Wear This And You'll Be The Best-Dressed Wedding Guest This Spring (2024)

After two years of rejiggered, rescheduled, and cancelled weddings, it seems as though 2022 will be the year when nuptials slowly pick up again. And while guest lists may be smaller and venues might be taking more precautions, the return of romance is palpable. If you’ve RSVP’d for a wedding or two this season, you’ll be needing a spring wedding guest dress — and designers have thoughts. “I think people are dressing up again for really formal, really intimate weddings these days — I love this; very special clothes donned for the nearest and dearest,” Rebecca Taylor Senior Creative Director Steven Cateron tells TZR. “There’s a lot of decadence to find in occasion dresses for times like this from beautifully bold colors to the longer lengths of evening gowns, now is the time to embrace the romance of dressing up.”

Cateron points to design details like a square neckline as a highlight for the season. “Our Lace Square-Neck Dress is pointelle knit in a zigzag pattern and just grazes the floor,” he notes. “A maxi knit dress like this is the perfect spring style to wear to a wedding with a chic flat sandal. It’s textured, flattering, light, and easy to wear — and, for added character, I love the matching knit hat.” Other standout moments to incorporate into your look, Fanm Mon Founder Sophia Demirtas says, are tried-and-true spring styles. “Vibrant colors, beautiful open-backs, flowy fabrics, embroidery, and pastels are all just perfect,” she says. “Oh, and florals, florals, florals! Nothing celebrates love more than flowers.”

Take a style cue from Cateron and Demirtas as well as the Spring/Summer 2022 collections, and continue ahead to shop wedding guest dresses based on the season’s most flattering and fun dress trends.

We only include products that have been independently selected by TZR’s editorial team. However, we may receive a portion of sales if you purchase a product through a link in this article.

A Sweet Sleeve

(+)

(+)

1/2

From voluminous sleeves to romantic flutter iterations, drawing attention to the shoulder feels equal parts romantic and whimsical. This season, look to labels like Markarian and Autumn Adeigbo for inspiration, both illustrating the versatility of a shoulder moment. Go for satin cap sleeves or puffy floral versions — it’s always a reliably romantic silhouette.

Gathered Fabrics

(+)

(+)

1/2

Whether its ruching, smocking, or something in between there’s something enduringly elegant about gathered fabric detailing. It’s especially effective at adding an artisanal, handcrafted quality to any piece. And unsurprisingly —gathered fabric translates beautifully to a wedding guest dress.

Powdery Pastels

(+)

(+)

1/2

As Demirtas noted, pastels are a springtime favorite and these powdery hues serve as the perfect palette when you’re searching for a seasonal wedding guest dress. While saturated brights will always feel right for spring, if you’re looking for a softer tone, make it a pastel.

Square Neckline

(+)

(+)

1/2

Cottagecore has hit its stride over the last year and this romantic look also happens to crossover into wedding guest dress territory quite seamlessly — all via a square neck. These necklines innately feel nostalgic, with references to the Victorian and Renaissance eras at play as well as the bucolic feel; capture that essence with this simple yet impactful trend.

Fresh Florals

(+)

(+)

1/2

Spring dresses and florals are a ubiquitous match and a pairing you can always rely on. This season, search for an unexpected color combination or floral motif to give your style a refresh. You won’t be short on inspiration from the Spring/Summer 2022 collections, but Adam Lippes and Christopher John Rogers patterns are notable standouts.

3D Embellishment

(+)

(+)

1/2

Appliqué, high-volume ruffles, beading, bows, and beyond — a tactile texture is an easy way to take your wedding guest dress from fits the bill to the perfect find. Plus, it makes a spin around the dance floor feel all the more festive when a trail of intricately sewn fabrics and embellishments are trailing close behind.

This article was originally published on

Wear This And You'll Be The Best-Dressed Wedding Guest This Spring (2024)

FAQs

What should a guest wear to a spring wedding? ›

Dressy casual (or semi-formal) allows you to play around with your look a bit. A gorgeous midi or maxi skirt with a dressy top would be a perfect combination.

What is the trend for wedding guests in 2024? ›

Pastel Wedding Guest Dresses

Nothing says spring like pastels, and popular pastel tones such as pale yellow, neutral pink, and dreamy orange sorbet are predicted to be some of spring 2024's buzziest color trends.

What is the best dress code for attending wedding? ›

Women should embrace wrap dresses, midi dresses or elegant jumpsuits. For men, if it's a daytime wedding, a light sport jacket, button-down shirt and relaxed chinos fit the bill. In the evening, go for darker colors, as later weddings tend to be more formal.

