Tommy Bahama faux wrap dress (S) // Open Edit sandals (8)
Ah, spring—the season of love, flowers, and wedding invitations with cryptic dress codes flooding your mailbox. This time of year, not a day goes by that I don’t get a request for wedding guest dress suggestions, so today I’ve rounded up a bunch of options at varying levels of formality for all of the upcoming nuptials.
Dressy-Casual Wedding Guest Dresses
Typcially a daytime wedding or an event in a more casual location is a dressy casual affair. You still want to dress up, but you don’t need a cocktail dress. It’s more like something you would wear out to a nice dinner at a fancy restaurant.
It could even be a dress you would wear to work or church, but in that case, add accessories that are more festive than something you would wear to the office. Prints are fine in this category, but I usually stick with solids for formal and semi-formal events.
The dress I’m wearing here is what I would consider dressy-casual wedding guest attire.
When picking accessories for a dressy-casual wedding, you don’t want anything too glitzy, but you definitely don’t want to overlook this part of your outfit either. While you don’t need a fancy clutch for a daytime event, you also don’t want to carry your everyday shoulder bag. A small crossbody bag that has some shiny hardware is a nice choice.
I wore strappy sandals in a matte silver, since metallics are trending this season, and these are fairly comfortable for what they are. They’re a great price too.
Accessories should be intentional, although mine are pretty understated here. I just wore silver hoops and a diamond pendant and a pair of Lagos station bracelets. Since the dress is so busy, I think it works.
Shop Dressy-Casual Wedding Guest Dresses:
Semi-Formal/Cocktail Dresses for a Spring Wedding
Cocktail attire indicates a semi-formal event, so you’re looking for dresses in knee or midi lengths that are dressier than what you might wear to work or church or out to dinner with friends. Usually it will have a dramatic detail or some sparkle and shine.
semi-formal spring wedding guest dress outfit
For a daytime semi-formal wedding, you can go a little less glam, but feel free to wear more embellishments and dramatic details if the wedding is in the evening.
You’ll want to make sure your accessories match the formality of the event, and try to incorporate a mix of textures. For example, if the dress is sparkly or has sequins, go with a suede or satin shoe. Or vice versa.
Shop semi-formal/cocktail dresses for spring:
Formal/Black Tie Wedding Guest Dresses for Spring
For most of us, black tie is as dressy as it gets, although white tie is technically dressier than black tie. White tie definitely dictates a ball gown for the ladies, but black tie gives you a little more leeway. If in doubt, wear a floor-length gown when the invitation says black tie. Black tie optional is a little more permissive.
formal spring wedding guest look
You can certainly wear a floor-length gown to a black tie optional wedding, but it isn’t necessarily required. If you do opt for a dress that is not floor-length, it should be a dressy cocktail dress. If in doubt, ask around to see what others are wearing.
Once again, your shoes, accessories, and especially your handbag should match your dress in style and formality. And since spring can be chilly in a lot of areas, you also want to remember an appropriate wrap.
If you don’t have all of the necessary accoutrements, ask around. Oftentimes you can find a friend who is happy to lend you a beaded clutch or a silky wrap for the evening.
Shop Formal Wedding Guest Dresses:
Save It to Pinterest
spring wedding guest dresses
