These Formal Wedding Guest Dresses Look Way More Expensive Than They Actually Are (2024)

FAQs

What does a female guest wear to a formal wedding? ›

So, when worried about underdressing, women should wear a floor-length gown to keep things simple. However, other options are available. You might consider a knee-length co*cktail dress or a fancy formal dress, as long as it's very elegant, refined, and fits well with the formal wedding attire of your fellow guests.

"Guests should also have the appropriate tuxedo shirt, a stud set and cufflinks in a matching metal, either a cumme*rbund or vest waist covering, black bow tie, white pocket square, and black patent leather shoes." Similarly, women are encouraged to dress up in a floor-length evening gown or an elegant dress.

Formal wedding attire (synonymous with black-tie optional attire) offers more flexibility than black tie, so dressy separates and dresses that hit above the ankle are acceptable, as well as fitted, darker-hued suits paired with a crisp white button-down and tie, adds Rivera.

Black tie refers to a very specific type of dress, with tuxedos and bow ties for men and floor-length gowns for women. The term “formal attire” is more general, relating to smart suits, shirts, dresses, blouses, and other items. Somewhat paradoxically, general formal attire is less formal than black tie.

"It is perfectly acceptable and chic to wear black to evening, black tie, and winter weddings." Ryncarz agreed that it is wise to gauge the attire of the wedding attendants. "When wearing black to a wedding, keep the outfit in line with the dressiness of the bridal party and wedding as a whole," she said.

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.

Women wedding guests should wear full-length dresses, be it a ballgown, a sheath or an A-line dress. High heels are strongly recommended.

However, short does not mean revealing. This means although a mini dress could be acceptable, it's best to avoid something that could be revealing, and not something you would want to wear around the bride or groom's grandparents. Like with any outfit at a wedding, you don't want it to overshadow the newly weds.

Can you wear a black dress or ensemble to a wedding? In short, yes, but the key is in the styling. You want to avoid looking like you dressed for a funeral, and your outfit should feel like it was chosen with a special occasion in mind!

Traditionally women are expected to wear a floor length evening dress to a formal wedding. Often a sophisticated and dressy co*cktail dress is also appropriate, however if the bride is traditional we recommend a floor length dress. A full length dress means that the ankle is not visible.

Do you have to wear a tie for formal dress? ›

Mostly, for formal events you can still go for a floor-length gown and a tux, but you can also freely wear a statement co*cktail dress or a three-piece suit and tie. However, we'd still advise against anything too short or ditching your ties and suit jackets. Formal is still, well, formal after all.

If you're looking for something classic and timeless, dark colors like navy blue or black are always appropriate. For a more glamorous look, pastels such as lavender, light pink, or pale blue will add a touch of elegance to your outfit.

Formal or Black-Tie Optional

For women, the outfit choices remain the same: a floor-length gown, a fancy co*cktail dress, or a dressy pantsuit.

For women, a standard formal outfit would consist of a dress. Both floor-length gowns and lighter co*cktail dresses can fall into the formal category. Aside from dresses, blouses, dressy skirts, and dress pants are potential choices for females at formal events.

In order to make sure your jeans are formal enough, you will want to lean toward formal and classy with your choice of shirt and jacket. A crisp dress shirt is always a good choice when paired with jeans, add a sporty button-up shirt can add a dash of personality to a more casual business office.

Also known as “full evening dress”, white tie attire is considered the most formal of all dress codes. The white tie dress code indicates that guests are high-caliber, royal, or have high social standing.

Can you wear a floral dress to a formal wedding? The short answer: Yes! Floral wedding guest dresses come in so many different styles, from festive frocks to sexy slips. No matter the dress code of the event you're attending, you're bound to find a floral wedding guest dress that's perfect for the occasion.

"I would stay away from small floral prints, as a lot of wedding dresses are designed with those patterns," says Laine Palm of Laine Palm Event Planning & Design. "Large patterns that make it obvious that you are a guest are approved—but stay away from anything white and blush, which could be too bridal."