Wedding season is in full swing, and with many weddings now being held outside of the traditional wedding season, choosing outfits that’ll last the year can be difficult. With constantly changing trends, unpredictable weather and wanting to find a piece that’s rewearable, picking an outfit isn’t easy.
So, whether you’re searching for dresses to wear at a wedding reception, trying to nail seasonal dressing, or questioning what to do if it's a formal wedding, we’re here to guide you through it all and help you decide on your next evening wedding guest dress.
Factors To Consider
Let’s start with the basics. Before we start getting overwhelmed with all the options and outfit choices, we want to strip it back to the key facts that we already know about the big day.
- The Dress Code:
Following the dress code is an easy and good place to start, as it’ll give you all the information you need, whether this is for religious ceremonies, colour schemes, or how formal your outfit needs to be. Each of these things are important to consider as they’ll be requests from the happy couple, and so should be respected!
- The Location:
The location and choosing what to wear go hand in hand. The location will not only help you match the theme of the day but also the levels of formality. For example, if it’s a countryside barn venue, you may want to choose a romantic, floaty fabric with a complimentary print or colour.
- The Season:
When choosing what do you wear to a wedding, remember weather can be unpredictable (especially in the UK!), so dressing for the season in appropriate prints and colours, as well as the climate, is going to be essential.
If you’re jetting off abroad for the big day, then make sure you’re prepared for the weather that comes with it, hot or cold, so you’ll feel more relaxed when it comes to the wedding. When choosing prints and colours for the seasons, keep in mind that you can wear them year after year for all wedding seasons.
Dresses For Wedding Receptions
Here are some of our faves to give you inspiration for what to wear to a wedding reception.
Valley Mini Dress in Abstract White on Navy
Meet the perfect summer wedding reception dress. Our Valley Mini features a classic wrap style and a flattering tie waist for that sophisticated silhouette, with the abstract white and navy print adding a timeless finish. Ideal for a manor house or semi-formal, mid-season wedding reception, this piece can be worn from day to night.
Valley Mini Dress in Abstract White on Navy
Jagger Maxi Dress in Magenta
Wondering what to wear to an evening wedding reception whilst also making a statement as you dance the night away? Then our Jagger Dress in a bold magenta is a guaranteed win. This twist on a formal wedding outfit is the perfect combination of formal and bold colour blocking. The flowing chiffon-style fabric, full-length cuffed sleeves, and gorg’ wrap style is lightweight enough for summer but modest enough for a formal venue.
Goldie Midaxi Dress in Statement Floral
If you’re attending an off-season wedding, our Goldie Dress features long sleeves, a dark floral print, a plunging v neckline, and it’s cut to a midaxi length, making it perfect for colder months. This stand-out dress is finished with a flattering faux wrap shape, so you’ll feel fabulous.
Goldie Midaxi Dress in Statement Floral
FAQs
Here are our quick and easy tips to make sure you are reception ready!
What To Wear To A Formal Wedding Reception
If you’re not sure what to wear to a formal wedding, as we’ve previously mentioned, checking out the venue is a great way of judging what to wear, as the venue will usually give you an idea of how formal the wedding will be. If you already know the dress code is formal, go for a midi or maxi-length dress with sleeves as a safe choice for any venue.
What To Wear To A Casual Wedding Reception
The best thing about casual weddings is there is no dress code to follow. But whilst this freedom seems fab at first, it can make it tricky to figure out what to wear. We’d suggest that picking an outfit you feel comfortable and confident in is the key to looking and feeling your best. Casual weddings also allow you to be more creative, so go wild with loud prints, unique silhouettes and mini-length dresses.
What To Wear To A Summer Wedding Reception
Whether abroad or in the UK, dressing for a summer wedding is easier than you think, we promise. Think boho handkerchief hems, flowy chiffon fabrics and bright prints. But most of all, choosing a material that’ll keep you cool throughout the day is one of the most important things to consider when choosing a summer wedding guest outfit. We love materials like organic cotton, breathable viscose and floaty chiffon-style pieces.
As well as keeping cool, keep in mind other aspects such as length, silhouette and dressing practically for the venue. (If it’s a beach wedding, it might be best to leave the stilettos at home!)
What To Wear To A Winter Wedding Reception
It goes without saying that layers are a must for winter weddings. Being able to add and remove layers throughout the day is a fab (and simple) way to stay warm and comfortable.
A long-sleeve maxi dress is perfect for staying warm during the ceremony, and it’s easy to layer up with a wrap and oversized coat for the reception or travelling between venues.
And with the UK weather being so unpredictable, closed-toe shoes are always a good idea.