32 Wedding Guest Dresses That You'll Actually Wear Again
Bookmark these brands before the invites start rolling in
'Tis the season, folks. Wedding season! It’s a time so many love—but just as many loathe the return of all this “love on show.” And not because they’re bitter about celebrating friends and family. It’s the sheer terror of figuring out what to wear. I’ve got three weddings this summer, and they couldn’t be more different—each one calling for a totally unique wardrobe. I’m usually the type to keep two or three dresses on rotation. Not this year. This year, I’m being pushed to think outside the box. So, while I’m deep in the hunt for the perfect pieces, I thought I’d share what I’m finding along the way.
Let’s start with a few of my own ground rules:
I always wear long dresses to weddings—no matter the dress code. It just feels right to me. So yes, everything here is either midaxi or maxi, but definitely on the longer side.
If you’d rather not show your arms (been there, then got over it), just slip on a linen blazer. A cream or dusty pink works perfectly. Keep it pastel—no black unless it’s black tie.
And please, for the love of all things holy, wear comfortable shoes. Properly broken-in, proven comfortable shoes. Ideally flats. Weddings are marathons, not sprints. Your feet will thank you.
When it comes to bags, I’m a wedding clutch lady through and through. It’s the finishing touch that can make or break a look. Go bold with a colour pop or match a shade from your dress to pull it all together.
As for bling, I’m a one-zone girl. Statement earrings, a chunky bracelet, or an elaborate necklace—just one. It’s always one or none.
With that said, here are the places I return to every season for wedding guest dresses—plus my favourite finds right now.
Lauren by Ralph Lauren (The “Lauren” Label, not runway!)
I’m saying that upfront as runway is in the thousands of dollars for one dress and Lauren by Ralph Lauren will hit you in the hundreds. While the dresses above are in stock now in all sizes (including plus), I highly recommend looking at resale sites for Lauren dresses. They are so often bought for wedding seasons and resold when the season concludes. They are timeless Ralph Lauren designs, often times derived from his original runway designs. These are wedding winners.
Rixo
This brand is a British wedding guest dress favourite and the word is out around the world. They’re size inclusive, have beautiful prints paired with original and flattering shapes, but they are a tad on the expensive side of the scale. The good news? This is another brand you’ll find all over the resale sites from eBay to beyond. So consider the second hand market before buying new! But, if you’re in a pinch, these two are new and in stock in every size at time of posting.
Abercrombie
Let’s take things down a price notch shall we? Abercrombie might be a surprising addition to this list, but it’s a brand that’s so much more than jeans and casual wear these days. Every spring summer they release a set of dresses that are stunning. This season is no exception. Always take a look online. This retailer may just surprise you yet. Oh, and the maxi dresses come in tall lengths!
Anthropologie
Another great resource for women of all sizes to shop! Anthro is a favourite for everyone when it comes to the summer season. They are a gem for every part of the wedding party, however. Guests, bridesmaids, even the bride herself, can all shop here. Some seasons are better than others but this summer they have a killer offering for some real stand out pieces that will leave you in the best dressed category for sure.
ASOS
Out of all the dresses I wear for weddings, ASOS wins for the most compliments. Trust me, I still can’t quite believe that myself, but these dresses are made to fit. The retailer offers plus, tall and petite. My top tip here is to look for the pieces that are as simple as possible. The dresses are just coming into stock for wedding season, so keep this bookmarked and check back.
Banana Republic
I like to remind people that BR is back. I feel like it’s a brand we all fell in love with in the 80s and 90s and it’s having a moment once again. I put that down to Zac Posen, who has stepped up to oversee all the Gap brands. While Banana Republic has gone up in price a lot since we were kids, they also offer outstanding quality that absolutely justifies the price hike. Look for classics you’ll keep for years here.
Never Fully Dressed
Another one I’ve picked up from my days living in London. This is a British brand that is fun for the whole wedding weekend, not just the big event. Read that to mean you need to be checking out their whole offering of dresses. There’s some fun stuff to be bought here. But, their wedding guest offering is stellar. It’s for the woman who has no interest in being the shrinking violet in a room full of people! They also carry sizes up to a US 24!
Nordstrom
If you want the biggest selection out there, you go to Nordstrom. That’s just the facts, folks. They have thousands of dresses, to suit every wallet and every fit required. That sounds like I’m being paid to say that but I’m not. It really is one of the best places to get stuck in. But, it can also be one of the most intimidating places to shop on earth. There is just so much. This is a very mini edit. I spent hours on there the other night looking at dresses and saw so much that was great, but not “fantastic.” These represent the later category!
A few honourable mentions…
J Crew Strapless Collection Dress, $172.50, Staud Millie Organza Dress, $425, Eloquii Fringe Dress, $77.97, Tuckernuck Hot Pink Dress, $228
So there we have it—a few ideas to get your shopping started as we head into the season. And if I may, a quick word of wisdom: these events aren’t worth the stress we pile on. Odds are, there’s already a beautiful dress in your closet that’ll do just fine. No shopping required. Take a look. Maybe a new accessory or pop of colour is all it needs to feel fresh again.
And one last thing—you’re beautiful no matter what you wear. Just smile. (Sorry, I couldn’t help myself.)
Stunning 💖 As always!