Wedding Guest Outfit Ideas For Every Style And Season + Faqs (2024)

FAQs

How to tell wedding guests what to wear? ›

Answer this question by stating your dress code in a direct sentence ("The dress code for our wedding is…"). Following that, you can include a brief explanation with attire suggestions and specifics—for example, that your venue requires a jacket and tie or if the ceremony will take place on the beach.

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.

Traditionally, the only off-limits color for wedding guests has been white, for obvious reasons—no one wants to take attention away from the bride.

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.

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.

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.

Casual. “Casual” dress often indicates an outdoor affair, so take weather into account while still erring on the dressier side (i.e., no shorts). No suits, jackets or coats are necessary, but men should wear slacks/khakis and a button-downs or polo shirt.

If you consider it on the scale of semi-formal vs. co*cktail attire, dressy casual is closer to the semi-formal side than the co*cktail one. Light colors and casual materials, like satin or linen, fit the code well. However, it's also worth pointing out that the time of day may also affect the code.

In general, smart casual means you should be less formal than a two-piece suit, but more formal than old blue jeans and a t-shirt. Think of it as a “fashion-forward” business casual. Since smart casual is typically a loosely enforced dress code, there are a number of outfit options you can go with.

If you're going to request a certain dress code or color from your guests, be upfront about this from the beginning. That means notifying them of this on the invitation or even the save the date. This gives guests time to find an appropriate outfit or bow out if they're not able to follow it.

What should I ask my wedding guests to wear? ›

In addition to providing a dress code, avoid confusion by letting your wedding guests know specifically what they should wear. For example, recommend a suit and tie for co*cktail attire, or a tux, formal gown or floor-length dress if you're going for a black-tie vibe.

A morning wedding typically calls for casual dress, while a ceremony after 5 p.m. generally calls for formal attire.

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.

The staff suggests that if a wedding is taking place at 4 p.m. or 5 p.m., you should wear something that easily transitions from day to night; any ceremony after 6 p.m. should be strictly co*cktail.

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).