You know those dresses that you keep locked up only to open on special occasions? Wedding guest dresses are definitely one of them. Weddings are always special, and they mostly happen once in a lifetime.
Most probably, that best friend of yours will give you only one big wedding party in a lifetime. So, try harder to be the bridesmaid or groomsman. But even if you can’t, being the best dressed is compulsory.
It’s certain that you need to be dressed just right for some of the best occasions of your life.
In 2025, there are many options for buying wedding guest dresses online for both men and women. Moreover, there are some big retail shops that offer amazing wedding collections.
In this blog, we find where and how you can get the best wedding dresses in 2025.
Top Online Shops for Wedding Guest Dresses
For Budget-Conscious Shoppers
If you want to have a great wedding guest dress but don’t want to empty your entire pocket, there are some great options for you in 2025.
Here are our top picks:
1. Lulus: A long-time favorite for wedding guests. It offers some elegant and trendy dresses, often under $100.
2. ASOS: ASOS has a huge collection of wedding dresses for both men and women at affordable prices.
3. REVOLVE: Although they are known more for high-end clothing. They offer some top mid-range dresses.
4. Petal & Pup: Largely provides feminine-styled dresses that are trendy and colorful. A great place to shop for wedding dresses online, especially for women.
5. Abercrombie & Fitch: The brand has now been completely rebuilt. They provide dresses that are both timeless and trendy. It’s a versatile brand for wedding dresses.
For Luxury & Designer Selections
If you are thinking of wearing high-end and luxurious dresses for weddings, these brands provide some of the best selections online. Here are our top picks:
1. Net-a-Porter: A popular e-market for luxury fashion with some of the best collections of designer dresses.
2. Mytheresa: This site offers dresses that are highly curated, premium, and sophisticated guest dresses for weddings.
3. Saks Fifth Avenue: A brand with both online and offline shops. It offers a wide range of designer dresses.
4. Nordstrom: A well-known luxury fashion brand with a wide fan following around the world. They provide designer dresses for all occasions.
5. FARFETCH: A leading global designer fashion brand. Their online store has a huge collection from some of the best luxury boutiques.
Best Physical Stores for In-Person Shopping
Department Store Powerhouses
These are some of the biggest names in the clothing and apparel world that have some of the best collections of dresses. These offline stores are the best to pick up that perfect dress.
1. Nordstrom: This brand is good as it not only offers great dress collections but also provides its complimentary personal styling service.
2. Macy’s & Dillard’s: This store offers a broad range of quality formalwear suitable for wedding guests.
3. Saks Fifth Avenue: Just like their online offerings, their offline offerings can make you the star of the wedding.
4. Neiman Marcus: It’s is another luxury store showcasing dresses from designers like Alice + Olivia, Oscar de la Renta, Prada, and Versace.
Specialty Retailers & Concept Stores
These stores have dresses with unique concepts if you want something extra special for the grand wedding.
1. Anthropologie: They offer pieces from their own bridal line, BHLDN, catering to a range of styles from romantic floral midis to sleek slip dresses and breezy maxis.
2. Reformation: This brand makes dresses that are sustainable, including those that you can wear to a wedding. They utilize renewable, plant-based, or recycled materials for making their dresses without compromising on quality.
3. David’s Bridal: They have a great collection of formalwear for wedding guests, bridesmaids, and mothers of the bride/groom. Their specialties include an in-store consultation model and on-site alteration services.
4. Windsor: If you are looking for something unique, you are more likely to get it here. Their reasonable pricing makes sure that you get nice wedding attire without breaking your bank.
Key Factors When Choosing Your Dress
Season & Venue Considerations
When selecting that perfect wedding guest dress, it’s crucial that you consider some important things.
- Consider the season to ensure comfort and appropriateness in fabric and style.
- Take into account the venue’s setting, whether it’s formal, casual, indoor, or outdoor.
- Check the wedding theme to align your dress with the overall aesthetic.
- Factor in the time of day, as evening events may call for more formal attire.
- Be mindful of weather conditions, especially for outdoor ceremonies.
Comfort, Fit & Accessories
As a wedding guest, your comfort, dress fittings, and the accessories you carry with your dress are essential. It goes for both men and women, of course, in different ways.
- Prioritize comfort to enjoy the event without distractions.
- Ensure a proper fit to enhance your silhouette and confidence.
