Frequently Asked Questions

What should I wear to a wedding as a guest?

Whatever the invite asks for, done well. The Knot's guide to wedding dress codes says to let the couple's dress code lead and check their wedding website when the invitation doesn't spell it out, then match the formality: floor-length gowns for black tie, cocktail dresses for cocktail, and an upscale dress or set for dressy casual. So if you're stuck on what to wear to a wedding, read the card first, then shop by code: sequin gowns like the Backless Red Sequin Maxi for formal nights, the Azure Elegance crystal-trim midi for cocktail, and the Spring Love floral midis for daytime.

What is black tie attire for a woman?

Floor length, no shortcuts. The Knot's wedding dress code guide describes black tie attire for women as formal gowns that graze the ground or the top of the shoes, with refined jewelry like pearls or diamonds, and calls it the second most formal dress code after white tie. That's exactly what to wear to a black tie wedding: the one-shoulder high-slit sequin gowns, the navy long-train gown hand-beaded with gold crystal sequins, or the off-shoulder sequin mermaid maxis with long sleeves.

What does black tie optional mean?

One step down from black tie, and you choose the step. According to The Knot, black tie optional sits between black tie and formal, leaning more upscale for evening weddings, and welcomes floor-length evening gowns as well as elevated midi dresses. If you've been googling what is black tie optional before an evening invite, go long with the forest green satin mermaid maxi, or keep it midi with the Ruffles Shoulders black corset dress, which lists black-tie events among its occasions.

What is formal attire for a woman at a wedding?

Long is the safe bet, but not the only one. The Knot's guide to formal attire says floor-length dresses are a safe bet, that sleek jumpsuits and elegant cocktail dresses are also appropriate, and that when in doubt you should go more dressed up than you think. For formal attire for women, the Starry Night star-print tulle maxi and the silver sequin puff-sleeve maxi both list weddings, and the red leopard wide-leg jumpsuit covers the jumpsuit route.

What should I wear to a cocktail attire wedding?

Shorter hems, bigger details. The Knot's guide to cocktail attire for a wedding says formal dresses with shorter hemlines are the standard, especially structured silhouettes finished with jewelry and a statement shoe or evening bag, and that short cocktail dresses work as long as they fall on the fancy side. Our crystal-trim Azure Elegance midi and the Amor Cutout midi tick the structured box, and the Willow blue sequin mini brings the fancy side.

Can you wear black to a wedding?

Usually, yes. The Knot asked the pros, and Anne Barge's Shawne Jacobs told them guests can absolutely wear black to a wedding, while the guide adds that a formal evening affair is the best time for dark hues and that black is often discouraged at traditional Indian and Chinese weddings, so check the couple's website. When the answer to can you wear black to a wedding is yes, try the Valerie layered lace mermaid maxi or the Meredith beaded sequin gown.

What is dressy casual wedding attire?

Dinner-on-holiday chic. The Knot describes dressy casual wedding attire as what you might wear to a nice dinner on vacation: a dress, an upscale matching set or a pantsuit in an elegant fabric with an unfussy silhouette, in darker hues for evening and lighter colors for daytime. If you're still asking what is dressy casual in dress form, the Midnight In London off-shoulder ruffle midi and the ruched mesh long-sleeve midis fit the brief.

What is garden party attire for a wedding?

Florals, color and shoes that respect the lawn. The Knot notes that a daytime garden party lends itself to florals and bright colors, and its dress code guide says outdoor weddings call for seasonal fabrics and sensible shoes for grass. For garden party attire, the Spring Love floral ruffle midis in lightweight chiffon with butterfly sleeves are made for warm-weather days, and the Backless Metallic Gold Pleated maxi was made for summer weddings.

What should I wear to a fall or winter wedding?

Rich colors, richer fabrics. The Knot's dress code guide says fall and winter lend themselves to jewel tones and deep neutrals, suggests velvet for winter and a faux fur wrap or wool coat for an outdoor ceremony. So for what to wear to a fall wedding, try the wine red sequin fishtail maxi or the Navy Blue Sequin Long Sleeve maxi, and for what to wear to a winter wedding, the Black Velvet Bodycon Mini with its long train does velvet with drama.

What is beach formal attire?

Dressed up, but built for the breeze. The Knot's guide to beach and resort attire says flowy maxi dresses, floral prints and punchy colors work, with silhouettes that aren't clingy, no formal gowns, and flat sandals if the ceremony is on the sand. For beach formal attire, the Jennifer yellow cross-strap maxi was made for the beach, brunch or evening, and the blue leopard chiffon maxi goes from beach to evening, both answers to what to wear to a beach wedding.

Wedding Guest Dresses

The couple gets the vows, you get the photos. Every invite deserves an outfit that shows up properly, and our wedding guest dresses were picked to do that: sequin gowns for the ballroom, satin for the evening, floral midis for the garden and boho maxis for the sand. Read the dress code, pick your lane, then go and be the best-dressed guest without stealing a single moment.

