24 Outfit Ideas for Guests to Wear at Every Wedding this Fall (2024)

FAQs

What to wear as a guest to a fall wedding? ›

While an all-black co*cktail dress may feel sophisticated for a swanky city venue, be sure to break it up with some color to keep things festive. Satin fabrics feel extra luxe, especially in jewel tones. A pretty midi dress in ruby, amethyst, sapphire or jade will put an elegant spin on your dance moves.

1) Do Consider the Wedding Dress Code

Black Tie: floor length gowns, black ties, tuxedos. Formal: floor length gowns, tuxedos optional, black suits acceptable. Semi-Formal: below the knee dresses, dress shirts, slacks. Casual: sundresses, collared shirts, khakis.

You can also take color inspiration from the changing leaves and go with an autumn orange, mustard yellow, or deep maroon. Want a more muted look? Opt for a charcoal or caramel gown, or even consider a sophisticated black dress (that's right, you can wear black to a wedding). The options are truly limitless!

If you're looking for something classic and timeless, dark colors like navy blue or black are always appropriate. For a more glamorous look, pastels such as lavender, light pink, or pale blue will add a touch of elegance to your outfit.

Women wedding guests should wear full-length dresses, be it a ballgown, a sheath or an A-line dress. High heels are strongly recommended. Feel free to accessorize with opulent jewelry and even elbow-length white silk gloves.

Consider The Season

If the wedding is outdoors, it simply may be too hot to wear black. Skip a black dress for a cooler color that will reflect the sun. In fall or winter, darker colors like black are more appropriate.

Fit-and-flare Wedding Guest Dresses For Women Over 60

Fit-and-flare dresses whether knee-length or longer are chic and flattering. It has a defined waistline and fits closer to the body but is not too tight which makes it uncomfortable. This forgiving silhouette fits every body type.

Black Tie Dress Code

This is probably the most common of the formal wedding dress codes, and again, the name refers to menswear, specifically a tuxedo worn, in any colour, with a black tie. In general, black tie means "dress to impress", although fancier items like dress jackets with tails aren't required.

As in, a pashmina or jacket and pearls. Black and white is a classic combo and looks especially fresh at springtime weddings. A navy sheath or grey sheath would work just as well, but most people seem to have a black dress hanging around the closet. Also, I'm a fan of white jewelry - that would be diamonds and pearls.

We would recommend opting for a closed toe shoe or a classic court shoe. Fall weddings can be either outdoors or indoors. During the colder fall months, opt for a pair of closed toe shoes. While open or open toe shoes can be cute and classy, they tend to work better in warm-season weddings than fall weddings.

What's the best color to wear in October? ›

Jewel tones, like emerald green, cranberry red, amethyst and navy blue, are often used interchangeably for late fall and early winter wedding color palettes. For color schemes that include airier, lighter tones, we'd suggest adding a darker accent hue, like black or smokey gray, to bring dimension and contrast.

It turns out that white is still the main color you can't wear to a wedding. Eighty percent of brides wear white to their wedding, and it's important that a bride stands out at her wedding. Even if it isn't the intent, a guest wearing white can be seen as an attempt to upstage the bride—and that's definitely a no-no.

Can you wear pants to a wedding? Pants are totally acceptable. Here are some ways to wear pants to a wedding with confidence.

Keeping its crown for the second year in a row, gold was the number-one most common wedding color in 2022. This chameleon hue can be used in so many different ways, whether it's for an earthy outdoor wedding or a glamorous reception, so it's no surprise that 39% of couples included it in their color palettes in 2022.

Tips for Choosing a Short Wedding Guest Dress

When shopping for a short dress to wear to a wedding, consider the season. Lightweight fabrics like chiffon or lace are great for summer weddings, while velvet or brocade dresses pair nicely with fall and winter ceremonies.

Dark florals are a perennial fall favorite. On a co*cktail dress silhouette, they're just right for a wedding reception.

Semi-Formal: Semi-formal fall weddings offer a bit more flexibility. A well-fitted suit with a tie or dress slacks paired with a sharp blazer are both great choices if that is your desired look while the options for dresses (both in length and style) are limitless!

The staff suggests that if a wedding is taking place at 4 p.m. or 5 p.m., you should wear something that easily transitions from day to night; any ceremony after 6 p.m. should be strictly co*cktail.