100 wedding guest dresses to wow at your next nuptials (2024)

FAQs

How many wedding dresses does the average person try on? ›

In general, brides try on anywhere from 4–7 dresses during a bridal appointment, so it's important to try and really hone in on what it is you're looking for, so you can have the best chances of finding your perfect wedding dress!

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

While this may sound great in theory, it's difficult to make happen and can potentially add stress to your decision making process. We recommend limiting your gown shopping entourage to about three people at most. This will help make your experience the best it can be with the very most important people by your side.

The New Norm – Semi-Formal

These days, if the wedding invitation doesn't specify the dress code, you should assume “semi-formal.” This is a great mix of comfort and style, which is probably why it's gotten so popular over the years!

According to The Knot Real Weddings Study, the average cost of a wedding gown is $2,000. While, of course, off-the-rack gowns may be priced lower, more luxurious gowns can sometimes fall in the $3,000 to $8,000 range. Customized dresses can even cost as much as $10,000.

There are plenty of stunning wedding dresses under $1000 in every style, so you can find the perfect dress and still have money left in your budget for the shoes, jewelry, and other bridal accessories to complete your look.

Traditionally, the mother of the bride, sisters, and the closest friend (or friends) are involved in the dress hunt. Your future mother-in-law can be invited, too, if you're tight with her and you want her to take part.

While this responsibility can vary from culture to culture, historically the bride's family will pay for her wedding dress and accessories.

As we move into 2020, we're noticing that more and more brides are wedding dress shopping alone. While it may sound a little unorthodox, our consultants actually recommend it!

It doesn't matter if the dress code requests "casual" attire, jeans, T-shirts, shorts, flip-flops, and sneakers are never appropriate to wear as a wedding guest. Show respect for the bride and groom by dressing formally. Sabatino suggests that men show up in a jacket and tie, even when the invitation says casual.

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

To bring a bolder statement, go for brighter colors like magenta and coral. If you're attending a wedding in the evening, there are certain colors that can help you look your best and make an impression. If you're looking for something classic and timeless, dark colors like navy blue or black are always 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.

We recommend allowing at least 2-3 hours for your visit so you can try on as many dresses as you like without feeling rushed. We encourage you to select 4 dresses of different styles initially and get a feel for what you like.

Usually brides are able to try on about 6-9 gowns during their appointment depending on their speed and decisiveness.

In Brides magazine, Dorothy Silver the director of Merchandising at world famous bridal store Kleinfeld recommends not trying on more than 10 gowns. This will give you enough variety to make an informed decision while also ensuring that you don't become too tired or stressed during the process.

Both pros agree: There's no hard and fast rule to follow when it comes to the number of wedding looks you can showcase. “I've had brides with as many as three wedding day looks (ceremony, reception, and after-party) but I've also had brides stay in one dress the whole day,” notes Hurwitz.