WHAT TO WEAR: A Wedding Guest Guide (2024)

Choosing what color to wear as a wedding guest should be based on the venue of the wedding. The most important aspect is that your outfit should not compete with the wedding's overall look and feel. Additionally, you may also want to consider the season of the wedding; lighter colors areperfect for spring and summer ceremonies, while darker tones are better suited to fall and winter weddings.

When attending a destination wedding, it's important to wear colors that both complement the venue and show respect for the couple. Neutral shades are timeless options that won't detract from the wedding's formal atmosphere. For a more colorful look, consider wearing shades of blue, lavender, or pink to show that you're in the celebratory spirit. If the wedding is in a tropical destination, opt for colors like yellow, orange, and green. These vibrant hues will bring out the beauty of the location.

Garden weddings are a beautiful way to celebrate love, and choosing the right colors for your outfit as a guest can make the experience even more special. As a rule of thumb, pastels and light neutrals tend to look great in outdoor settings. A garden wedding is also a great setting to wear a skirt or wrap dress. For something more dramatic, bold jewel tones such as sapphire blue, emerald green, and ruby red make for a stunning look.

For a summer wedding, light, airy shades like pastels will help you look fresh and fashionable in the sunshine. From a soft baby blue to a minty green, there are many options for injecting a subtle pop of color into your look. For winter weddings, jewel tones are a great choice. Think bold colors like burgundy, navy blue, and forest green to turn heads but still maintain a formal feel.

WHAT TO WEAR: A Wedding Guest Guide (2024)

FAQs

How do you answer a wedding dress code? ›

The wedding is casual, so please feel free to wear whatever you'd feel best in!” “The wedding is semi-formal, so we encourage you to wear co*cktail attire [for evening events] / Sunday best [for daytime events].” “The wedding is formal, so we encourage you to wear black tie attire.

What do you wear as a guest to 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.

Do you need to specify dress code for a wedding? ›

Mentioning a dress code ensures your event stays as formal or as casual as you want, and it's helpful for guests to know exactly what is expected of them for attire.

What is an example of dressy casual? ›

Think wearing a silky blouse with your favorite pair of jeans, styling a long dress with flats, or wearing tailored trousers with a linen shirt. Depending on your office dress code, you can get away with dressy-casual looks every day.

What is dress code answer? ›

: a set of rules about what clothing may and may not be worn at a school, office, restaurant, etc.

How do you tell guests what the dress code is? ›

Put It on the Invitation

The simplest way to tell your guests what they're expected to wear is to put a dress code in the invitation. There is a time-honored glossary of dress-code wording short enough to include on invitations, or on a card inserted with the invitation.

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 if wedding invite doesn t have dress code? ›

Your best bet is co*cktail attire. Sure, you might be overdressed if it ends up being a more relaxed affair, but you'll fit right in at a co*cktail attire party, and (with the right accessories) can easily dress up for something on the more formal side. Women should opt for a dress in a luxe fabric, such as silk.

What is the default dress code for a wedding? ›

co*cktail attire is a typical wedding dress code choice because it offers a balance between formality and comfort. Perfect for an afternoon wedding and evening reception, the co*cktail wedding dress code indicates a semi-formal-to-formal event.

What is considered dressy casual for a woman? ›

Dressy casual is the perfect blend of laid-back and formal. It's ideal for post-work socializing, nice dinners, or fundraisers. Navigating through the Dressy Casual terrain can be tricky, but it's all about a sophisticated touch to everyday wear. It's less about formality and more about looking well put together.

What is smart casual for a wedding? ›

Smart casual: For the ladies, a summery midi/maxi dress or top and skirt combo are appropriate for a smart casual affair, with a more relaxed shoe style like wedges or even dressy flats. For the guys, a suit is definitely not required.

What does dressy casual mean for a wedding? ›

Semi-Formal, Dressy Casual, or co*cktail

All of these terms mean essentially the same thing. Ties are optional, but guys do need to wear a suit or sport coat. Leather dress shoes or dressy loafers are fine.

What is a standard wedding dress code? ›

If you ever attend a wedding and a dress code isn't specified, it's best to err on the side of formal, as this is what's 'traditional'. To formal weddings, ladies wear the same as they'd wear to black-tie weddings – that is, a floor-length or co*cktail-length gown, or a smart trouser suit.

How do you have a dress code conversation? ›

No matter what you may be thinking about this employee's judgment in choosing what to wear to work, stick to a nonjudgmental tone when you address the issue. Get right to the point. Say that this person's attire is unacceptable and that you need to discuss what can be done to fix it.

When a wedding invitation says formal dress What does that mean? ›

Formal or Black-Tie Optional

As the wording here suggests, this dress code is slightly less formal than a black-tie wedding. So, a tuxedo isn't required, but can still be worn if preferred. If opting for a suit, however, a formal dark suit, white shirt, and a conservative tie are acceptable.

What is wedding dress code informal? ›

Informal or Casual Attire

As such, guests might opt for a pair of slacks or khakis, a light or colorful shirt, and a sports jacket or blazer (with or without a tie). Afternoon dresses, sundresses, dressy skirt and blouse combos, and seasonally-appropriate dress pants are all great options too.

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