Style & Fashion

How to Dress for a Wedding as a Guest

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E very year, almost 2.4 million wedding ceremonies occur in the US. If you’ve had the pleasure of being invited to one, it’s imperative that you know how to dress for a wedding as a guest. Yes, we all know we shouldn’t look better than the couple being married, but how exactly should you decide on an outfit? There are multiple factors you can consider, and we’ve listed them below.

Learn About Dress Codes

Your wedding invite may or may not mention a particular dress code. Either way, you must know what each dress code means, and what you should be wearing in each category. Listed below are some of the most common dress codes at weddings.

Black-Tie
White-Tie
Formal/Black-Tie Optional
Semi-Formal/Dressy Casual
Cocktail
Festive
Tropical/Destination
Casual
Concept Style/Theme
Come as You Are

Make sure you follow the dress codes properly, because you may seem like you don’t fit in if you wear something that doesn’t follow the dress code.

Let the Venue Dictate Your Clothes

It’s quite obvious that you won’t wear the same clothes to a wedding held in a luxurious ballroom and a wedding held by the beach. Look up the venue, and do a little digging about the interior. Wear something that will match the venue.

For example, if it’s a church wedding, then make sure to wear church-appropriate attire. Also, depending on whether it is an indoor or outdoor wedding, choose your shoes accordingly. If you’ll be required to walk long distances, you would want to pick something that is comfortable to walk in.

Use the Season and the Weather as a Guide

Is it spring? Florals would look great! Is it winter? Make sure you’re covered, and if not, make sure your dressing has enough padding to keep you warm. If it’s going to be windy, your best bet will be wearing something that isn’t too flowy, or your entire time at the wedding will be spent keeping your outfit in check. Go for something that flaunts your figure and also can stand the test of harsh winds. If it’s autumn, deep maroons will look great.

Stay Away From White at ALL Cost

There’s absolutely no reason for you to wear white unless explicitly stated so otherwise in the dress code. Even though this is a rule that is understood by most guests, it still needs to be reminded of.

White dresses, white coats, and all other fully white clothing is a no-go because weddings are supposed to be for the couple. They should be allowed to shine, so make sure your outfit isn’t so extremely over-the-top that it ends up undermining the couple’s outfit.

Use Accessories as Your Best Friends

Your outfit may not be super fancy, but if you accessorize it well with the right jewelry, it will look stunning. If your hair is in an up-do style, dangly earrings will look great. If your shoulders are exposed, wear a bold necklace to draw attention to your collarbones. If you’re wearing strictly masculine fashion, you can use masculine bracelets and wristwatches as statement pieces for accessories. Don’t forget a pocket square, and if you have a plus one, match it with their outfit!

Alter or Mix-and-Match Before You Buy

Just because you were invited, doesn’t mean you have to break the bank to make sure you look good. Go through your closet properly and see if there are any pieces that will look great together, even if you didn’t buy them together. Mixing and matching may end up giving you an outfit that you didn’t even think of putting together. If that doesn’t work, don’t lose hope!

You can still find outfits that you can alter if you have any. Maybe there’s an old dress in pristine condition that isn’t quite your size anymore, but it can be tailored to be? Check it out! You can even go to a thrift store to find quality garments and then get them altered to your size if you need to.

Picking outfits to attend a wedding isn’t difficult, but given the importance that most people have for outfits, it does become an overwhelming task sometimes. It doesn’t have to be so anxiety-inducing if you simply take your time and allow yourself to breathe new life into old clothes by rummaging through your closet.

Now that you know how to dress for a wedding, we truly hope you enjoy your time! Make sure to keep emergency essentials for wardrobe malfunctions, but don’t worry too much. You’ll be fine as long as you stay confident!