Wedding Outfits For Every Venue & Occasion

Cute looks! As a five-weddings a year for five years person, I appreciate this a lot. I do have to say that to me a lot of these looks read one step more casual than their titles (eg titled “formal day wedding” but looks “semi formal day wedding”). It could be a West Coast vs. East Coast thing. I’d definitely recommend taking the location of the wedding into account when deciding what “formal” means. It also probably depends a lot on the bride and groom, so think about their style too. For example, I’m going to a wedding in Washington state next week that is “dressy casual.” In DC, where I live, dressy casual probably means something similar to the “garden” looks above. However, knowing the bride (super casual style), the location (woods near her family’s house) and the guest list (mostly people from the PNW), I can probably assume it’s going to be more casual than what I’d expect out here. If in doubt, I always go for a look that is a little higher on the “formal scale,” because I’d rather be over dressed than under dressed (I also want to avoid situations like the time we had… Read more »

Interesting post. It made me realize that I think wedding guests should stick to solids or–at most–subtle prints. Didn’t realize I had a preference! 😉

Funny, that I am not getting a couple of the categories on my computer, including formal. The pictures that is.
The dresses are cute. I think, though, like another person said, more solid colors for a wedding.
Also, it’s interesting that a “church” wedding isn’t part of the consideration? I know that the “formal” applies to the reception, but I still think really bare dresses might need a little sweater or something for church. How traditional!

Nice outfits. Lots of good ideas.
I think I agree that maybe too many small prints for me. Favor more solid dresses for a wedding.
I also think it’s interesting that these things don’t consider “church” weddings. I know the focus seems to be on the reception. But in the Midwest, at least, church is still a big factor in weddings. And a lot of people are traditional enough to think that really bare dresses, shoulders would need a coverup in church!

I love this post! It’s so fun.

I haven’t been to a wedding in years, but still love seeing all the amazing dress options.

Thank you for including alternative sizes as well!

“Finally, a wedding where you can wear a dark color that will hide the inevitable spilled drink on the dress by someone else. It literally happens to me at every wedding.”

THIS IS MY LIFE. It’s always red wine. Always.

Loved this post!

50% of these looks read way too casual for a wedding, regardless of venue. And I’m a born and bred Angeleno, land of casual dressing. I think it’s always better to be overdressed than underdressed at a wedding, just my opinion. Cute dresses for summer bbqs though!

Love this selection! Interestingly in the UK the print dresses would go down a storm, but black is traditionally a big no-no, although it’s becoming more standard, especially for evening weddings.

I’ve also never been to or heard of a wedding where you could wear a full-length ballgown! Although obvs if you ever invited me I’d be there in an instant.

British weddings I guess fall mostly into the categories of semi-formal, garden or alternative. But hats and fascinators are a big deal, and not just if you’re going to Meghan and Harry’s shindig.

Basically this is a rambling way of saying I’m fascinated by the different expectations in different places.

Thank you so much for including plus size options! <3

bookmarking forever and sent this to my mom. we’re always trying to figure out what things like “backyard formal” mean on invitations!

Love this round up!! I have soo many weddings next year, so i’ll be saving this for advice!
I think the only dress i didn’t like was #16 for semi-formal day wedding, comes off as more of a cute club dress and not wedding appropriate IMO- but perfect for the after party!!

Also, is there anyway to include the pricing when you hover over the image?
I would love to see the price before I cross my fingers and click. (Lucy dress from formal night wedding- I’ll be saving up my piggy bank for you!!)

Great job as always guys!! My favorite blog by far.

This has opened my eyes–I pretty much only like the plus-sized options, and I’m not plus-sized…so now I’ll start looking where I normally wouldn’t, and get a good tailor! Thanks, Jess and team.

This is great! Breaking it down by venue was a really fun idea.

Would love one with some options for winter weddings too. Winter meaning snow. 🙂 Which I know isn’t something that will interest all your readers, but us northerners would be very appreciative!

I’m at an age now that it’s my friends’ kids who are getting married, but it was fun to “browse” these dresses.

I echo the advice about veering to slightly overdressed rather than underdressed, but that might be because of a childhood trauma. Both my older sister and I were invited to a birthday party, but because I was out sick the day the invitations were distributed, I missed getting mine. I rode along in the car to drop my sister off at the party. When we got there, the parents said “Oh, but you were invited TOO.” My dad gave me to option to go home and change from my t-shirt and corduroys into a party dress, but I was too eager to get to the party and said no.

I felt so out of place the whole time. They had a clown who made some comment, too. Stupid clown!

Ok so what about weddings where the ceremony is outside and early evening – which makes me think the garden/seaside look – but then the reception is inside and nighttime and feels more – evening/semi-formal??? This is always my dilemma because I don’t want to look to dressy in the sunlight hours but don’t want to be in a sundress while having a nice dinner, dancing and drinking champagne until midnight –
Does anyone else struggle with this?

Lots of cute options! Wish I had waited on purchasing a super cute red floral print Free People jumpsuit for a wedding in September because I’m skeptical about the fit and it feels like it will be too casual.

Definitely going to check out some of these options if the jumpsuit doesn’t work. It is really hard to find the middle ground between too skimpy and too matronly for dresses especially for weddings.

Thanks so much for posting!

My last wedding was two years ago; mid afternoon very high church cathedral wedding and both grooms wore tuxes. The dress I’d ordered turned out to be a disaster and wound up in black silk pants and top with a colorful kimono jacket over top. It’s part of my dressy capsule; tops and bottoms and jackets I can mix for different looks. Fun post for a design blog; but fashion is very much all about design!

You need a post like this for the guys out there. Hey guys, khakis and a polo shirt are not okay for a wedding! Or jeans! Since when did everyone get so casual for weddings?! There is a lot of money spent on these occasions, so at least dress up for the event. And ladies the $19 printed midi skirt from Target (even tho I love Target,) isn’t cutting it either! Liked the post, Emily!

Thank you for your stuff
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I also love seperates for weddings. Unexpected and comfortable for dancing! I have a pink silk full skirt and a black chiffon skirt that I’ll pair with any number of tops and heels (with flat sandals in my bag, again, for dancing). I also have a lady tux that I can break out for a night wedding. I do love weddings! (Or any excuse to break out my vintage “where the heck am I going to actually WEAR this” finds…) I always feel like the focus is on the couple, and no one really cares about what I have on, so I take full license to wear all those great Goodwill pieces I hoard. Political fundraisers are great for this, too, as are non-profit galas. Leave safe at the office, amiright?!

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This is great! You should do a men’s one. I feel like it would help my husband.

Ha- I’ve been low-key looking for a dress to wear for my brother’s upcoming wedding (November, outdoors, Southern California) and IMMEDIATELY pulled the trigger on the beautiful Anthro wrap dress. Thank you!