Guest Appearance: What To Wear To A Wedding

By Charlie Colville

6 months ago

You'll be the guest-of-honour in these outfits...


Diary full of weddings? Wardrobe looking a little lacklustre? Help is on hand. From vibrant shades to stylish separates, we’ve rounded up the best wedding guest outfits to help you dress for the occasion…

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What Do Women Wear To Weddings?

When it comes to weddings, women have plenty of choices to choose from:

  • Mini dresses (but nothing super short)
  • Midi dresses
  • Maxi dresses (although make sure the style and colour doesn’t clash with the bride or bridesmaids)
  • Jumpsuits
  • Suits

Do Weddings Have A Dress Code?

Dress codes vary from wedding to wedding, and are usually outline on the invitation if relevant. If there isn’t a specific dress code, then it’s safe to assume that guests are expected to dress up in smart, formal to semi-formal attire.

The one major rule for weddings, at least in the west, is that women don’t wear white, as this is a colour reserved for the bride.

Guests at a wedding clapping while wearing formal outfits

Samantha Gades, Unsplash

Wedding Guest Outfits Through The Seasons

With the way weddings work, you usually receive your Save The Date months (and sometimes years) in advance, meaning it can be a bit difficult to envision what you’re going to wear. One way to get around it is by thinking about the season, and dressing accordingly – we’ve shared some of our tips below:

What To Wear To A Spring Wedding (March, April, May)

With the weather finally warming up, now’s a good opportunity to shed a few layers and opt for wedding guests outfits that are made up of lighter colours and materials. In terms of colours and prints, pastels, jewel tones and florals (this is spring, after all) are a great place to start, as these will fit in with the general vibe of the wedding and the season itself.

What To Wear To A Summer Wedding (June, July, August)

During the hotter months (or at a balmy destination wedding), the dress code tends to be a little more relaxed and allows for lighter, breathable fabrics like cotton and linen – although that doesn’t mean you can rock up in a casual summer dress. Strapless gowns, maxi dresses and jumpsuits all make good choices at this time of year, dressed up in bright, summery colours and bold prints.

What To Wear To A Autumn Wedding (September, October, November)

Wedding guests outfits can embrace richer tones and fabrics come autumn, as the cooling temperatures allow for more choice in fabrics and styles. Deep reds, oranges and golds, as well as greens, are usually popular colours for autumn ceremonies. It’s worth noting that the weather also starts to get a little unpredictable at this time of year – so you might want to wear long sleeves, shawls or jackets as a means of layering up.

What To Wear To A Winter Wedding (December, January, February)

With winter weddings comes a lot of cold, so make sure you layer up where you can with long sleeves and hemlines, jackets, shawls and even scarves. Classic silhouettes in dark and jewel tones match well with winter themes – especially since this is a time of year when black tie dress codes are most popular – matched with long gowns, long-sleeves jumpsuits and a classic suit. Velvet is also a great choice in terms of materials, as it will appear luxurious while keeping you warm.

Wedding Guest Outfit Ideas For Every Kind Of Wedding

Floral platform heels