The dress gets all the attention, but the days around the wedding ask for their own wardrobe. A bachelorette weekend, a honeymoon on the water, a welcome party by the pool: each one deserves a swimsuit that feels as considered as everything else you packed. Here is what we are reaching for right now, from one piece swimsuits to bikini sets and the coverups that go over them.
What makes a swimsuit read as bridal
Bridal swimwear is not a separate fabric or cut so much as a point of view. It leans toward white, ivory, and sand tones rather than print, toward clean lines and a little texture (lace, crochet, a crinkle finish) rather than hardware, and toward pieces that photograph as easily at a bachelorette brunch as they do on a honeymoon beach. Think of it as the swimwear equivalent of the second dress: not the gown, but cut from the same mood.
Seven swim pieces to shop for the honeymoon and bachelorette
Sand Waves One Piece, LA'AVANA
An open back one piece in a sand and ivory print, cut high at the leg and low at the back. It works equally well for a bachelorette pool day or the first morning of a honeymoon. Shop the Sand Waves One Piece, $125.
Yellow Coral Duo One Piece, LA'AVANA
Despite the name, this one piece reads sunlit sand and ivory rather than anything bright, with a textured, sculptural cut and a scooped back. It is a strong pick for a bride who wants a little more structure than a basic style. Shop the Yellow Coral Duo One Piece, $160.
Mitzi Italian Crinkle Swimsuit, Sandshaped
Sandshaped works in a crinkled Italian fabric that catches the light without shine, cut into a simple, scooped one piece in cream. It is an easy throw-on for a morning swim or a bachelorette portrait. Shop the Mitzi Italian Crinkle Swimsuit, $210.
Boheme Bikini, Huit
A soft blush bikini set from Huit, a lingerie and swim house whose pieces favor fuller, more supportive cuts than most bridal swim. It is the set we would pack for a bachelorette weekend that is more about lounging than posing. Shop the Boheme Bikini, $75.
Camille Bikini, Huit
A classic white bikini top and brief from Huit, with clean lines and a flattering, mid-rise fit. It belongs in the suitcase for the bride who wants a simple swimsuit, not a statement. Shop the Camille Bikini, $75.
Sofi Italian Crinkle Tank Bikini Set, Sandshaped
The two piece version of the Mitzi, a crinkled cream tank top paired with matching bottoms. The tank cut gives more coverage through the torso without losing the texture that makes this fabric interesting. Shop the Sofi Italian Crinkle Tank Bikini Set, $135.
Sand Waves Mini Dress, LA'AVANA
A knit coverup in the same sand and ivory palette as the Sand Waves swim pieces, made to go straight from the pool to lunch. Layer it over any of the suits above, or wear it as its own honeymoon mini dress. Shop the Sand Waves Mini Dress, $135.
How to choose your bachelorette or honeymoon swimsuit
Start with where you are going and what the week actually looks like. A pool-heavy bachelorette weekend calls for a swimsuit built for sitting and lounging as much as swimming, where a fuller bikini set like the Boheme earns its place. A honeymoon with real time in the water favors a one piece with real coverage, like the Sand Waves or the Mitzi. Either way, pack a coverup you would actually wear to lunch, not just to the pool and back.
Color matters more than it does in regular swimwear. White and ivory photograph beautifully against sand and water, but they also show every tan line and sunscreen smear, so if this is the one piece you will wear for the whole trip, consider a sand or cream tone like the Yellow Coral Duo or the Mitzi instead.
Shop the full collection
See the whole range in Bridal Swimwear, or continue the wedding week wardrobe with our guide to wedding night lingerie and honeymoon essentials.
Bridal swimwear, answered
Is bridal swimwear really different from regular swimwear?
Not in construction, but in color and mood. Bridal swim leans toward white, ivory, and sand tones and simpler, cleaner cuts so it photographs well alongside the rest of a wedding week wardrobe. Everything in our Bridal Swimwear collection is picked with that in mind.
What should I pack for my bachelorette trip versus my honeymoon?
A bachelorette weekend is usually shorter and more social, so one versatile bikini set and a coverup you can wear to lunch cover most of it. A honeymoon is longer and often includes more time actually in the water, so it is worth packing at least one supportive one piece alongside anything you want for photos.
Can I return bridal swimwear if it doesn't fit?
For health and hygiene reasons, all swimwear at Mae Bridal is final sale, regardless of the designer's own policy. If you are unsure about sizing, email team@maebridal.com before you order and we will help you choose.
Do I need to size up or down for bridal swim?
Check each product's own size chart rather than guessing, since sizing varies by designer and style. The Sand Waves and Yellow Coral styles run in S, M, and L, while Huit's styles run XS through XXL, so there is room to find the right fit either way.
Ready to see them in person? Book an in-person fitting at our Santa Monica showroom, or book a live virtual shopping session from wherever you are.
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