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Photo: Bella Bridesmaids Atlanta | Ashlyn Cathey
Many wedding guests struggle to decide what to wear to an outdoor wedding. In addition to the most important wedding guest rule (don’t wear white), there are lots of other factors at play.
The main factors are the dress code, the venue, and the season.
The good news is that finding a dress that ticks all the boxes is easier than you may think.
Whether you’re heading to a formal fall reception in the mountains or a casual country ceremony in spring, here’s how to choose the perfect guest attire for an outdoor wedding:
What Should Women Wear to an Outdoor Wedding as a Guest?
When choosing wedding guest attire for an outdoor wedding, the three main things to consider are:
- • The dress code: Follow the couple’s dress code to choose fabrics, silhouettes, and dress lengths.
- • The season: Consider the season when selecting fabrics and colors.
- • The venue: Check out the couple’s wedding website and the venue’s website or social media pages to get a sense of how dressy or casual the wedding will be.
You’ll need to consider all these important factors to choose an appropriate look that meets the moment.
Learn about the most common dos and don’ts for wedding guest outfits.
Outdoor Wedding Attire Advice by Dress Code
Photo: Bella Bridesmaids Atlanta | Brittany Driver Anderson
Most couples include the wedding dress code in their official invitations and expect guests to follow it. Couples put tons of effort and energy into creating the wedding-day vision of their dreams.
They need guests to dress appropriately to pull it off.
Here are some guidelines to follow for formal, semi-formal, and casual wedding dress codes:
What to Wear to an Outdoor Formal Wedding
If the wedding invitation says formal dress code, the couple likely means black-tie optional.
For women, black-tie and black-tie optional dress codes are similar in that both call for a polished, elegant look.
The biggest distinction is that black-tie requires a floor-length gown. Meanwhile, black-tie optional allows for sophisticated, elevated midi dresses and tea-length dresses.
Mac Duggal 11627
Mac Duggal 11627
The Mac Duggal 11627 dress epitomizes formal attire. It features a floor-length trumpet silhouette with ostrich feather details and a chic back bow.
What to Wear to an Outdoor Semi-Formal Wedding
The semi-formal dress code is a step dressier than “dressy casual” but not nearly as dressed as black-tie or BTO. Instead of a full-length gown, you can wear a classic little black dress, a knee-length dress, a mid-calf midi dress, or even a chic jumpsuit.
Jenny Yoo Luella
Jenny Yoo Luella
In luxe faille fabric, the Jenny Yoo Luella dress is semi-formal perfection. This dress boasts an A-line midi silhouette, spaghetti straps, a sweetheart neck, and a drop-waist seam detail.
What to Wear to an Outdoor Casual Wedding
Casual does not mean sloppy, nor does it mean the couple wants you to wear jeans or athleisure on the big day.
To meet the casual dress code at a wedding, find a look that’s comfortable and effortless yet well-put-together.
For a beach wedding, that might be a simple sundress with sandals. For a casual cold-weather wedding, that could be a knit sweater dress with boots or tailored trousers with a well-fitting jacket.
Jenny Yoo Adelaide Dress
Jenny Yoo Adelaide Dress
Do you want to dress down with flat sandals and minimal jewelry? The subtle cutouts and slip-inspired silhouette of the Jenny Yoo Adelaide Dress offer an elevated option for a casual wedding. You can also dress it up with heels and a clutch bag for your next semi-formal event.
Outdoor Wedding Attire Advice by Season
Photo: Bella Bridesmaids Birmingham | Gabbie Messer
Dressing for the season doesn’t just mean dressing for the weather. It means choosing fabrics, silhouettes, and colors that make sense for the time of year.
What to Wear to an Outdoor Fall Wedding
For a fall outdoor wedding, autumnal colors found in nature are ideal. Think rust, burgundy/maroon, gold, orange, forest green, and brown.
Depending on the expected temperatures, fabric choices can vary. Airy chiffon can be perfect for late September if the weather is still warm, while velvet makes more sense for a mid-November celebration.
As for silhouette, consider a dress with sleeves, as fall weather can fluctuate quite a bit from day to night and week to week. To be as comfortable as can be, bring a blazer or a wrap to wear at night in case the weather dips.
Elliatt Kai Maxi Dress
Elliatt Kai Maxi Dress
In a beautiful shade of brown drape satin, the Elliatt Kai Maxi Dress is nothing short of stunning. It features a deep V-neck, long sleeves, and a dramatic leg slit, making it perfect for a formal fall wedding outdoors.
What to Wear to an Outdoor Winter Wedding
Heavier fabrics like velvet, faille, brocade, and heavy satins work best for winter weddings.
As for colors, stick to jewel tones or neutrals. Long sleeve silhouettes will help keep you warm. But you can also wear a tailored suit with a jacket or complete your look with a chic knee-length or full-length coat for added warmth.
Outdoor winter weddings also let you accessorize with heeled boots, scarves, faux-fur wraps, and gloves.
Jenny Yoo Brielle Dress
Jenny Yoo Brielle Dress
A column silhouette and high neckline make the Jenny Yoo Brielle Dress in luxe stretch velvet a head-turner for a formal winter wedding.
