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The Wedding Guest Dresses We Scoured The Internet To Find…Because Wedding Season In 2022 Is About To Go OFF

Since the year began, I’ve already attended two weddings, I have one next month, and then one almost every other month for the rest of the year (including my own). With 2020 and the majority of 2021 postponing weddings left and right, it seems EVERYONE is trying to squeeze their wedding into 2022. I get it, and no one besides a completely unprecedented pandemic is to blame, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that wedding season is about to get pretty nuts. So, because most of us at EHD have been googling “wedding guest dresses” for the past few months, we all decided this is a post we needed to write, in hopes that it’ll help keep a little bit of the attending-a-wedding-stress at bay. So we all got together and pinned the wedding guest appropriate dresses that we would want to wear, and broke them up into their appropriate dress code categories. If you have a wedding (or several) coming up on your calendar, we hope this post will help you check one thing off your list.

1. Flower Print Dress | 2. Knot-Front Cutout Halter Midi Dress | 3. Green Animal Strappy Frida Dress – Curve | 4. Adabell Dress | 5. MISA Mesh Midi Dress | 6. Cowl Neck Slip Maxi Dress | 7. Selkie Princess Dress | 8.  Knot Detail Dress | 9. Puff Cottage French Dress | 10. My So Called Life Nightie | 11. The Way to Love Black Floral Print Ruffled Maxi Dress | 12. The Elsa Dress | 13. Betsy Midi Dress – Curve | 14. Gitane Long Sleeve Smocked Linen Midi Dress | 15. Davenport Dress 

When it comes to a casual wedding dress code, this is where (I believe) you should get a dress that you would absolutely wear again. It should be dressy enough that it’s not an “everyday” dress, but casual enough that you could also wear it to non-wedding events. I love black so I am extremely attracted to #2 and #4, but if I were a color gal, I wouldn’t skip #13. #7 is also a very sweet option, by a brand called Selkie that I’ve recently discovered and love.

1. Instant Impression Sage Green Asymmetrical Midi Dress | 2. Diana Gown | 3. x REVOLVE Ava Dress | 4. Long Sleeve Roma Dress | 5. Resounding Beauty Dusty Purple Surplice Maxi Dress | 6. Roxanie one-shoulder fil coupé chiffon mini dress | 7. Knotted silk-satin mini dress | 8. Twist Front Long Sleeve Dress | 9. Lilac Vienna Mini Dress | 10. Sierra wrap-effect Dress | 11. Rina Dress | 12. Noah Wrap Dress | 13. x Revolve Camo Dress | 14. Scala layered ruched jersey midi dress | 15. Aaliyah Midi Dress

From what I understand, a cocktail wedding dress code means you can wear shorter-length dress but it must still be fancy and a bit formal. This is actually the most popular wedding attire choice, so here’s to hoping one dress in this category will get you through all of wedding season. I personally love midi dresses so #2, #12, and #15 are all on my list. But for a short option, I can’t help but love a one-shoulder look like #6.

1. Forest Green Midi Dress | 2. Boat Neck Maxi Dress | 3. Evening of Elegance Navy Blue Floral Jacquard Wrap Midi Dress | 4. Black Lottie Dress | 5. Printed Crepe de Chine Gown | 6. Westerly Dress | 7. Niesha Handkerchief Hem Midi Dress | 8. Private Kiss Midi Dress | 9. Midnight Sky Child Midi Dress | 10. Steel Sky Child Midi Dress | 11. Silk Wrap Midi Dress | 12. Meadow Maxi Dress

I think semi-formal is the most confusing wedding guest attire category. Semi?? Formal??? I don’t know what’s happening. But after much research it has come to my attention that it is very similar to a cocktail dress attire, except with semi-formal the length of the dress should be at least below the knee. Also, according to brides.com, a semi-formal wedding calls for “darker, more formal colors for an evening wedding, and light colors and fabrics for a daytime event”. Fair enough. For this category, I am loving #2 but if I were a person that the color yellow looked good on, I would absolutely go for #5. For a nighttime wedding that might get a little chilly, #11 is a great long sleeve option.

