What to wear to weddings

A question I get asked a lot has been what to wear to weddings as a guest. Now that normal wedding have resumed, we can finally get back to celebrating our friends and family in style. I absolutely love weddings- a great wonderful day of celebration with family and friends whilst enjoying delicious feast and celebrating two people commit their lives to each other.

The fun times are ahead, but the stress of planning different outfits for different weddings is very real- Wedding guest wear can be a tricky terrain to navigate.  

The available options in stores for example, can be overwhelming and then there’s the case of possible outfits you could have hiding in your wardrobe.  

The temptation often is to buy new, but what if you could go shopping in your wardrobe for your wedding guest outfit, then fill in the gaps as and when required- this is a more sustainable option that will involve a little creativity but will save you time, effort and money in the long run.

Weddings are great opportunity to dress up.  To do this stress free- The best way forward is to simplify wedding dress codes.  

So I have narrowed this down to two main factors to consider and solid do’s and don’ts to help you dress for weddings with confidence.

Type of wedding:

There are different types of weddings and every couple wants to make their wedding unique, so get a good sense of the kind of wedding you have been invited to.  This will give you an idea of the vibe to capture through your outfit.  For example, a Black Tie wedding would require a maxi gown in stunning lace or chiffon as seen at many formal occasions on the Dutches of Cambridge.

Black tie weddings call for a sense of glamour, tradition and formality, so avoid tight dresses or those with dramatic slits- these are uncomfortable and inappropriate for a wedding environment that involves a ceremony and sit down meal (remember- you’ll most likely wear this outfit all day!).

If you prefer going shorter than a maxi or gown, then opting for knee length (no shorter) and by the way… dresses do not have to be black (although the invite might suggest that), so choose any colour that makes you feel confident.  I absolutely love wearing bright colours at weddings- a day of celebration, and certainly bright colours are a hit for SS22

For a less formal wedding, a one shouldered dress with rushing as featured in the Norma Kamali collection and as worn by Sarah Jessica Parker, will certainly work well.  This type of wedding means you can choose the length of hemlines for dress/skirt too Maxi to knee length- anything goes for this kind of wedding, but make sure to maintain balance e.g. If your legs are on show, opt for a demure top half.

The type of wedding you are attending will set the tone for the basis of your outfit.  Get this wrong, you could end up attending a wedding a formal wedding dressed as if you are attending a relaxed/beach wedding for example.  So make sure to do a little research about the venue and dress code requested by the couple before you RSVP!

Season:

With Spring approaching, what you wear at a wedding now will be very different to a winter wedding for example.  A spring/summer wedding calls for less layers (No need for a faux fur wrap), lighter/floatier fabrics like chiffon, organza, lace, will keep you cool.  For example a maxi Grecian dress will create an elegant, floaty and feminine vibe you can find a range of styles and colour at Asos, Coast & Reformation (online).  Team with a pashmina for a layered look.

Jumpsuits are also a great options- they are the underdogs of wedding guest wear.  A wide leg jumpsuit provides a formal yet modern and racy feel, whilst maintaining a sense of tradition and class.  They are the ultimate in comfort (especially with pockets)- perfect for a Town Hall/Hotel wedding in the city.  Have fun with this piece by opting for florals.  Jumpsuits are available at Karen Millen, Anthropologie, Coast, Next and Urban Outfitters.

As the weather is warming up – it’s a great time to opt for brighter colours like blues/greens/pinks and if you are feeling braver- yellow/orange are great options, pair with neutral accessories for extra balance.

Accessories:

Weddings are a great reason to dress up so don’t forget to finish off your outfit with accessories, for example, a beaded clutch bag is a great classic staple this season and can be worn beyond wedding guest territory to dress up a casual outfit.  Zara have a stunning range of beaded clutch bags.  If you want a more structures / sophisticated finish to your look, then opting for a foldover clutch bag from Accessorize is a good option.

A pair of carefully chosen shoes will provide an effortless sense of style to your wedding guest outfit.  Make sure the shoes you wear are comfortable enough to stand, walk and dance in.  If you want something comfortable, sassy and with a low heel, then opt for a strappy sandal with a low.  Block heel sandals can be found at & Other Stories & New Look

Fascinators are a great option if you would like to keep your look traditional and classic.  It will give your outfit a sense of tradition and glamour.  It’s a great middle ground between a hat and headband.  A statement fascinator, for example, would make a cocktail dress look elevated and wedding guest worthy.   Make sure the colour compliments the overall look and feel of your outfit bearing in mind colours of the dress, shoes and bag.  Stores such as Caprilite and The Hat Outlet sell them in an array of styles and colours. 

Dos and Don’t’s of wedding guest wear:

Do…

         

• Choose an outfit that aligns with the wedding’s dress code e.g. opt for a gown or slip dress for a black tie wedding.

• Opt for 2 pieces as an alternative to dresses e.g. A chiffon maxi skirt teamed with floaty top will turn heads (in a good way), you can find wedding worthy maxi skirts in Ted Baker, Never Fully Dressed and Reiss.

• Be bold and experiment with different hem lengths, colours and play with asymmetric lines.

Don’t …

         

• Wear anything too short, too tight, too flashy or too revealing

• Don’t forget to layer up- be mindful of the weather and A/C in the summer months, a pashmina is a great option for adding layers in SS.

• Don’t wear jeans - opt for tailored trousers as a solid alternative to denim.

About my outfit:

I’ve taken inspiration from the Norma Kamali line and opted for a long sleeve navy dress with flattering rushing from Very, which works well with neutral heels and fascinator, perfect for a more traditional/classic wedding.

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