You’ve Saved the Date, Now Shop These Wedding Guest Dresses (2024)

FAQs

What kind of dress should a guest wear to a wedding? ›

For evening events, darker, more formal colors are recommended, while light colors and airy fabrics work best for daytime affairs. Women can wear below-the-knee dresses, slip dresses, a dressy skirt and top, or an elegant pantsuit (styled with heels, nice wedges, or formal flats).

For weddings both casual and formal, it helps for guests to know exactly what to expect. If you communicate thoughtfully and early, you can easily set a wedding dress code that fits your vision and adds to a positive guest experience. Plus, guests want to know what they should wear to best fit in at the event.

Take Photos

With many brides trying on several different dresses while shopping, it can be hard to remember which styles she likes best. Bridesmaids can be incredibly helpful in this process by taking photos of the various dresses and even keeping track of the brides' opinions of each.

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.

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.

Higher-denier tights (around 40-80) are perfect for formal weddings, offering a polished and elegant look. For more casual affairs, opt for lower-denier sheer tights (around 10-30) for a lighter and breathable feel.

The colour scheme, when it comes to what to wear, is designed for the bridal party i.e. the groom, groomsmen, bridesmaids, pageboys etc. Unless you're in that bridal party, you'd be best to steer clear of trying to match them. Think of it a bit like a stage show.

Traditionally, the mother of the bride, sisters, and the closest friend (or friends) are involved in the dress hunt. Your future mother-in-law can be invited, too, if you're tight with her and you want her to take part.

Tipping your bridal stylist has been on the rise in recent years as a gesture to show your appreciation towards the person who helped you find your dream dress. These professionals often wear many hats, serving as therapists, referees, and mediators to you and the guests you bring with you to the appointment.

What is the average cash gift for a wedding? ›

She says many brides and grooms actually prefer it. On average the typical cash gift is around $150, she says. Still, though, Hill says there are some exceptions. “Some people don't think that's [giving money] a great idea,” Hill said.

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.

Your Everyday Attire

It doesn't matter if the dress code requests "casual" attire, jeans, T-shirts, shorts, flip-flops, and sneakers are never appropriate to wear as a wedding guest. Show respect for the bride and groom by dressing formally.

For a more formal wedding, it is typically expected that female guests wear a long dress. But instead of breaking out the gown you wore to prom, try wearing a more appropriate evening gown. If the wedding is during the day, a pretty maxi dress should do the trick.

Formal wedding attire for women, meanwhile, is more focused on floor-length gowns, co*cktail dresses, or even very fancy pantsuits, particularly if the code is a little more relaxed, or if the wedding is held at a cooler time of year.

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.