Wedding Guest Dresses (2024)

The chances of sharing a friend or family member’s happy day with them can become a daunting one as you start struggling to find unique, fun wedding guest dresses that you can wear to each individual occasion. Shop the collection of wedding guest dresses at NewYorkDress!

Selecting a Wedding Guest Dress

The best wedding guest dresses must fill two simple criteria: make you look and feel GREAT while not overshadowing the bride! Other than those two simple requirements, picking a dress to wear to another person’s wedding leaves a lot to an individual’s choice and style, so making sure you have an outfit that’s suitable to the kind of wedding you’re going to attend can help you narrow the choices down a bit further.

When selecting wedding guest dresses, think about whether the wedding and reception will be held indoors, or outside. A cute little mini dress might be perfect for an indoor, co*cktail-party-style reception, but if the wedding is being held somewhere with a breeze you might wind up showing off more than you meant to! Pick long dresses with more volume if weddings are being held outside, as this will help protect you from the elements as well as giving your dress motion and energy. Be careful not to be too over-the-top, though, as a long train or dramatic embellishments might wind up drawing attention away from the wedding party – a serious breach of rule number two!

Formal Wedding Guest Attire

Sometimes, a wedding can be an extremely formal occasion, and multiple dresses might be required for alternate stages in the event. Families will often attend a rehearsal dinner, in which case another dress may be needed! If the reception is likely to be informal but the wedding is being held in a church, a more conservative look for the ceremony can be changed for a sensual party dress for later on. Gauge the formality of the wedding by your knowledge of the couple, the kind of invitation they send out (hand-engraved or Facebook invite?), and the location where it’s being held. The more formal the wedding, the more formal the reception is likely to be, and if you find yourself picking a gown for both these occasions you’ll probably want something both conservative and full-length. No matter what kind of wedding it is, however, make sure that you don’t wear a white dress – that’s the Bride’s province, and guests should leave plenty of room in any shade to avoid stealing her thunder.

Selecting a Flattering Silhouette

No matter what kind of dress you want to wear or image you’d like to project, if you pick a silhouette or style that isn’t flattering on your body, you won’t be happy with the end result. Take stock of your physical features and try on different styles of dresses before you choose the dress you want to wear and remember that if you look best in a simple dress, you can always dress it up to create different looks at other occasions. Look for features in wedding guest dresses that can be used for other occasions, or that you wouldn’t mind going out on the town in – unless the wedding is extremely formal, in which case, refer to the previous section. By buying a wedding guest dress you can wear to other kinds of events, you’ll double your wardrobe for half the price – and that’s always a way to feel good about yourself.

Find Complimenting Accessories

By picking cute, complimentary accessories to go with your wedding guest dress, you’ll be able to bring your own unique style into your look. It’s a good idea to have a small bag or clutch with you when you head to the reception, as you may have makeup or other supplies that you want to bring to the table with you. Choose subdued, classic items – most weddings aren’t the place for bold, attention-grabbing pieces that buck general fashion trends – and buy quality, since high-quality earrings and jewelry can be worn over and over again, and looked at as an investment rather than a one-time purchase.

Find the Perfect Dress at NewYorkDress

No matter what kind of wedding you’re attending, remembering the two rules of selecting the perfect wedding guest dress will help make your search much easier. If you find yourself with several dresses to choose from, ask yourself which will genuinely make you look and feel your best. Once you have that dress, try and assess whether it’s a demure and sophisticated piece which will help add to the tableau created by the event’s other guests, or whether it’s an attention-grabbing piece that will make everyone look your way. If the former, then congratulations – you’ve found your dress! If the latter, then you may want to take a moment to remember that as a wedding guest, it’s your responsibility to help make the bride and groom’s marriage day special – not to hog the limelight with your own fashion sense, no matter how stellar it might be.

Each of the wedding guest dresses here at www.newyorkdress.com have been selected for its beauty, quality, and appropriateness for a wedding venue. To get an idea of the kinds of dresses that are available for you to wear to the upcoming weddings on your social calendar, look through the options in this section. You’ll be sure to find the perfect wedding guest look for the occasions!

Wedding Guest Dresses (2024)

FAQs

What should a female guest wear to a wedding? ›

Women wedding guests should wear full-length dresses, be it a ballgown, a sheath or an A-line dress. High heels are strongly recommended. Feel free to accessorize with opulent jewelry and even elbow-length white silk gloves.