- Consider the dress code and venue when selecting styles and fabrics.
- Accessorize thoughtfully to complement your outfit without overwhelming it.
- Choose versatile pieces that can be worn again for other occasions.
Wedding Guest Dress Etiquette & FAQs
The Do’s and Don’ts of Wedding Attire
When you’re at a very special wedding of a person extremely close to you, these are some ‘dos’ and ‘don’ts’ to consider.
- Do dress according to the wedding’s dress code.
- Do opt for comfortable shoes for dancing.
- Do consider the season and venue when selecting your outfit.
- Do accessorize to enhance your look without overpowering it.
- Do arrive on time to show respect for the couple.
- Don’t wear white or anything resembling the bride’s gown.
- Don’t choose overly casual attire for formal weddings.
- Don’t bring a plus-one unless specified in the invitation.
- Don’t forget to RSVP promptly to help with planning.
- Don’t wear anything too revealing or inappropriate.
Answering Most Asked Questions
What should I wear as a wedding guest?
Women should wear something polished and command respect. You can go for elegant dresses, jumpsuits, or tailored suits to be on the safer side. Do respect the dress code, if any.
A safe bet is wearing a suit. A three-piece, two-piece, or dress pants and blazer can go just fine. Dress according to the season. Loafers and double-breasted jackets are currently trending.
What is the best-colored dress for a wedding guest?
For women, hushed lilac, petal pink, zesty tangerine, powder blue, and sage green are trending colors of 2025. Rich jewel tones (emerald green, sapphire blue, and burgundy) are great. Earthy tones like terracotta, burnt orange, or olive green are also popular. Black is always ‘in’ and acceptable.
For men, classic navy blue, charcoal gray, or black suits are always appropriate. For a more modern look, consider shades of olive green, lighter blues, or even a deep burgundy for evening affairs. Daytime or casual events call for brown or tan suits.
What colors should I avoid wearing as a guest in 2025?
Women should not wear pale shades. White, ivory, cream, champagne, or any similar very pale shades don’t go well. Avoid wearing the same color as the bride and bridesmaids (if you are not among them). Don’t wear neon or heavy metallics or red (if the bride wears red).
Men should not wear the same colored dresses as the groom or the groomsmen (if you are not part of it). Don’t wear overly bright or distracting colors/patterns. Avoid white, as it is generally worn by the groom and can cause confusion.
What is inappropriate to wear as a wedding guest?
Women should not wear anything that resembles a bridal gown. Don’t wear anything that is too casual. Don’t wear highly revealing dresses. Avoid wearing too loud or flashy dresses. Uncomfortable shoes are a strict ‘no.’
Men should not wear anything too casual, untailored, or ill-fitting. Don’t wear novelty ties unless it’s mandatory. Avoid tuxedos unless specified.
What should I wear as a guest at summer weddings?
Women should wear lightweight, breathable fabrics (chiffon, charmeuse, jersey, crepe, viscose, linen, or cotton) and brighter colors or floral prints. Maxi, midi, or tea-length dresses are quite popular.
Men can wear lighter-colored suits (light gray, tan, light blue) in breathable fabrics like linen or cotton blends. Dress shirts should be light-colored. Loafers or dress shoes are ok.
What should I wear as a guest at a winter wedding?
Women can wear richer fabrics. Try velvet or satin and deeper jewel tones or earthy shades. Long-sleeved dresses, elegant jumpsuits, or tailored suits are appropriate. Consider heavier materials. Layer with stylish wraps.
Men can wear darker suits (navy, charcoal, or black) in wool or heavier blends. Three-piece suits offer extra warmth and formality. Consider fabrics like velvet for a blazer at formal events.
Conclusion
So, as we come to the end, we have found that wedding guest dresses are essential in everyone’s life. Moreover, we discussed some of the best places to buy guest dresses for weddings, both online and offline.
While Lulus, ASOS, Revolve, Net-a-Porter, Mytheresa, etc., are some great options for online shopping, brands like Nordstrom, Macy’s & Dillard’s, Saks Fifth Avenue, Anthropologie, Reformation, etc., offer great options among retail stores.
We also found some important things you need to note when selecting the right dress before visiting a wedding. It’s important to understand that weddings are most likely to be one-time events. So, it’s better to be in your best dress when visiting such events.
And, If someone close to you gets hitched, the responsibility to be in your best attire is solely up to you.
