Summer wedding season is in full swing, and some of you may be wondering what to wear. Can you wear pants to a wedding? Yes, you absolutely can. If you don’t like dresses or your legs are not your best feature, pants are totally acceptable, so long as you keep the time of day and venue in mind. I’ve had a lot of requests lately for what to wear to a wedding, so I’ve updated this post with ideas about how to wear pants to a wedding with confidence. I’m also sharing three different wedding guest outfit ideas with pants that I hope will be perfect for your upcoming weddings.
If you’re looking for more wedding outfit inspiration, I recommend reading these related posts:
- Best Special Occasion Pant Suits for Weddings and Events
- What to Wear for a Summer Wedding
- Winter Wedding Outfits for Women Over 50 and 60
- Best Black Dress Shoes for Women Over 50 Your Feet Will Love
- Comfortable Gold and Silver Dress Shoes for Older Women
What type of pants can you wear to a wedding?
When you’re deciding what to wear to a wedding, take a look at your invitation as it often spells out the wedding dress code. If you’re still unsure, check with the bride, mother of the bride, or a member of the wedding party for some guidelines. In a pinch, it’s always safer to be overdressed than underdressed as a wedding guest.
I know when most ladies get an invitation to a black-tie optional wedding, our brains skip over any type of pants as a possibility as we immediately begin searching for a floor length dress or gown. Dress pants in silk, soft crepe, or overlaid with chiffon have a nice flowy look that is elegant enough to work for a black-tie optional wedding.
These Alex Evening pants are a popular option. They come in several color and fabric options, with or without an overlay, in regular, petite, and plus sizes. There’s also a wide-leg option here. These low-heeled sandals come in narrow, medium, and wide sizes 5-13. A matte shoe is dressier than shiny leather, so opt for fabric or suede to up the level of formality. Unless you want your feet to grab the spotlight, match your shoes to your pants.
This sophisticated twin set has clean lines and a subtle shimmer, so you could actually wear these pieces after the wedding. Picture the tank under a denim jacket with a pair of casual pants or the cardigan over a cotton tee and a pair of dark-wash jeans. The pearls are a forever classic and the clutch has a chain strap you can stow inside.
Sometimes the attire isn’t spelled out for you on the invitation, and you have to use your best judgment when putting together a wedding guest outfit. I like looking at the time of the wedding, as well as the location, to help me determine how formal I would like to dress. You won’t want to wear a sequined, fussy option for a midday casual wedding. In this case, try pairing a nice tailored pant with a blazer jacket. This combination has a classic vibe that works for many venues, including country club weddings, city hall weddings, nice restaurants, or church weddings. These are pieces you can wear again and again, so your cost per wear will be low. I included a nice flat that will keep you comfortable for a long day on your feet, but you could dress this outfit up further with a heel like this one.
Beach weddings are more popular than ever. If you have one of these on your calendar, your invitation may say resort casual or something similar. A beach wedding calls out for loose and lightweight pants with natural accessories. Thinkshoeswhen planning this outfit. Any sort of heel is a nightmare in the sand, so opt for flats. Assuming the beach is a warm one, pretty sandals with a fresh pedicure are totally acceptable. Plus, it makes it much easier to shake the sand out of your shoes. If it’s a daytime wedding, plan for sun protection, and the best way to do that is with a hat. Straw is fine, but a finer weave than you’d wear to the farmers market.
Can You Wear Jeans to a Wedding?
Jeans would only be accepted at the most casual ceremony, with the full knowledge and agreement of the bride. Opt for dark wash denim with no distressing and dress them up with a pretty blouse, feminine footwear, and nice accessories. Jumpsuits have also become popular options in either print or solid colors in a flowy fabric that elevates the look.
Benefits of Wearing Pants as a Wedding Guest
Although dresses do have their own perks (like keeping your legs cool on hot summer wedding days), there are certainly some benefits to forgoing a formal dress in favor of wearing a quality pair of pants. Pants give you the option to wear flat shoes, which many ladies find the most comfortable for long days on their feet and dancing at the reception. You don’t have to worry about wearing pantyhose, which is outdated looking and uncomfortable at best. Pants also often have pockets which can be super handy for carrying tissues, lipstick, and so on.
Other Tips for What to Wear to a Wedding:
Hints of white are acceptable so long as it’s in small touches in part of a pattern or in your accessories. Black is acceptable, especially for an evening wedding. Very pale colors can photograph as white, so avoid it if you’ll be in photos with the bride.
Small handbags are a must. The most practical ones can be carried as a clutch or a shoulder bag. They look most elegant as a clutch and don’t interfere with your outfit during the ceremony. They then transform to go over your shoulder at the reception when you need to keep one hand free to shake hands, hold a champagne flute or hold a plate with hors d’oeuvres.
Do you have any upcoming weddings to attend?
Thanks for reading, and remember to wear what makes you feel confident.
