parts of the day, and for most of it everyone is in a robe. Hair, makeup, a glass of something and the photographer arriving early: the robe is in every frame until the dress goes on.
Here is how to choose a robe for the bride, how to match a wedding party without the logistics turning into a second job, and the practical details that make the morning easier.
- Front opening: a wrap robe means nothing goes over your hair and makeup.
- Short and light: above-the-knee robes are easiest to move and sit in.
- Satin or lace photograph best; lace is usually sheer, so layer it.
- Bride in white, party in one color is the simplest matching plan.
- Pick a style made in every size your party needs before you order.
- Order early so there is time to exchange sizes and steam everything.
Why Brides Wear a Robe to Get Ready
It is practical first and photogenic second. The robe solves real problems on the wedding morning.
That last point matters when you are choosing. A robe that only works for one morning is a costume; a robe in a fabric and color the person likes becomes their everyday robe. Our robes guide covers every robe style if you want the bigger picture.
What to Look For in a Getting-Ready Robe
Five details decide whether a robe works on the morning itself. Check each one before you order for a group.
| Detail | What works best | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Closure | Wrap front with a tie | Nothing goes over your head |
| Length | Short, above the knee | Easy to move, sit and climb stairs in |
| Sleeves | Short, three-quarter or wide kimono | Out of the way of makeup and hair |
| Opacity | Opaque, or lined, for family photos | Camera flash shows through sheer fabric |
| Fabric | Satin, lace or soft viscose | Photographs well and packs easily |
Wide kimono sleeves look beautiful in photos but can dip into foundation or brush against a makeup palette, so push them up or tie them back while your makeup is being done. A short robe is also more practical than a long one when you are sitting in a makeup chair or moving between rooms. If you want a long, dramatic robe for portraits, our kimono robe guide explains how the different cuts drape.
Choosing the Fabric
Satin, lace and viscose are the three fabrics that show up most in wedding-morning photos. Each behaves differently.
Our kimono robe vs bathrobe guide explains why fluffy terry bathrobes are not the right choice for getting-ready photos: they are bulky, they can shed lint onto fresh makeup and they look heavy on camera.
Choosing the Bride's Robe
The bride's robe should be the one people notice. White or ivory, in lace or satin, does that without effort.
Most brides choose white or ivory so the robe reads as bridal and links visually to the dress. Lace is the most romantic; satin is the most polished. If the bridal party is in color, any white robe will stand out. If the party is also in white, choose a different texture for the bride, such as lace against satin.
If your robe is sheer lace, decide in advance what you will wear under it. Your wedding bra and underwear, a bodysuit or a short slip all work, and they save a scramble when the photographer arrives.
Matching Robes for the Wedding Party
There are four common ways to coordinate a wedding party. The simplest is also the one most likely to arrive on time.
Everyone in one robe is the easiest to organize: one product, everyone's size, one order. Bride in white with the party in one color is the classic look. A color family (blush, rose and mauve, say) gives each person some choice while the photos still look planned. Mix and match is the most relaxed and works well for small parties.
The practical test is whether the style comes in every size your party needs. These robes each come in straight sizes and in a matching plus size version, so the whole party can wear the same robe:
| Robe | Color and fabric | Sizes |
|---|---|---|
| Lorelei | Pink viscose with lace trim | S to XL, 1X to 3X |
| Alina | Mint viscose with lace trim | S to XL, 1X to 3X |
| Davina | Blue viscose with lace trim | S to XL, 1X to 3X |
| Celina | Red satin with lace sleeve panels | XS to XL, 1X to 3X |
| Evangeline | Pink floral stretch satin | XS to XL, 1X to 3X |
All five are short kimono-cut wraps with a waist tie, cut above the knee. Each comes in one color, so for a two-tone party, pair two of them: Lorelei pink with Alina mint, for example, or Davina blue with a white robe for the bride. Browse all bridal robes and kimono robes for more colors and prints.
We do not offer embroidery or "Bride" and "Bridesmaid" lettering. If you want names on the robes, a local embroidery shop can add them; satin and viscose take embroidery better than sheer lace. Allow extra time for this before the wedding.
Sizing Robes for a Group
Robes are forgiving, which is why they make good group gifts. A few checks still save exchanges.