What color is best for a wedding guest dress? ›

Neutral shades are timeless options that won't detract from the wedding's formal atmosphere. For a more colorful look, consider wearing shades of blue, lavender, or pink to show that you're in the celebratory spirit. If the wedding is in a tropical destination, opt for colors like yellow, orange, and green.

Can I wear a black dress to a wedding? ›

As a general rule, "wearing black is totally acceptable, as the hue is very versatile," says bridal stylist Julie Sabatino of The Stylish Bride. Make the shade work for you—at any type of wedding—with these ideas for choosing the right fabrice, length, and accessories.

What to wear to a wedding as a guest male? ›

Basically, wedding guests are off the hook if they absolutely cannot wear a tuxedo. A dark suit and tie would be acceptable black tie optional wedding attire for men, but wear a tux if you can. Prefer to dress it down? Try a black satin necktie or a black and white bow tie in a pattern.

What should a 60 year old woman wear to a wedding? ›

Fit-and-flare Wedding Guest Dresses For Women Over 60

Fit-and-flare dresses whether knee-length or longer are chic and flattering. It has a defined waistline and fits closer to the body but is not too tight which makes it uncomfortable. This forgiving silhouette fits every body type.

Can I have bare legs at a wedding? ›

I have advised readers that while bare legs are fine even at the most formal events, hosiery also is perfectly acceptable as long as it's skin tone and sheer. I've just returned from a wedding where I wore my new bargain ($10!) black sequined mini and consignment store jeweled black shoes (also $10).

What is the most popular wedding dress code? ›

Semi-Formal or co*cktail

This attire is one of the most popular dress codes, and for a good reason. It fits in with almost any wedding venue and is relatively easy for guests to follow. A semi-formal dress code calls for suits for men and co*cktail dresses for ladies.

What does it mean to wear red to a wedding? ›

And while you might see rumors floating around the web that wearing red means you had a fling with the groom, ignore those. There are no hidden meanings to any colors of wedding guest attire.

Is it okay to wear red to a wedding? ›

Summary. To answer the main question of the article, yes you can wear red to a wedding in most circ*mstances. However, in some situations you may want to check with the marrying couple that red is acceptable to wear as a guest and it won't go against their culture or distract from their big day.

What color shoes to wear with a black dress to a wedding? ›

White shoes are always a classic choice, and they'll contrast beautifully with a black dress. Silver or gray shoes will also look stunning with a black dress, and they'll add a touch of shimmer and sophistication to your outfit. For a bolder look, try choosing shoes in a bright color, like red or yellow.

Is it still frowned upon to wear black to a wedding? ›

As for what to avoid, Swann advises that wedding guests stay away from looks that are "too low cut, too short, or too tight.” And while black dresses and gowns are perfectly acceptable for most formal weddings, you might want to consider another hue if you've been invited to afternoon nuptials or a casual, seaside ...

What does a 50 year old wear to a wedding? ›

Wear Something Dressy and Party-Like

Plus, when you look good, you feel good and everything is much more fun! Aim for something dressy and party-like, heck even a little glamorous. The easiest way know how formal you should dress to check the dress code on the wedding invitation.

What length dress to wear to a wedding? ›

I really encourage people to go long. If you aren't going to wear a long dress for a black tie, that's fine, but do make sure it's a really dressy co*cktail dress. Maybe it's tea length to elevate it to be appropriate for what the bride wants.

What to wear for a summer wedding? ›

Casual Summer Wedding Attire

Pretty, flowy dresses paired with sandals works for women. An open-collared shirt, chinos and boat shoes are great for men. Keep in mind that if you're not sure how casual is "casual" then it's always better to be overdressed than underdressed (just don't show up in a gown or a tuxedo).

What to wear to a 5 pm wedding? ›

The staff suggests that if a wedding is taking place at 4 p.m. or 5 p.m., you should wear something that easily transitions from day to night; any ceremony after 6 p.m. should be strictly co*cktail.

What should a female guest wear to a summer wedding? ›

Casual weddings are all about relaxed style. Pick from cotton, linen, or viscose dresses and jumpsuits, but remember, no jeans or t-shirts. Dress up your fanciest everyday outfit, like pairing a silk camisole with summer trousers.

What to wear to a wedding if you're not girly? ›

Go for Dark Hues

Darker shades can neutralize the girly style while providing a classic and timeless aesthetic. Think navy, charcoal, burgundy, or amethyst. You can also opt for hues that aren't “conventionally girly,” such as green or gray.

Should a female guest wear black to a wedding? ›

“It is absolutely acceptable for a female to wear a black dress to a wedding,” Swann advises.

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