The 'what if' cookout dress

We're not having a typical "rehearsal dinner." Instead, we're having a Welcome Cookout for everyone invited to the wedding. It takes so much to get to the Outer Banks that having a big party to congratulate everyone on getting there - and begin celebrating! - was a no-brainer. As the kickoff event to a weekend full of activities, it's also where everyone can meet everyone else and ensure that by the time the wedding rolls around, they are old friends and ready to party.

The cookout will be on the lawn overlooking the beach and will feature two of my favorite things: eastern NC bbq and shrimp. (And yes, plenty of veg-head options, never fear...) So the vibe is decidedly casual; the Weekend Festivities card that'll go in the invitations even mentions flip-flops in the event listing.

If I were one of those brides who wanted to cloak herself in white from now until May 24, I'd probably find an adorable informal white dress for said cookout. But I'm not one of those girls... as cute as that look is on someone else (and it is! I have my sister's white strapless sundress she wore to her rehearsal dinner hanging in my closet right now). But I'm too much of a color fiend to wear white on two whole days, so I'll undoubtedly find some sort of brightly colored sundress to pair with one of my twelve pairs of wedge sandals.

But if I were that girl? I think this is the dress I'd buy. How adorable, and just the right mood.





Anthro's Galaxy of Dots dress