1. Sunset Views Midi Dress | 2. Rory Velvet Dress | 3. Burgundy Maxi Dress | 4. Soa Dress | 5. Mara Velvet Maxi Dress | 6. Amelie Dress | 7. Cami Gown | 8. Mina Dress | 9. Tasteful Dress | 10. The Rianna Dress | 11. Embellished Sequin Maxi Dress | 12. Twist Back Cap Sleeve Dress | 13. Summer Cinderella Midi Dress | 14. Simone Maxi Dress | 15. Words of Warning Maxi Dress

A formal dress is either a floor-length gown or a fancy cocktail dress. I think of this category as what you would wear to prom but make it #matureadult. You don’t want your dress to scream “I am in the running for prom queen” but the level of “fancy” is about the same. I wore #9 to a wedding last month and received a ton of compliments on it. It’s very tight and form-fitting, so just know that you have to feel confident about flaunting your curves :). If I had to buy another formal dress though, I’d go for #14 or #15. Which one is up your alley?

1. The Rosabel Maxi Dress | 2. Queen Gown | 3. Sequin Cowl Neck Gown | 4. Sandra Plunge Crepe Trumpet Gown | 5. Victoria Maxi Dress | 6. Drina Gown | 7. Hit the Mark Gown | 8. Velvet Applique Tulle Dress | 9. Magali Pascal Side-Slit Maxi Dress | 10. Multi Tie Maxi Dress | 11. Low Back Slip Mermaid Fishtail Gown | 12. Cape-Effect Metallic Gown | 13. Cayla Side Drape Gown | 14. Off-the-Shoulder Gown | 15. Draped Stretch Satin Gown

Black tie weddings are intimidating. A black-tie dress is a floor-length gown, full stop. If you have a black-tie affair coming up, and don’t see yourself wearing a gown more than once, I cannot recommend services like Rent The Runway enough. It was literally created for instances like this and will save you from buying something you’ll never have the chance to wear again. And they have HUNDREDS of designer dresses to choose from. But if you do have multiple fancy affairs going on, any of these dresses will have you looking perfect for the part. Mallory wore #3 to a formal event last weekend and loves it. It’s affordable but dressy so it’s completely appropriate for black tie events. I am a sucker for black or red dresses so #1, #4, and #11 are living rent free in my head. Oh, and #12 is so chic it almost hurts.

So there you have it. If you are wedding guest dress shopping we hope this post helped to narrow down some options. Cheers to surviving wedding season! ;)

Opener Image Credit: Photo by Veronica Crawford

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? Rusty
3 years ago

Ryann, great selection of dresses! ?
You’ve covered all the levels of fancy.

I dunno… I like sleeves, at least for the upper arm. Just me??? ?

Susan
3 years ago
Reply to  ? Rusty

Sleeves for sure at this stage of my life. I’m pushing 50, prefer to highlight my assets, which are not my upper arms….

Lori
3 years ago

What I REALLY wanna know is what to wear for a bra with most of these! The ladies need support!

Sasha
3 years ago
Reply to  Lori

Yes, can we get accompanying article about bra to wear with variety of dresses please?

Irene
3 years ago
Reply to  Lori

How about the “waterproof boob tape” Rashida wrote about in the recent swimsuit post?

Sydney Blem
3 years ago
Reply to  Lori

If you can get your hands on it, the SKIMS body tape for open backs or a more seamless option. SKIMS also has plenty of different bra necklines.

3 years ago
Reply to  Sydney Blem

There are also plenty of options for boob/body tape that aren’t SKIMS as well if price point or just a general distaste for the Kardashians are issues!

