Choose the perfect wedding guest outfit for a spring wedding (2024)

FAQs

What should a guest wear to a spring wedding? ›

Yellow, pink, lilac, and green dresses are all great options to wear as a wedding guest. Dresses with patterns and floral designs also work well for the spring season—just be sure you aren't wearing the same color as the bride's bridal party, and of course, stay away from white! Can I wear black to a wedding?

“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. Evening gowns and tuxedos are appropriate.”

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.

Lighter fabrics and colors are at the core of spring style, though some layers are always welcome for those cool spring nights and more elevated spring wedding dress codes. When it comes to formal nuptials, fine wools blended with silk, cotton or linen are an excellent starting point for spring fabrics.

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.

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.

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.

For summer weddings, go bold with bright colors, like greens, oranges, and pinks. This will help reflect the energy of the season and can be dressed up with statement jewelry or other accessories. For fall weddings, stick to darker colors like burgundy, navy blue, and forest green.

What is the most popular wedding dress code? ›

Between "black-tie optional" and "semi-formal," the language can be tricky to decipher. "While many couples would like their guests to arrive in black-tie attire, the most common wedding dress code is formal attire," says Alicia Mae, CEO of the New Jersey-based wedding planning company ILÈ Events.

Choose a dress that speaks your style and personality.

First, go with the dress that makes you feel (not look, but feel) the most beautiful. This way, you'll feel confident and comfortable. If that doesn't help, then think about practicality. Is the dress too much for a small backyard wedding?

co*cktail attire is highly favored for weddings, striking a balance between elegance and comfort, and sophistication with a touch of simplicity. Women should consider tea-length, knee-length, or midi dresses instead of floor-length gowns. While tuxedos are no longer obligatory, men should still opt for a suit and tie.

Basically, wedding guests are off the hook if they absolutely cannot wear a tuxedo. A dark suit and tie would be acceptable black tie optional wedding attire for men, but wear a tux if you can. Prefer to dress it down? Try a black satin necktie or a black and white bow tie in a pattern.

WEDDING GUEST ATTIRE FOR SPRING OUTDOOR WEDDINGS

Not only are there more colors and prints to choose from—florals, linen and lightweight cottons are suddenly weather- and season-appropriate fabrics and motifs once again—it also feels like you have more options when it comes to embellishment and accessories.

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.

Since nuptials are celebratory occasions, the dark hue was labeled off-limits for attendees in the past. However, in today's modern-day age, wearing black to a wedding is completely acceptable, and in many cases, it's even encouraged.

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!) black sequined mini and consignment store jeweled black shoes (also $10).

You can think of semi-formal wedding attire as a slightly toned-down, business-esque version of co*cktail attire. These two dress codes overlap in the sense that shorter dress hemlines (think midi-length and high-low skirts) and suits (versus tuxedos) are both appropriate.