Hunting the one wedding guest dress that works for every invite on the fridge? Start with the dress code, then the season, then the color. Here, wedding guest outfits run from bodycon midis to floor-sweeping mermaid gowns, so whatever the card says, there's a dress here that says yes.

Formal and black tie, done properly

Ballroom energy? When the card says formal, our formal wedding guest dresses go floor length and full shine. The Backless Red Sequin Maxi is described as a standout wedding-guest dress for any formal occasion, with a deep V, an empire waist and a mermaid hem, and the forest green satin maxi brings a subtle metallic shimmer and a long mermaid train made for weddings and formal nights. Need formal dresses for a wedding with sleeves? The off-shoulder sequin mermaid maxis in black, brown, navy and red add long sleeves and a sweep train.

Black tie on the invite? Then your black tie wedding guest dress should reach the floor, and our sequin gowns do exactly that. The one-shoulder high-slit sequin gowns come in black, red, green, silver and rose gold with one long kimono sleeve and a backless finish, while the navy long-train gown is hand-beaded with gold crystal sequins over tulle. Prefer a shorter hem for black tie optional dresses? The Ruffles Shoulders black corset midi lists black-tie events among its occasions.

Want a floor length wedding guest dress with a softer finish? The Starry Night tulle maxi, covered in shimmering stars with sheer long sleeves and a corset waist, was made for weddings and formal events.

Cocktail and semi formal invites

Shorter hem, same impact. For cocktail dresses for wedding receptions, the Azure Elegance crystal-trim midi is a cocktail-to-gala statement, and the Amor Cutout midi was designed for evening events and cocktail parties. Want a cocktail wedding guest dress with shine? The Willow blue sequin mini lists cocktail parties and black-tie events, and the black metallic foil mini was made for formal events, prom and weddings.

Shopping dresses for a semi formal wedding? Keep it polished, not overdone: the Midnight In London off-shoulder ruffle midi comes in more colors than your group chat can agree on, and the Pearl Strap black midi pairs pearl spaghetti straps with a deep V. In the midi wedding guest dress lane, those two lead, while the ruched mesh long-sleeve midis in black, blue and nude keep it sleek.

Prefer short? Save the mini dress for wedding guest duty when the code allows it, and the gold Layered Ruffle mini or the silver Special Flirt sequin ruffle are the ones to beat.

Fall and winter weddings

It's peak season. For fall wedding guest dresses, go rich: the wine red sequin maxi with its fishtail hem lists weddings as a guest among its occasions, and the Long sleeve Red Sequin Dress was made to turn heads at a wedding. Need fall wedding guest dresses with sleeves? The Navy Blue Sequin Long Sleeve maxi and the rose gold long-sleeve fishtail cover arms without losing any shine, which makes either one an october wedding guest dress that photographs like a magazine cover.

Colder months, warmer fabrics. Even a short winter wedding guest dress works if it's velvet, and our velvet bodycon mini fits like a glove, finishes in a dramatic train, and leads the velvet dresses for wedding guests edit. For a long sleeve wedding guest dress that goes the distance, the off-shoulder sequin mermaid maxis cover your arms in shine, while the green fishtail sequin gown and the silver backless sequin maxi both list weddings as a guest next to Christmas parties and New Year's Eve.

Spring, summer and the beach

Garden invite, sunshine forecast? For summer wedding guest dresses, the Backless Metallic Gold Pleated maxi was made for summer weddings, with an A-line shape and an empire waist, and it comes in silver too. The Spring Love floral ruffle midis, in blue, black and red chiffon with butterfly sleeves, are the spring wedding guest dress picks for daytime ceremonies.

Toes in the sand? Here, the beach wedding guest dress edit leans boho, and the Jennifer yellow cross-strap maxi was made for the beach, brunch or evening, and the blue leopard chiffon maxi goes from beach to evening with a halter neck and an open back.

Color, length and the rest

Rules are changing. At most evening weddings a black wedding guest dress works, and the elegant black dresses for wedding guests here include the Valerie layered lace mermaid maxi and the Meredith beaded sequin gown. Want an elegant wedding guest dress in color? The silver sequin puff-sleeve maxi was made for prom, weddings and galas, so add a fascinator and go.

Not a dress person? The red leopard wide-leg jumpsuit was made for weddings, proms and cocktail parties, cut-out and backless included. Whatever the invite, these short dresses for wedding guests and long elegant dresses for wedding guests sit on one rail, so you can shop by code, season or mood.

Want more? Curves get their own edit in plus size wedding guest dresses, the bridal party shops bridesmaid dresses, and the shine lives in sequin dresses and maxi dresses. Finish it with high heels and a handbag.