A Guide to Finding The Dress – 24 Perfect Wedding Guest Dresses

The most popular time of year for weddings is approaching again, and with it comes the big question: What on earth am I going to wear as a wedding guest? Don’t worry about it. I am here with this new list will help you navigate a variety of wedding guest dress options, catering to both affordable finds and some splurge-worthy pieces.

Before We Start: Answering Key Questions

Before diving into our list, there are a few key questions to consider when choosing your dress:

• What’s Your Role in the Wedding? 
• Are you a bridesmaid?
• A close friend, but not a bridesmaid (some people only choose siblings to avoid friend conflicts – I can’t blame them!)?
• Perhaps you’re a friend the bride invited for unknown reasons or a plus-one for someone else? Knowing your role helps guide your dress selection.

Dress Code Considerations

It’s generally a good idea to choose a simpler dress if you’re not that close to the bride and groom. If you have a closer relationship, you should definitely need to communicate with them about the wedding theme or color scheme.

Color-Themed Wedding Guest Dresses

Your dress color choice can either coordinate with the wedding theme or simply reflect the season. Some weddings have specific color palettes, and guests might be asked to wear those colors (think Beyoncé’s sister’s wedding when everyone wore white! It was so gorgeous and considered as revolutiornary). Other themes like boho wedding, brand weddings or simply black tie invitation that you need to refrain from going with too bright colors.

Spring Colors Wedding Dresses – Pink, Blue

Even though It sound like such a cliche, you should definitely consider colors with spring blooming colors. Lots of pink, orange, yellow and all the bright warm colors of summer. Gren, blue, white all goes well with spring theme depending on the location etc. Consider wearing blue, white (always approach bride about white if she doesn’t mind people wearing white) if you have a beach wedding to go for example.

• Pastel Perfection: Soft pastels like blush pink, lavender or mint green exude a romantic and ethereal vibe, perfect for a spring garden wedding.
• Blooming Brights: Embrace the vibrant energy of spring with a dress in cheerful yellow, refreshing light blue, or coral.
• Floral Fantasy: Spring is synonymous with flowers! Depending on the wedding’s formality, a floral print dress in soft colors or a bolder, statement floral pattern can be a lovely choice.

Remember, when choosing a spring-colored dress, consider the overall formality of the wedding and your relationship to the couple. A flowy maxi dress in a pastel shade might be perfect for a casual outdoor ceremony, while a more structured dress in a jewel-toned green could be appropriate for a black-tie event.

Red Wedding Guest Dresses

Always be cautious when choosing a red dress. You don’t want to steal the bride’s spotlight or appear overly dressed. Red dresses work best for colorful summer or fall weddings. Or you can simply pick a floral or pattern dress with red involved in it. Here are some affordable red wedding dress options from Mango.

Can I wear black to a wedding as a guest?

Black can be a sophisticated and versatile choice for wedding guest attire, especially for evening or semi-formal occasions. While it’s generally acceptable, consider the formality of the event, time of day, and location. For a black-tie wedding or evening event, a black dress with some sparkle or statement jewelry can be perfect. However, if the wedding is very casual or has a specific color code, choosing a different color is best to avoid overshadowing the bride or violating cultural norms.

Another benefit of wearing black is the money you spend on your dress. If you decided to go with black dress, you should consider paying more because black dresses always go with any kind of important party or social gatherings.

Wedding Guest Dresses – Black

Black wedding guest dresses are classic and always a safe option for weddings where you’re not super close to the couple. They’re also practical because you can wear them to other events. For a black dress you might plan to wear more often, consider investing in a higher-quality piece.

Wedding Guest Dresses Fall Colors

Orange and sage green, brown tones can be great choices for fall weddings. However, avoid being too literal with fall colors to prevent clashing with the overall wedding theme. Also you don’t want to be too literal. You may check with that season’s trendy colors if there is something specific on the trend. (for example this past year burgundy was super in)

What is appropriate to wear to a wedding as a guest?

Picking the perfect wedding guest outfit hinges on a few key factors. First, respect the dress code (formal, semi-formal, casual). Daytime weddings often call for lighter colors and fabrics, while evenings favor darker tones. Consider the location too – beach weddings might be breezier, while black-tie events are universally formal. Finally, your relationship to the couple can influence your attire. Opt for more conservative choices if you’re less close, while close friends or family have more flexibility (but avoid anything too casual or revealing!).