What to wear to a wedding: The Ultimate Guide

Celebrating a wedding is a truly special event. Whether you're attending as a close friend, family member, or a plus one, it's important that you feel comfortable and that you're dressed for the occasion! Wearing the right outfit will ensure you feel good as well as add to the magic of the couple's special day. Wedding season is exciting, however it can also be intimidating when you have more than one coming up. On the plus side outside of a few general guidelines, modern dress codes and standards for weddings are quite flexible. To help your shopping experience, we’ve compiled an ultimate guide below that offers outfit ideas for all types of weddings. Whether you’re attending a beach wedding in summer or a formal church wedding in autumn, you’ll be sure to find something that is perfect for you!

How to Decide What to Wear to a Wedding

Gone are the days when wearing dresses as a wedding guest was your only option. Stylish separates are now embraced as they can be just as refined as a classic cocktail dress whilst offering more flexibility. Other staple items that usually provide this flexibility include maxi dresses, jumpsuits, blouses and skirts. These pieces combined with the right layer combination and some fabulous jewellery and shoes, will have you looking wedding ready all year round. We’ve compiled a list of outfit ideas for different settings below to help you find the perfect outfit for your next wedding.

1. What to Wear to a Winter Wedding?

When that winter chill takes hold, your key to a successful wedding guest outfit is layers. Typically a winter wedding means wearing darker colours such as emerald green or navy. The cooler temperatures also create a desire for long sleeves and maxi lengths. During the cooler seasons don’t be afraid to go for a jumpsuit or fitted maxi dress. If you are choosing to layer your outfit opt for a tailored jacket or blazers to keep you warm. These days blazers come in a wide range of weights, fabrics and fits so there are plenty of options to choose from.

As the weather starts to warm up it’s time to turn up the print and the brightness. When shopping for a spring wedding guest outfit look for pieces that are made from lightweight and breathable fabrics, and pay special attention to colour and patterns. Spring is the perfect time to play with designs and shades outside of your comfort zone. Pastel shades and floral prints will always make us think of Spring, so when choosing what to wear you can’t go wrong with either. If you aren’t a dress or jumpsuit person mix it up with a two-piece set. Whether you opt for a skirt or pants, matching separates are a polished way to break from more expected wedding guest attire.

Summertime weddings call for lightweight fabrics and vibrant colours. Whether you opt for pink, citrus, blue or green we have plenty of eye-catching shades to choose from. Wear styles that allow for a bit of breeze and are lighter in fabric such as crepe, viscose or polyesters. While the rising temps may have you in a more laid-back state of mind, summer wedding attire still has a sense of formality. Key factors such as location, venue and dress code all indicate exactly what you should wear.

Whilst the beach can be considered a pretty casual location, we definitely do not suggest rocking up in shorts and a t-shirt (unless the invite says so). Instead, live out your bohemian beach dreams with a flowy midi dress. Go for lighter colours (avoiding black, cream and white) and breathable fabrics. To up the elegance, wear a fabric such as lace or satin. Since wearing stilettos are a hazard on the sand, wear chunky heels or formal sandals. Consider bringing a more dressy pair of heels to the reception if it’s not located on the beach. Since beaches tend to be windy places, a swept-up hairstyle might be ideal to keep your hair from blowing about and flying in your face. You’ll want to keep your makeup more natural during a formal beach wedding. You don’t want to sweat under layers of thick foundation and blush.

Beach Casual Wedding

Few events require as much glamming up as a black-tie wedding. Although evening gowns are a standard fare for black-tie weddings, you can get away with a formal cocktail dress or even an elegant jumpsuit. Opt for a sophisticated cocktail made from rich fabrics and fine details, pair it with sleek heels, glamorous jewellery and an elegant clutch. You can’t go wrong with diamond or pearl accessories. If you are wearing a more muted dress definitely choose statement piece jewellery to dress the outfit up. If you’re questioning whether or not your outfit is too formal, ask yourself one simple question Are you going to upstage the bride?

Although we’re all about wearing what makes you feel good, certain items definitely should not be worn at a wedding out of respect for the couple. The general wedding etiquette advice is that you:

• DONT wear white

• DONT wear thongs

• DONT wear anything too bright, sparkly or sequined (depending on dress code)

• DONT wear denim

• DONT wear shorts or t-shirts

If you were to wear these items you could unintentionally appear like you’re trying to ‘steal’ the spotlight or disregard the importance of the couple’s special day. As a guest you also want to avoid blending in with the wedding party. Try your best to get intel ahead of time about what shades and colours the bridal party will be wearing. After you’ve deciphered the wedding invitation and investigated the venue, bridal party and still don’t know what to wear or steer clear of, ask. You can ask the bride or the bridal party what she would like people to wear.

Assembling your accessories for a wedding is just as important as picking your outfit, shoes and lipstick. If you’re stuck for ideas, we’ve got you covered from head to toe. See below for our favourite accessories to pair with your outfit.

1. Clutch or Handbag

Carry those big day essentials (lip gloss, eyeliner and tissues) in a chic bag or clutch. When it comes to weddings, the smaller the bag the better. Cue the micro bag: cute, lightweight and the gateway to organisation. A baby bag or clutch will bring charm to your outfit. If you opt for a neutral colour clutch not only is it easy to wear, it will have many purposes post wedding.

Most importantly enjoy every moment of your loved ones special day!