Bianca Espinosa
3 years ago

Thanks for this!!! Now can folx do some recommendations for wedding shoes?? Struggling over here (especially if you will be chasing little munchkins around during the wedding!)

sp
3 years ago

After 2 years of no heels, I found that I can no longer stand my cute and “these seem ok for the 15 minutes I’m trying them on and then I hate myself when actually wearing out for 3+ hrs” heels. I bought these for a gala recently, and for once I didn’t want to take off my shoes by the end of the night. I decided the key isn’t just the lower heel, but also the cushioned front strap (no painful rubbing!).

Sara M
3 years ago
Reply to  sp

I 1000000% agree. I had a formal event last month and needed new heels; I was ready to pay a lot of money for a classic gorgeous pair, but couldn’t find ANYTHING. My last effort was in person to Nordstrom, tried on that brand and said these are the comfiest heels I’ve ever worn. Knocked it out of the park. Would prefer a slightly higher heel, but oh well! Check them out, team, 27 edit by naturalized.

Bevin
3 years ago

Thank you for this! We just got invited to an evening (June) wedding in Dallas, and the invitation says “Black Tie Optional,” which I assume falls somewhere between “Formal” and “Black Tie” — correct?

Mo
3 years ago

Wait – which dress is Emily wearing in the top photo! Want!

Kj
3 years ago
Reply to  Mo

Looks like the And Every More Dress By C/MEO Collective:

Kj
3 years ago
Reply to  Mo

And this is the same style by C/MEO Collective but in 2 different fabrics:

Sydney Blem
3 years ago

Also check out Lucy In The Sky! Awesome collection of black tie, formal and semi-formal.

Sarah
3 years ago

Thank you for this post.

Pretty PRETTY please,
Could you consider a post about STYLING the dresses?The posts with your friend/neighbor were/are my favorite fashion posts EVER.

I feel like I can find a pretty dress… but I’d like fell stylizing it and Even pushing myself past a basic pretty dress.

Giulia
3 years ago

I have a wedding in a couple of week in a really fancy venue ( it’s an Italian palace: ).
Since I need a equally fancy dress – that I’m not gonna be wearing ever again in my life ? – I scored online resources like Vinted and Vestiare Collective for weeks for a second hand. Honestly, there’s a lot of people out there that had to buy a dress to wear it only for one day: buying from them it’s cheaper and more sustainable as well ? I was able to buy a really nice dress from an amazing Italian brand that otherwise would have been way out of budget

T.
3 years ago
Reply to  Giulia

There are places where you can rent them now too! I have long complained that women needed to buy their dress, while men just had to rent a tuxedo. Finally we can do the same!

Alma
3 years ago

Wait, you forgot the most important one!
Emily’s dress from the top photo. The rest are too cheesy for me, and the slit id so so 90’s….

Kj
3 years ago
Reply to  Alma

Linked above in the comments.

Kelly
3 years ago

Just as a heads up to those who are on the shorter side like me (I’m 5’4″) – the models wearing the long dresses this season must be at least 6 ft tall because I have ordered 18 dresses and returned them because they drag on the floor. When they are hi-low or asymmetrical, there is no way to hem very easily, especially when the waist is wrap around, etc. I’m looking for a dress for my daughter’s formal engagement party and it’s been hard to say the least. That being said, the short ones aren’t as short as they are on the models. Good luck!

Cris S.
3 years ago
Reply to  Kelly

I haven’t ordered from them, but I’m doing a bunch of prom shopping for my 5’4 daughter, I found JJshouse.com and you can custom order the length etc to measure. Best of luck in finding a dress!

Alice
3 years ago

I was really confused at first by the photo of Emily and Brian and then saying “my own wedding” in the first paragraph.

vika
3 years ago

Sorry but non of these look good on an actual woman over 30, and many of them, esp the casual selection, are simply inappropriate for a wedding. Just going to Jcrew and grabbing a dress from there will look better

Andrea
3 years ago

Back Tie? For the love of all that is holy, please, please, please invest in a copyeditor/proof reader for this site. It’s embarrassing and so unprofessional to continue to have the number of typos that appear on this site. I know it’s free, but sheesh. Have some editorial pride. Love, a fan.

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