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If you RSVP'd yes to a wedding this season, it's time to find the right dress to wear. Spring wedding guest dresses are vibrant, full of color, and as feminine and lively as the season itself. The best wedding guest dresses—for any type of wedding—are packable, suitable for the dress code, and make you feel your best (bonus points if it's also rewearable!). When shopping for the right wedding guest dress, you'll want to consider if the bride and groom have requested any specific attire and what the weather will be in your destination. From there, you'll also keep in mind the cut, fit, and material of the dress—you may want to avoid heavy fabrics or dark colors in hot destinations and instead opt for lighter materials, like linen, silk, or chiffon.
To help you celebrate the newlyweds in style, we gathered dozens of spring wedding guest dresses to wear this season, with a variety of dress codes in mind. We found elegant gowns, floral maxis, and silky midis from some of our favorite brands, like Lulus, Nordstrom, Reformation, and more. (Pro tip: Some of these brands have sections on their websites dedicated to wedding guest dresses, making it even easier to narrow down your search for the big day.) Whether you're headed to a outdoor ceremony at Lake Como or a black-tie wedding in New York City this spring, there’s a dress on this list for you. We made sure to include a variety of lengths, colors, and price points, while also considering how easy these dresses are to travel with. Keep scrolling to browse all of our favorites, or jump right to the type of dress you're looking for.
Our top picks:
- For black-tie weddings: Lulus Exquisite Refinement backless maxi
- For formal weddings: Reformation Tripoli dress
- For cocktail attire: Petal & Pup Esther midi
- For casual ceremonies: Anrabess jumpsuit
- For beachside weddings: Hill House Lillie dress
Black-tie weddings
If you're attending a black-tie wedding, the dress you wear should be floor-length, elegant, and tasteful. In other words, dress to impress! You can expect a very formal wedding ceremony and reception with this type of invitation, so guests should be dressed accordingly, with men wearing a black bow tie with their dark suit or tuxedo and women in long gowns. Although long dresses can be tricky to pack and aren’t always the most comfortable to walk around in all night, these lightweight picks all fit nicely in a garment bag and won’t feel too bulky if the wedding falls on a warmer day. Pair these timeless dresses with sophisticated heels, statement earrings, a matching clutch, and you're ready for the special affair.
Formal weddings
Formal attire is one of the most popular dress codes you'll find at a wedding. It's a slight step down from black-tie, but you'll still want to wear a classic, stylish dress. Most of these formal spring dresses are long and made with materials like silk, chiffon, and viscose. Lulus has several of our favorite formal styles, from elegant, silky gowns to pastel-colored maxis. And since it's spring, have some fun with the color you choose—think light greens, pink, yellow, baby blue, and lots of bright patterns.
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Cocktail dresses
Cocktail dresses are among the most popular styles in formalwear, and the cocktail attire dress code affords quite a bit of leeway in what you can wear. Midi dresses that fall below the knee are perfect for the occasion and easy to rewear to other formal events. Some mini dresses are also ideal for this type of wedding, as long as it's a little bit elevated. These picks below are stylish, flattering, and feminine, while also being a safe length to wear for almost any type of wedding, whether it's a garden party or an oceanside ceremony. We're eyeing these easy-to-dance-in cocktail dresses from Revolve, Petal & Pup, Staud, and more.
Casual dresses
If the dress code is a bit more casual, say for a laid-back destination wedding on the beach, you have the flexibility to wear a variety of styles, including mini dresses, flowy maxis, and jumpsuits. Consider where the wedding will take place—if it's an outdoor ceremony, you might go for something breathable and easy to walk in, like a flowy maxi dress, but if you're headed somewhere with extra hot temperatures, a mini dress might be your best bet. These casual party dresses will work well for most any wedding season event, too—rehearsal dinners, bridal showers, and bachelorette parties alike.
Looking for more wedding packing list inspiration?
- Beach wedding guest dresses
- Amazon wedding guest dresses
- Cold-weather wedding guest dresses
- Comfortable wedding heels
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- Travel makeup bags
This article has been updated with new information since its original publish date.