Is it okay to wear black to a spring wedding? ›

As a general rule, "wearing black is totally acceptable, as the hue is very versatile," says bridal stylist Julie Sabatino of The Stylish Bride. Make the shade work for you—at any type of wedding—with these ideas for choosing the right fabrice, length, and accessories.

What not to wear to a spring wedding? ›

For fall/winter, if it's a heavier material or a burgundy or a deep forest green, it's really not appropriate to wear in the spring/summer as well. I have a lot of clients who will go with a black co*cktail dress that is a medium/all-season fabric so they can wear it all year round.

What is the best color for a spring wedding? ›

Classic Spring

Using a color palette of pinks, oranges, gold, green creates a romantic and timeless look for years to come. The subtle shade variations with gold accents creates a warm and inviting ambiance, perfect for a spring wedding celebration.

What to wear to a wedding in April 2024? ›

April Wedding Guest Dresses

Floral prints, pastel hues, and whimsical ruffle detailing are all perfect for capturing a springtime vibe.

What is the color of the year for a wedding in 2024? ›

Pantone's 2024 Color of the Year Is Peach Fuzz—Here's How to Use the Happy Creamsicle Shade in Your Wedding.

What are the in and out trends for 2024? ›

Some items on the list are actual fashion or culture trends — like animal prints or espresso martinis — while others are more behavior-oriented. Common ins for 2024 include early bedtimes, staying hydrated and red-light therapy, while impulsive shopping, mindless phone scrolling and vaping are popular outs.

What is not appropriate to wear as a wedding guest? ›

It doesn't matter if the dress code requests "casual" attire, jeans, T-shirts, shorts, flip-flops, and sneakers are never appropriate to wear as a wedding guest. Show respect for the bride and groom by dressing formally. Sabatino suggests that men show up in a jacket and tie, even when the invitation says casual.

What is the best color to wear as a guest to a wedding? ›

To bring a bolder statement, go for brighter colors like magenta and coral. If you're attending a wedding in the evening, there are certain colors that can help you look your best and make an impression. If you're looking for something classic and timeless, dark colors like navy blue or black are always appropriate.

What should a woman wear to a wedding as a guest? ›

Simply put, women should wear a formal, floor-length evening gown—no exceptions—with jewelry, heels, and an elegant clutch. Men are required to wear a tuxedo with tails, a formal white shirt, a vest, a bow tie, white or gray gloves, and formal footwear, such as derby shoes or oxfords.

What colors are not appropriate to wear to a wedding? ›

5 Colors to Avoid Wearing as a Wedding Guest
  • White or Ivory. Itching to wear the gorgeous white dress you just purchased? ...
  • Champagne, Beige, or Anything Close to White. ...
  • The Same Color as the Bridal Party. ...
  • Lots of Glitter. ...
  • Denim.
Feb 27, 2023

Can you wear navy to a spring wedding? ›

Be sure to dress for the season.

For spring & summer weddings, wear lighter shades and pastels. For fall & winter weddings wear more darker tones. Navy blue is perfect for all year round!

What color suit to wear to a spring wedding? ›

And dressing up for a spring wedding is good fun. Soft spring suit shades like light blue and grey come into their own in here – choose a blue suit if you're wearing neutral-shade accessories, and grey tailoring for those brighter colours like pink, yellow, orange and teal.

What to wear to a wedding as a guest female? ›

Simply put, women should wear a formal, floor-length evening gown—no exceptions—with jewelry, heels, and an elegant clutch. Men are required to wear a tuxedo with tails, a formal white shirt, a vest, a bow tie, white or gray gloves, and formal footwear, such as derby shoes or oxfords.

What is the dress code for a guest at a wedding? ›

1) Do Consider the Wedding Dress Code

Black Tie: floor length gowns, black ties, tuxedos. Formal: floor length gowns, tuxedos optional, black suits acceptable. Semi-Formal: below the knee dresses, dress shirts, slacks. Casual: sundresses, collared shirts, khakis.

Can I have bare legs at a wedding? ›

I have advised readers that while bare legs are fine even at the most formal events, hosiery also is perfectly acceptable as long as it's skin tone and sheer. I've just returned from a wedding where I wore my new bargain ($10!)

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Kimberely Baumbach CPA

Last Updated:

Views: 6427

Rating: 4 / 5 (41 voted)

Reviews: 88% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Kimberely Baumbach CPA

Birthday: 1996-01-14

Address: 8381 Boyce Course, Imeldachester, ND 74681

Phone: +3571286597580

Job: Product Banking Analyst

Hobby: Cosplaying, Inline skating, Amateur radio, Baton twirling, Mountaineering, Flying, Archery

Introduction: My name is Kimberely Baumbach CPA, I am a gorgeous, bright, charming, encouraging, zealous, lively, good person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.