Wedding Guest Dress Codes | Everything You Need To Know

Men wear black bow ties and women wear dresses

You may have received a wedding invitation that forces you to think about what the wedding guest dress codes should be. Should a black tie or a formal dress make your look stand out?

Many guests come to a wedding in black dress, but overall, the formal dress is at the top of the list. Several couples love to wear formal attire, however, if you look at the wedding invitation, you will find many other dress codes. You can adopt these codes to make your personality shine at the event.

On the flip side, there are other wedding guest attires based on the location and personal choices like semi-formal, beach wedding attire, and theme-based wedding attire. Also, wedding attire selection depends on your individual preference and skin tone.

If you want to know about your wedding attire and style that help you stand out, this article is for you. In the next paragraphs, we are going to discuss everything about wedding guest dress code that impresses others at any wedding you attend.

Understanding Wedding Guest Dress Code

guests at wedding

Most of the time wedding invitations include dress code for guests that can be challenging for you if you aren’t familiar with them. It is not mandatory to follow these dress codes but if you wear it gives the impression that you are properly attending the wedding occasion.

Wedding guest dress codes are of diverse forms like formal, casual, semi-formal, cocktail, etc., and understanding the wedding dress code is necessary to the start of the event.

Different types of Wedding guest attire

Let’s discuss the different types of wedding attire comprehensively and the list starts with a formal one.

Formal Wedding Attire

Bride and groom laughing and celebrating wedding

A formal wedding dress is one of the best choices to look elegant and usually comes in black, white, navy blue, or charcoal color. Navy blue and charcoal are used but much less than black and white ones.

White-Tie

Ivory-suit-and-bow-tie

White tie is the most famous and used wedding guest attire around the world (expected). Men should wear a white shirt with a nice bow tie, nice formal shoes, and a nice watch that matches the overall outfit. Similarly, women should wear formal dresses like full lengthy gowns with nice heels. Nice jewelry like an awesome clutch, ring, and neckless make you more beautiful.

Black-Tie

Beautiful lady in dark green printed dress and handsome man in suit and black bow tie

After white-tie, the second most picked attire is the black-tie, considered best for evening functions. A man should wear a black vest, a bow tie of the same color, and a quality blazer. With that, wear a nice pair of leather shoes, and accessories that complete your overall look.

Women should wear a floor-length gown of quality fabric, like silk, stitched by an expert. Also, you can wear chic cocktail dresses or pantsuits if you feel comfortable in it but it is better to discuss with the bride first.

Semi-Formal Wedding Attire

Semi-Formal Wedding Attire

If we talk about semi-formal weddings, they strike a balance between formal and casual dresses. Men can wear light color suits with shades or a blazer that matches with pants.

It is great to wear a dress shirt and tie as it enhances your personality at the special event. Women have the flexibility to choose dresses as they can opt for long as well as short dresses. In long dresses, they can go with knee-length dresses like gowns and can also go with skirts and blouses.

Moreover, experiment with different colors and textures to choose one that completely fits your body shape and makes you stand out from the crowd.

Casual Wedding Attire

Casual-Wedding-Attire

Casual wedding dresses allow guests to skip away the formal dresses and pick comfortable and stylish stuff of their own choice. If you are a lady then the dress code for you is to wear flowy sundresses, skirts, blouses, or jumpsuits depending upon your choices.

Sundresses are best to consider for hot weather and outdoor weddings like beachside weddings. Select a stylish attire that makes you shine in the beautiful atmosphere of nature. Similarly, you can opt skirt, blouse, or jumpsuit that should be dressy, casual, and made of nice fabric. If you are going to wear such dresses then try to wear accessories as less as possible.

Men can go with khaki or light color jeans that reflect the rays of the sun and make you feel less hot in the summer. A nice blazer that is made of quality fabric can elevate your look and provide warmth for an outdoor evening wedding. Also, a collared shirt adds a touch of polish to your overall look.

Destination Wedding Attire

Destination Wedding Attire

Destination weddings often take place in unusual locations like mountains, beach sides, villages, etc. In such a scenario, you need to consider the wedding guest’s dress code very carefully. It is best to choose lightweight fabrics and breathable silhouettes for both men and women.

Also, men can select linen suits, while women can choose flowy dresses like maxi skirts of her choice. However, don’t forget to consider the climate condition of the area where the wedding is going to place and plan your outfits accordingly.

Beach Wedding Attire

Wedding Guest Dress Code: Beach Wedding Attire

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Beach weddings call for breezy, beach-appropriate attire. Men can opt for lightweight linen or cotton pants paired with a short-sleeved shirt or a linen blazer for added polish. Women can embrace flowy maxi dresses, sundresses, or even chic jumpsuits. Opt for sandals or espadrilles to navigate the sandy terrain with ease.

Beach weddings are one of the best and most awesome ways to celebrate your special day in such an amazing place where all your guests celebrate in a relaxed mood.

The dress code for this sort of wedding typically focuses on comfort and breezy styles and therefore go with these kinds of dresses like jumpsuits, maxis, sundresses, etc. It is important to note that lightweight clothes are good for such function and there is a wide range of styles and fabrics available that cater to your needs. Choose shirts and pants of breathable material like cotton with nice prints and very light accessories that make you stand out.

Conclusion

Selecting a wedding guest dress code is easy if mentioned on the invitation card but not in all the cases. You need to understand the wedding theme, place of wedding, weather, and much more while choosing a wedding attire. However, we have made this easy for you and by reading this guide, you can easily pick the right wedding guest attire that makes you stand out. Happy wedding season!

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