Autumn Wedding Season Is Upon Us – These Are The Best Guest Dresses To Shop Now
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2 hours ago
Fall weddings are in full swing
While we might refer to spring/summer as ‘wedding season’, the truth is it never really ends. According to Hitched, September is one of the most popular months for weddings – and you’ll find plenty of the couples left to tie the knot throughout October and November. And so, for those undertaking the great wedding relay, it means the hunt for seasonal guest attire continues.
Up next: autumn wedding guest dresses. Coming off the back of summer, which kept our options blissfully simple (a colourful party dress with minimal layers could easily take you from one event to another), autumn can feel a little trickier. The season of transitional weather, this is the time of chilly mornings, balmy afternoons and frosty evenings – and let’s not forget the surprise showers. In other words: it’s a pretty temperamental time to be dress shopping.
But it’s not impossible to find wedding guest dresses that can see you through autumn (and, if you play your cards right, winter too). There is such a thing as a perfect middle, but this may require a little extra shopping on your part – a hard job, we know – as well as some research. Do you want sleeves? A more lightweight fabric that you can layer up? Long, short or something in between? Do you want a season-less print or pattern so that you can wear your dress again and again? All these things (and, probably, more) will be key to getting the dress of dreams.
And we can help you get started. We’ve scoured C&TH’s favourite dress brands and pulled together the ultimate edit of autumn wedding guest dresses. Find them below.
The Edit: Autumn Wedding Guest Dresses
Rental Heroes
While temptation may be high, there’s no need to buy a new dress as soon as a wedding invite pops through the letterbox – especially if you have more than one to go to this year. Rental platforms offer plenty of options (at a fraction of the price), with the likes of HURR and By Rotation also offering seasonal edits of the best wedding guest dresses.
Long Sleeves
The first step for successful autumn dressing? Layers – and this includes long sleeves. With summer long gone and colder weather on the horizon, we’re moving away from sleeveless and strapless options towards dresses that offer a little more coverage (and warmth). A chic puff sleeve is our top choice, but you can also opt for coloured lace, silky bell sleeves or a balloon silhouette.
Silky Slip
The problem with most eveningwear is that it’s incredibly difficult to get in a re-wear – especially with back-to-back weddings. So unless the dress code calls for black tie, stick to a party dress with longevity; skip the trends (polka dots, drop waist silhouettes, neon green – we’re looking at you) and instead opt for something that feels classic and wearable. A simple slip dress, with understated details, will go far beyond the big day.
Fall Florals
Who said florals were strictly for spring/summer? Moody florals were one of the biggest trends we spotted on the AW25 runway, dressed in rich colours, sheer fabrics and beaded embroidery. And when it comes to autumn weddings, the same rules apply: opt for guest dresses that play on those classic seasonal hues (orange, red, gold, pink) through bold prints. If needed, you can pare things back with muted background colours, as well as neutral-toned accessories.
LBD
Don’t underestimate the power of a little black dress. A classic for a reason, these dresses are designed to weather all formal and semi-formal occasions without becoming tired or dated – and they make for a perfect wedding guest dress in autumn and winter. Keep it chic and simple, or dress them up with sparkles and glitter for something that screams ‘party’.
For more black wedding guest dresses, see our edit here.
