the JOURNAL | STYLE GUIDES
How To Find The Perfect Wedding Guest Outfit
Stylish, elegant wedding guest outfit ideas.
Receiving a wedding invitation brings excitement and, inevitably, the challenge of selecting the ideal outfit. While the bride’s dress may be straightforward, choosing the right attire as a wedding guest, especially for the mother of the bride or groom, can be a bit more complex. Well, you've come to the right place!
Answering some of the most frequently asked questions like 'do you need to wear formal dress to a wedding?' 'Are cocktail pants suits appropriate wedding guest attire?' And, 'where do you start looking if you're a Mother of the Bride in Sydney or Melbourne?' for instance. This is your guide to navigating the choices...
Understanding Wedding Dress Codes
Cocktail Attire and Formal Evening Wear: What’s the Difference?
Before you start shopping, it’s essential to understand the dress code. The wedding invitation often specifies if the event calls for cocktail attire, formal evening wear, or something else.
For a formal affair, a classic evening dress may be the best fit so look for full length maxi dresses. Cocktail attire on the other hand, can be more playful. Knee-length skirts are more typical for cocktail dresses, and becoming increasingly popular, are cocktail pants suits for ladies wedding attire.
What Is Cocktail Attire?
When day becomes evening - cocktail wear is a blend of day wear styles and evening wear colours and textures. Think rich velvety fabrics in opulent shades; midi to knee length hemlines and slinky tops that shimmer and sparkle. Just as appropriate as cocktail dresses are cocktail pants suits and skirt suits - all shimmer with sophistication so think about what you'd feel most comfortable wearing.
Choose Your Outfit Based On The Venue & Time of Day
Indoor Vs. Outdoor Weddings
The venue can significantly influence your outfit choice. An indoor wedding at a luxury hotel typically requires more formal attire, such as a chic evening dress or elegant cocktail dress.
Conversely, an outdoor beach or garden wedding calls for more relaxed options. For these settings, consider a wrap dress, separates or a stylish pant suit that accommodates the casual atmosphere.
Also consider the practical requirements like footwear with heels that won't sink into soft ground; or a jacket that protects from the sun or wards off the evening chill.
The time of the wedding also affects your outfit choice. Evening weddings, especially those held late in the day, often have a cocktail party vibe. Even if the dress code isn’t specified, opting for evening wear or cocktail attire can be a stylish choice.
Formal attire For Wedding Guests
What To Wear To A Formal Wedding
For a wedding with a formal dress code, calf length or full-length evening dresses are ideal.
Look for shimmer jersey fabrics, like the Pink Mikado of the Zsa Zsa Maxi Dress (pictured) they give great sparkle and are lightweight and full of stretch so they're comfortable to wear all event long.
For a look of luxury wedding guest style go for a flowing skirt with a frill or ruffle hemline that will move with the grace of Ginger Rogers across the dance floor.
OUTDOOR EVENTS: BEST WEDDING GUEST OUTFIT IDEAS
Wedding Guest Dresses For Outdoor Weddings
Taking inspiration from the location of the wedding is the best way to ensure that as a wedding guest, you arrive looking en pointe.
For a garden wedding, think about wearing a floral print dress or separates that complement the venue's natural beauty. It needn't be as literal as floral prints, think of all the pretty shades and pastel tones that can bloom together.
For a beach wedding, opt for wedding guest dress with a midi hemline or above. Maxi dresses can collect sand and become cumbersome. Instead, look for wedding guest dresses, skirts or culottes with calf/midi hemlines. And if you want to channel that boho vibe, go for a ruffle hem instead of a full length skirt.
The Spritz print (pictured) is a great option for outdoor weddings. Its lightweight fabric and vibrant print are perfect for the upbeat wedding mood. Available in a single layer dress like Everly, a cami and a culotte, made from luxe natural fibres means these styles are lightweight and breathable – perfect for a summer wedding.
ELEGANT WEDDING GUEST OUTFIT INSPIRATION
Floral Prints: A Timeless Choice for Wedding Outfits
Floral prints are a perennial favourite for wedding guest outfits. They really are an easy shortcut to creating a wedding-ready outfit! They capture the celebratory spirit of a wedding and can be an excellent choice for both cocktail and formal settings.
Whether you prefer bold, oversized florals or delicate, pastel patterns, there’s a floral print to suit every taste.
If you prefer plain colours or usually go for graphic prints, then craft your wedding outfit with oversized floral prints in bold colours like those of the Bahagia print available in wrap dress and halter dress styles and in maxi and midi length options. The bigger the flowers, the more abstract and contemporary they become.
Elegant Dress for Mothers of the Brides/grooms
Special Considerations For The Mother Of The Bride or Groom
If you’re the mother of the bride or groom, you’ll likely want to stand out while still complementing the wedding’s formality.
A good mother-of-the-bride/groom outfit should reflect your personal style as much as your status.
Don't feel restricted by traditional notions of mother-of-the-bride dress styles. The wedding dress code and style of venue as well as your own personal style should be higher considerations.
Look for fabrics that will make you feel both beautiful and comfortable. A wedding can feel like a long day if you're constrained in restrictive clothing. Jersey fabric with its stretch qualities can be a good alternative.
There's plenty of printed, plain and even shimmer jersey options available, and they are not restricted to dresses either. Separates and pant suits make good mother of the bride and groom outfits too, again consider the stretch factor for easy all-day wear.
The Jacaranda print Scuba Crepe fabric is a great example of how sophisticated stretch fabrics can look. Available as a skirt suit, the Benni Jacket pairs with the Aaron Midi Skirt, or as a pant suit with the Corbin Pant for versatile style options that you can wear beyond the big day.
FAQ: Where Do I Start Looking For Mother Of The Bride Outfits?
With so many online clothing boutiques offering evening wear, formal and cocktail attire, online is a great place to start your search. It's good to get a feel for what's out there and the styles you like. So whether you're a mother of the bride in Sydney or Melbourne, or a mother of the bride in far north Queensland, you can access the best event wear.
wedding guest dresses for curves
Upgrade To 'Size Inclusive' From Plus Size Wedding Guest Outfits
If you're searching for plus size wedding guest outfits and are feeling disappointed with what you're seeing, change up your search. Try shopping for 'size inclusive' wedding guest dresses or outfits instead. Often this turns up more sophisticated results.
At elarroyoenterprises for example, we don't talk about our clothing as being 'plus size,' we have one inclusive size range of 8-24. Regardless of your body's curves, we treat women as people and not figures on a plus or minus scale. And our clothes actually fit!
You can read more about our size inclusive vs. plus size fashion here, but if you're simply shopping for wedding guest dresses for curvy figures then our Event Dresses are a great place to start.
wedding guest style for women over 50
Feel Good Outfits For Wedding Guests Over 50
The challenge for women over 50 looking for wedding guest outfits, can be finding styles that are less 'mother-of-the-bride outfits' and more guest appropriate. Wrap dresses like the Hedy Dress with long sleeves are a great alternative to the more structured, formal styles designed for the wedding matriarch.
Flattering through the bodice and with contouring, modest necklines, wrap dresses like are elegant and comfortable for the duration of the wedding day.
With short, 3/4 and long sleeve options, and knee-length, midi or maxi hemlines, with a wrap dress you can select your style to suit the season, location or time of the wedding.
What to Wear For A Wedding
Get inspired with these wedding guest outfits