What to Wear to an Outdoor Spring Wedding
Like autumn, spring weather can fluctuate. Depending on the day, it could be very hot, very chilly, or very rainy. If you’re attending an outdoor spring wedding, you’ll definitely want to keep an eye on the weather forecast.
Chiffon, crepe, charmeuse, and lightweight satins are the go-to fabrics for spring. Pastels, floral prints, and pale neutrals are the ideal color and pattern choices.
Short-sleeve, sleeveless, or strapless silhouettes are generally best. However, if it’s extra cold on the big day, consider bringing a wrap or shawl to keep the chill out.
Elliatt Ruelle Dress
Elliatt Ruelle Dress
The Elliatt Ruelle Dress features a flattering A-line silhouette with supportive straps, a square neckline, and an asymmetrical hem. We love this look for a semi-formal or black-tie optional wedding on a beautiful spring day.
What to Wear to an Outdoor Summer Wedding
For summer weddings, it’s best to keep your look light and fresh with pastels, bright colors, or year-round neutral hues.
Breathable fabrics like chiffon and cotton will help keep you cool. Sleeveless and strapless silhouettes will help you avoid overheating on a steamy, hot day under the blazing sun.
Amsale Andy Dress
Amsale Andy Dress
With its sophisticated sheen, the Amsale Andy Dress in fluid satin is summer semi-formal ready. This slip dress silhouette has a midi length, straight neckline, and open tie back to keep you cool.
Feeling inspired? Find your look in our collection of wedding guest styles!
Outdoor Wedding Attire by Venue
Photo: Bella Bridesmaids New York City | Sarah Cooper
Heading to a formal garden party, a casual country wedding, or an upscale celebration in the mountains?
Here are some tips for choosing a wedding guest dress with the venue and location in mind:
What to Wear to an Outdoor Garden Wedding
The garden party vibe is colorful and whimsical. So look for vibrant floral prints or pastel colors inspired by nature. Think sage green, dusty blue, blush, butter yellow, or lavender.
No matter how formal the dress code, think colorful, flowy maxi dress, not a full-length black ball gown.
In a garden, there’s no need for stilettos that will just sink into the grass. Instead, opt for block heels, wedges, or flat sandals, depending on the dress code and season, of course.
MacDuggal 56049 Dress
MacDuggal 56049 Dress
A tiered midi skirt, ruffled accents, and an open back make the MacDuggal 56049 dress a stunning option for various seasons. That includes a semi-formal garden party wedding in spring, summer, or warm early-fall weather.
What to Wear to an Outdoor Country Wedding
“Country” means different things to different couples. For some, it’s a rustic yet upscale barn wedding. For others, it’s a country/western throwdown on a ranch. Be sure to check the couple’s wedding website to see how formal or informal the venue is.
For most country weddings, floral prints are a great choice. Pastel patterns work best for spring, summer, and early fall, while dark, moody florals are ideal for cold-weather weddings.
LulaKate Hannah Bodice with Brunch Skirt
LulaKate Hannah Bodice with Brunch Skirt
The LulaKate Hannah Bodice with Brunch Skirt is a gorgeous choice for a formal country celebration. It features a strapless bodice, a slim column skirt, and an all-over floral jacquard pattern.
What to Wear to an Outdoor Mountain Wedding
Embrace the natural beauty of the mountain setting and choose earth tones like sage green, brown, and rust or red. As with all outdoor settings, select fabrics that work for the season and silhouettes that meet the dress code.
Mac Duggal 68942 Dress
Mac Duggal 68947
You’ll turn heads at your next formal, black-tie, or black-tie optional mountain wedding with this dress! The Mac Duggal 68947 dress has a one-shoulder bodice, a full skirt, ruffled details, and a rich floral print.
What Should Men Wear to an Outdoor Wedding As a Guest?
Men should follow the same basic rules as female wedding guests: meeting the dress code and dressing for the season and venue.
Meeting the Dress Code
Not sure what the dress code on the wedding invitation means?
Here’s a glimpse of what guys should wear to formal, semi-formal, and casual events:
- • Formal: Wear a tuxedo for black tie; wear a black, navy, or dark grey suit for black-tie optional
- • Semi-formal: Wear a suit or a pair of dress pants with a sport coat and a button-down shirt; tie is optional
- • Casual: Dress pants and a button-down shirt; no need for a tie
Dressing for the Season
Looking for some seasonal styling tips to help you choose the right color or fabric?
We’ve got you covered.
For outdoor fall weddings, choose warm colors like navy, brown, and charcoal. Wool-linen blends are best for chilly days, while cotton fabrics will help keep you cool in the early part of autumn.
In winter, go deep and dark with shades of dark grey, black, navy, or rich tones like burgundy or hunter green. Wool-blend fabrics are ideal, and if it’s extra cold outside, accessorize with a stylish scarf and gloves.
Spring and summer weddings offer the most flexibility for guys. Black and charcoal are best for formal events, especially if they’re in the evening. Navy, light grey, and khaki work well for semi-formal weddings.
For casual weddings, consider light neutrals or light blue shades. Stick to lightweight fabrics like linen or cotton to stay comfortable and cool.
With these basic guidelines in mind, choosing a wedding guest outfit will be a cinch! Just dress for the weather, choose a silhouette that meets the dress code, and style a look that matches the venue’s level of formality. And above all else, remember: don’t wear white!
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