A wrap robe adjusts at the waist, so it fits a wider range of bodies than a fitted garment. The measurements that matter are the bust and hips, because the robe has to overlap enough at the front to stay closed when you sit down. If someone is between sizes, choose the larger one; a slightly roomy robe looks relaxed, while a tight one gapes open in photos.
For plus size parties, our plus size robes guide covers how robe sizing works in extended sizes and what to check for coverage.
Wedding Pajamas and Bridesmaid Pajama Sets
Matching pajamas are an alternative to robes, or a second outfit for the night before.
Some parties wear matching pajama sets instead of robes, or wear pajamas the night before and robes on the morning. Pajamas cover more, which some people prefer for photos with family, but they have to come off over the head or be unbuttoned, so a robe is still easier once hair and makeup are done.
The Evangeline Satin Pajama Set pairs a stretch satin cami with floral pants in the same print as the Evangeline robe, so a bridesmaid can have the matching set. For the bride, the Elie Viscose Pajama Set comes in cream. Browse pajamas for more sets.
What to Wear Under the Robe
Whatever is under the robe is what you will be wearing under your dress, so plan it as part of the outfit.
Most brides put on their wedding lingerie or shapewear first thing, then the robe over it, so the dress goes straight on when it is time. That means the robe needs to cover whatever you are wearing, and it is another reason to think about sheer lace. Choose a strapless or low-back bra if your dress needs one, so you do not get strap marks while you wait.
Our guide to what to wear under your wedding dress covers every layer, our wedding dress bra guide matches the bra to the neckline, and our bridal shapewear guide covers timing and fit. For the pieces themselves, browse bridal lingerie, bridal bras and wedding garters.
When to Order Wedding Party Robes
Robes are quick to buy, but group orders take longer than you expect once sizes and exchanges are involved.
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| 8 to 10 weeks before | Choose the style and confirm every size is available |
| 6 to 8 weeks before | Order, including any spare; book embroidery if you want it |
| 4 weeks before | Try on and exchange any sizes that do not work |
| The week of the wedding | Steam, hang and label each robe by name |
| The morning | Robes on before hair and makeup start |
Giving robes at the rehearsal dinner or the night before is a popular moment for it, and it means everyone arrives on the morning already in the right robe.
Steaming, Packing and Care
A creased robe shows in every photo. Ten minutes the day before fixes it.
Satin and viscose crease in a suitcase. Hang each robe the day before and use a handheld steamer on a low setting, holding it a little away from the fabric; satin can water-spot if the steamer spits, so test on an inside seam first. Lace needs less work, since it rarely creases, but keep it away from jewelry and hair clips that can snag it. After the wedding, wash satin and viscose robes on a cold, gentle cycle with like colors and hand wash lace.
After the Wedding
A good robe outlasts the day. That is the best argument for choosing one people actually like.
Bridesmaids keep their robes as everyday loungewear, which is why a soft viscose or a satin in a wearable color is a better gift than something novelty. The bride's robe often goes on the honeymoon. If you are planning for the wedding night as well, our guides to wedding night lingerie and bridal lingerie cover what to pack, and you can browse wedding night lingerie directly.
What This Means for You
Choose a getting-ready robe that opens at the front, sits above the knee and is opaque enough for photos with family, in satin, lace or soft viscose. Put the bride in white or ivory, and the simplest plan for the party is one style in one color, ordered in every size.
Check that the style comes in straight and plus sizes before you order, allow time for exchanges, plan what goes under sheer lace, and steam everything the day before.
Robes, Kimono Robes and Plus Size Robes
Every robe style, how kimono robes are cut, and how to size robes in extended sizes.
Robes GuideKimono RobesPlus Size RobesFrequently Asked Questions
What is a bridal robe?
What color robe should the bride wear?
Should bridesmaids wear matching robes?
What fabric is best for getting-ready robes?
Are lace bridal robes see-through?
How far ahead should I order wedding party robes?
What size robe should I order for my bridesmaids?
Can bridesmaids wear pajamas instead of robes?
This guide covers choosing robes for a bride and wedding party and is for general information. Sizing, length and sheerness vary between styles, so check the size chart and product details for any individual robe.
