Summer Wedding Guest Dress Guide 2023
Summer is just around the corner and it feels like each year there are more and more events, trips and of course, weddings to attend.
Every wedding is different, from the size of its guest list to the location to the dress code so it’s good to be prepared for whatever invite and scenario may come your way.
As a newly engaged girl myself (ahh!) I plan on taking many mental notes this summer from the weddings I attend, and since my brain is swirling with early-stage wedding ideas I thought that I could kick off some wedding content from the perspective I know best: being a guest!
In the past few years I’ve attended a wedding in Central Park, a wedding on a golf course, a wedding at a flower garden…the list goes on!
I’ve curated 50 wedding guest dresses for you across five different styles of weddings, each with its own dress code.
Wedding dress codes can be confusing and when I come across a dress code I don’t understand, I often find it helpful to see examples of what would work well for each attire style.
Above all else, I believe your wedding guest dress should be something you feel confident in and something that you can dance in. If you check those boxes, you’re pretty much guaranteed a good time.
Cocktail Style Guest Dresses
The vibe: playful and vibrant
Cocktail attire is generally meant to play on the balance of dressy and casual, so think of a fancy fabric but with a shorter cut or a classic silhouette with fun details.
Dress ideas:
Garden Party Guest Dresses
The vibe: girly and chic
An outdoor garden wedding look can certainly incorporate more natural fabrics and floral elements, while still looking dressy and put together.
Dress ideas:
Beach Wedding Guest Dresses
The vibe: whimsical and flowy
If you are invited to a wedding at the beach, think about mirroring the colors that you’d normally see there. Maxi silhouettes instantly come to mind and more casual fabrics or prints can always be dressed up with accessories.
Dress ideas:
Semi-Formal Wedding Guest Dresses
The vibe: polished and prim
Semi-formal is not quite ball gown status but a step past cocktail attire into more evening-inspired outfits. Midi dresses in fabrics like silk or satin or with unique details like ruffles are no-fail options.
Dress ideas:
Formal Wedding Guest Dresses
The vibe: fancy and luxe
Formal attire is one step shy of black tie, so be prepared to look fabulous in a floor-length frock. You can get playful with different necklines or choose to go more flowy or form-fitting, depending on your preference.
Dress ideas:
Shop all dresses:
Unsure of the dress code?
No dress code listed on the wedding website or invitation?
When in doubt, you can ask the bride! I know that red is not typically a color that people wear to weddings as guests (it can feel attention-grabbing and flashy) but it is one of my favorite colors.
Last summer I wore an orange-red slip dress to a friend’s wedding because when I asked her what I should wear she seemed really excited by the idea of me wearing a fun color and gave me the “okay” when I showed her some options I was considering.
Just make sure you don’t wait until 2 weeks before the wedding to text the bride — her phone will likely already be blowing up confirming last minute details and dealing with urgent requests from her family and planner.
Don’t want to buy a brand new, full-priced dress?
Other places to find wedding guest dresses:
Rent from Rent the Runway or Nuuly (click here for $10 off your first Nuuly)
Local consignment shops in your city
Look for buy/sell/trade groups on Facebook
I hope you found this guide helpful! Did you have a favorite look from this wedding guest dress roundup? Tell me what it was in the comments!
yours,
Austen