The best wedding guest dresses for formal weddings

Months of planning go into planning the perfect wedding, from picking a caterer to organizing seating charts and gift registries. But what about attire? The bride and groom put lots of thought into their own looks and those of the bridal party, but as a guest, what you wear is (almost) wholly up to you. Depending on the specifics of the invite, a lot can be left up to personal interpretation. Below, we’ll look at the formal wedding attire options, including what it means and how to pull it off. Find out what the experts say about what to wear to a formal wedding so you don’t stick out like a sore thumb on someone’s big day, and then shop some of our top picks.

What is Formal Attire for a Wedding?

A formal wedding is just one notch down from a black-tie event, where guests wear gowns and tuxedos. In most cases, the bride and groom will indicate on the invite if their wedding requires formal attire. But don’t count on it being that simple.

"In a world where dress codes are becoming increasingly complex, it's not surprising some terms are starting to feel ambiguous," says India Bottomley of Best Events Co. "A formal dress code means long dresses and blazers. If the couple wanted gowns and tuxedos, they would likely refer to the dress code as black tie. In turn, if the couple is expecting guests to wear sun dresses or chinos, I would refer to it as resort casual.”

And if you really have no idea, just ask. “There's no shame in asking. Ninety-nine percent of the time, couples would rather you ask instead of having you turn up in an outfit that misses the mark and leaves you feeling uncomfortable."

Formal Attire for Women

Women have many more options for attire than men, which makes choosing an outfit that much more difficult. For formal affairs, think classy and sophisticated with an air of formality. “Appropriate formal wedding attire for women often includes floor-length gowns, cocktail dresses, or dressy separates and a small purse,” says Amanda Jane Valentine of AJ Valentine Consulting. “Examples could include an A-Line empire-waisted evening gown with kitten heels and an evening clutch, a puff-sleeved cocktail dress with silk ballet flats and a small handbag, or a tailored pantsuit paired with elegant heels and statement jewelry and sleek wrist bag.”

Formal Attire for Men

Choosing formal attire for men is a little less involved, as the options are far fewer. “Formal wedding attire for men typically involves a dark suit, preferably in black, navy, or charcoal gray, paired with a crisp dress shirt, a tie, dress shoes, and possibly a vest or a blazer,” says Valentine. “Examples could include a classic black or navy suit with a white dress shirt, a paisley silk tie, and leather dress shoes.”

What to Wear and When

Now that you know what constitutes formal wear for wedding guests, here are our top picks for formal wedding guest dresses based on the time, location, and season of the wedding.

What to wear to a formal winter wedding

What to wear to a formal springtime wedding

What to wear to a formal evening wedding

What to wear to a formal church wedding