Wedding season is officially upon us, and if you’ve been invited to one (or five), you’ve likely already started stressing about what on earth you’re going to wear. Listen, we get it. Weddings these days come in myriad shapes and forms — from casual backyard barbecues to tropical island beaches to high-society shindigs — and finding just the right frock for the occasion can be daunting. With that in mind, we talked to The Stylish Bride founder Julie Sabatino about how we should all be approaching wedding guest dress shopping this season.
“I really believe it’s an honor to be invited to someone’s wedding, and you should treat it as such, which means dressing up and putting effort into your appearance. This goes for both men and women,” says the New York City-based fashion stylist. “I love working with clients on what they’re going to wear to a wedding because it’s a moment where they’re able to express their personal style and put together something that goes the extra mile. Looking great is another way to honor the couple.”
Wedding guest attire do’s and don’ts
The sky is certainly the limit when shopping for wedding guest dresses, but Sabatino says we should all be working within appropriate guardrails. Case in point: wearing white. “That’s a hard no. No one should even wear white with a pattern, just stay away from it entirely,” she says. “I have a motto: ‘Doubt means don’t.’ Which is to say, if you’re having any hesitation about a dress being appropriate, skip it and find something else.”
Another “don’t”: the risqué factor. “You should really err on the side of wearing something that’s respectful and tasteful,” says Sabatino, whose book “Dressed, Styled, and Down the Aisle” is available for preorder on Amazon. “Nothing too sexy. Someone else’s wedding is just not the moment to be very over the top or physically out there.”
A verified “do” on Sabatino’s list, however, is putting in the effort to match the wedding vibe. “You really want to pay attention not only to the dress code the couple is giving you but also to the wedding website and the reception venue to make sure that your outfit is appropriate for the event,” she says. “For example, a black-tie wedding in New York City requires a very different dress than a beachside wedding in Nantucket. Do a little research, then pick the dress.”
Here are Sabatino’s top picks for wedding guest dresses on Amazon, in addition to bestsellers, most reviewed and a few of our own editor favorites.
Wedding guest dresses
What to budget for a wedding guest dress
When it comes to a wedding guest dress budget, Sabatino says you absolutely don’t have to break the bank, and that Amazon is a great place to shop. “Amazon is an amazing resource for wedding guest dresses,” she says. “Ordering dresses online can be tricky when it comes to fit, and I love that Amazon has a ‘try before you buy’ option, where you only pay for the items you keep. Beyond that, Amazon’s return policy is just the best. It takes the stress out of buying a few sizes of a dress and returning what doesn’t fit.”
And if you are going to splurge on a wedding guest dress, Sabatino suggests choosing a classic, quality piece. “You’re never going to regret investing in a little black dress,” she says. “It’s worth spending extra to have something that will stand the test of time. I still have dresses in my closet from 15 years ago that I pull out and wear!”
How to accessorize a wedding guest dress
Rain on the wedding day might mean good luck for the bride, but it’s not for the guests. As such, Sabatino recommends always having a layer — something along the lines of a pashmina, blazer or jacket — to put on if the weather shifts. “I’ve worked on weddings where the weather goes from sunny to cloudy to raining and then back to sunny, and as a guest, you want to have layerable options to keep you warm but that you can also take off if it gets hot,” she says.
As for the rest of the outfit — jewelry, shoes and bags, of course! — Sabatino has a rule of thumb: “Pick one statement piece and keep everything else more minimal.” And don’t discount the fun factor of a good bag. “A great way to jazz up an otherwise plain dress is with a really fun, cool, interesting bag,” she says. “That’s a really easy and inexpensive way to amp up the style.”
