You’ve received a wedding invitation in the post; it doesn’t matter if it’s your best friend’s wedding or a distant cousin, it’s always a great excuse to treat yourself to a new outfit and get dressed up!
Choosing a wedding guest dress can be incredibly tricky. With so many traditions surrounding a wedding, you don’t want to make a mistake with the wrong dress or, god forbid, upstaging the bride. With not only wedding etiquette to consider, you will also have your own personal taste and this can make the hunt for a dress even more difficult.
So, if you’ve got a wedding to attend, here are a few tips to help you get your outfit spot on.
The Golden Rule
We all know the number one rule of wedding guest dresses, even if it’s not officially written anywhere. White is off limits for guests. Even if white is your favourite colour, or it suits your new holiday tan perfectly, unfortunately you’ll have to leave your white dresses in the wardrobe.
At the end of the day, a white dress is stepping on the bride’s toes and you may stand out more than you’d like. However, if your dress is white but is adorned with a beautiful embellishment or pattern, you might just get away with it. Make a judgement call or even check with the bride if you aren’t sure.
For an alternative, opt for a nude or blush-coloured dress with a little bit of decoration for something different!
Day-to-night Fashion
If you’re attending both the ceremony and the evening reception, you might find your outfit decision even tougher. After all, some dresses that look stunning in the evening may be too much in the day or vice versa.
A safe, but still gorgeous, option is to choose a skater dress. With its playful skirt and array of designs, take your outfit from day to night flawlessly and perfectly transition from an afternoon ceremony to the dance floor.
Likewise, take a pair of flat shoes or sandals, weather depending. This will not only help your dress look a little more appropriate for daytime, but will also save your feet for later!
Focus On Accessories
Sometimes, instead of buying an extravagant or detailed dress, it can look more effective to add cleverly put-together accessories. For instance, choose a simple but effective bodycon dress and accessorise it. A contrasting coloured clutch bag, or eye-catching body jewelry can offset your ensemble beautifully.
Sometimes on-trend jewelry like a choker or a bracelet cuff can add the perfect accents for your wedding guest dress. Plus, if it’s a winter wedding you have the added bonus of treating yourself to a faux fur stole or jacket!
Rule Of One
Another known rule of wedding guest dress etiquette is the rule of one. Showing skin might be acceptable on a night out on the town, but at a wedding it’s a bit of a faux pas.
In other words, pick just one part of your body, if any, that you want to show off. Whether you opt for a plunge neckline, short hem, cut out detail or low back, you should stick to just one. After all, all eyes should be on the bride! And don’t forget that perfect pair of strappy heels to finish everything off.
To find your own special dress for that upcoming wedding or other event, check out Forever Unique.