Graduation Dress & Shoe Requirements

August 26th 2026

Dearest Seniors, Parents, and Guardians of the Class of 2027,

I hope you are enjoying this special summer before senior year! It's hard to believe we already are making plans for the Class of 2027 Graduation! We wanted to get this information to you over the summer, so you can begin thinking about Graduation dresses. Below is the information about our vendors, dress requirements, and important dates to add to your calendar concerning Graduation dresses. If you have any questions, please reach out!

The white dress, hat, and rose bouquet are among the hallmarks of an Ursuline Graduation ceremony; these Ursuline symbols unite past UA graduates with the present. Hats will be provided by Ursuline at no cost. We know that finding Graduation dresses that meet the color and style requirements has become difficult, so we have tried to make the process easier and would like to offer options.

Shoe Requirements

Shoes must meet the following requirements and will be needed at the mandatory Graduation practices on May 18-20:

Should be a formal dress shoe (no sneakers, boots, tennis shoes, flip flops, or backless sandals)
Completely white
Sensible heel height
Cannot be backless

Dress Requirements

All dresses must meet the following Graduation dress requirements:

White fabric (MUST be paper white – it should match the color of printer paper in outdoor and indoor lighting)
- Note: there is a slight difference in color between the approved designers’ dresses at Bella Bridesmaids, but it is not significant enough to be a concern.
One to two-inch-wide straps over the shoulders (no backless halter style, and dresses in the lookbooks with spaghetti straps, thin straps, off-the-shoulder straps, or which are strapless will need alteration)
Modest back (no backless or low-back dresses)
Modest neckline and bodice (even though dresses are “approved,” please understand that dresses fit differently on different girls, and the school will request alterations on any dresses which show cleavage, given that this dress is meant for a formal school function)
A hem height of one inch above the ground - completely around the dress (no train held up by strings/buttons)
No beading or crystals
No translucent fabric, such as chiffon, unless it is triple-lined or double-lined from one of our approved dress options. We recommend wearing a skin-toned/neutral-colored slip under the dress to hide undergarments.
No slits in the dress (dresses in the lookbook with slits will need alteration to close the slit to the knee)

Baley's Bridal

Location: 14474 Midway Rd, Dallas, TX 75244
Phone Number: 214-919-0115
Store Hours: Monday-Thursday 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. , Friday-Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., and Sunday 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Baley’s Bridal carries 33 dress options from two approved designers. Prices range from $219-$269. Due to impending tariffs, there may be an additional shipping charge added. Some approved styles will need alterations. Many styles will be arriving in store between the middle to end of July, so students are recommended to schedule appointments between August and September. Appointments are required. For your convenience, you may book the appointment online at Book Appointment — Baley's Bridal and select "Graduation/NCL/Debutante" appointment type. Baley's Bridal offers a $20 dress discount if the dress is ordered and paid in full by September 30, 2026. Dresses from Baley’s Bridal must be ordered by October 31. Dress orders placed after this date may be charged additional rush fees. Baley’s Bridal also offers in-house alterations, providing an additional convenience for families.

Baley's Bridal Lookbook

Bella Bridesmaids

Location: 136 Glass Street, Suite 150, Dallas, TX 75207
Phone Number: 214-999-9311
Store Hours: Tuesday-Thursday 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m., Friday 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., and Saturday 9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

We have approved and set aside 20 dresses at Bella Bridesmaids. To purchase one of these dresses you must make an appointment. Prices range from $215-$289. Some approved styles will need alterations. Dresses purchased here need to be ordered by October 1. Rush orders are not available for any styles in Lux Chiffon. Rush orders only are available for the Satin Twill dresses at an added fee. Bella Bridesmaids offers dresses by The Dessy Group.

Bella Bridesmaids Lookbook

Dresses from Other Vendors or Past Graduates

Although you are not required to purchase a dress from these two locations, all dresses must meet Ursuline’s requirements listed above. Please make sure if you are purchasing a dress from a different location that your dress is paper white. Just because the color is labeled as white does not mean it is paper white; therefore, you must bring a swatch of the material for color approval before purchasing a dress, and you will need to provide photos of yourself in the dress for approval. Remember to keep all receipts and tags in case you must return the dress if it does not meet Ursuline’s dress requirements.

If your dress is from a previous graduate, you must bring your dress in for approval. Some dresses previously used for Graduation are beginning to show color changes from aging, so you will need to get the color approved in person by the DOS office. We recommend soaking previously worn dresses in water with OxiClean to help with discoloring. All dresses must be approved by the Dean of Students Office, by Friday, January 9, 2026.

If your family has extenuating circumstances and needs extra help finding a dress, please have your daughter reach out to me as soon as possible, and I will be happy to work with her!

Approval

Once you have acquired a dress, you will need to complete the Microsoft form, linked here, indicating from whom you purchased the dress, the designer, and uploading a photo of yourself in the dress. This can be done while you are at the store if you are purchasing an approved dress (it does not have to be white nor your size – we just need to see the style you chose). If your dress is an approved dress from one of the two locations above, you do not need to bring it in for approval; you only need to complete the form. All other dresses, including dresses from former students, must be brought to the Dean of Students Office and approved by a member of the Dean of Students Office before January 9, 2027. This will give time for alterations or finding another dress, if need be, before Senior Picture Day on April 23, 2027. Dresses should be altered and completely ready by Senior Picture Day.

On the day of Graduation, if the above requirements are not met or if a dress has not been approved, a student will not be able to participate in the Graduation ceremony.

We hope you are delighted with this opportunity to be part of such a long-standing Graduation tradition as we celebrate the Class of 2027!

Sincerely,

Matt Lepley
Dean of Students