Where there are styles rules, there is the potential for mistakes to be made, and nowhere is this truer than when you’re planning what to wear to a wedding. From understanding the dress code to choosing the right accessories, even the most seasoned wedding guest has been known to get it wrong from time to time.
Here, we’ve pinpointed five common wedding guest style mistakes, plus the steps you can take to avoid them. Pay heed before you even start thinking about wedding outfit ideas to ensure you look your best on the happy couple’s big day.
1. Dressing too casually
Australians are known the world over for a casual take on life and style, but if there’s one place to smarten up your act, it’s when looking at wedding outfit ideas. This is especially the case when the invitation reads ‘informal’ or ‘smart casual’, terms that on first glance appear to suggest you could get away with rocking a decent piece of denim. Don’t be fooled! A wedding is a milestone event and jeans just won’t cut it. Instead, dresses for weddings that are on the informal side include printed or sleeveless styles. An informal wedding dress code also means that trousers are an option. They could be slim-fitting or wide through the leg but either way, ensure they’re cut for a perfect fit. Look for a detail that will distinguish them from your everyday office pair, such as the statement prints favoured by Valentino or Etro.
2. Choosing the wrong shoes
It’s far too easy to put a foot wrong (literally) when you’re planning what to wear to a wedding. To avoid making a mistake in the footwear department, first consider the type of wedding and the terrain you’re likely to tread. If the setting is a beach or grassy lawn, swap the stilettos for a pair of wedges or flatform sandals to avoid that sinking feeling with every step you take. When the bride and groom have a reputation for hitting the dancefloor, you can be sure you won’t be spending the reception sitting down. In this case, block heels are generally a more comfortable option and look dashing with summer dresses for weddings. No matter where the wedding is taking place, one thing is for certain: sneakers or thongs should never be worn. Ever.
3. Flashing too much flesh
It doesn’t matter what shape you’re in or how hard you’ve worked at F45, an outfit that is too short or skimpy just isn’t appropriate. To paraphrase Carrie Bradshaw: ‘Show some respect, this is a wedding!’ If you’re looking at wedding guest dresses for winter, opt for a style that has long or bracelet-length sleeves. This style was a major hit of the AW16 season and looks set to continue for the simple reason that it works just as well off the runway as it does on it. It’s varied, too: from diaphanous Chloé dresses to Stella McCartney's irreverent prints, there’s something to suit all tastes.
4. Rocking audacious accessories
You have the clothes and the shoes selected, but what to wear to a wedding doesn’t end there. As always, the accessories are the all-important finishing touch, and should be treated with just as much thought, both for sartorial reasons and out of consideration of your fellow wedding guests. Perhaps even more than the clothes you wear, the wrong accessories can make or break other people’s experience at a wedding. Hats are less common at weddings these days, but are still appropriate for more formal daytime affairs – just ensure yours isn’t so big that it blocks out the all-important view of the altar for people behind you. Likewise, jewellery that jangles loudly any time you shift in your seat is a no-go, unless you plan on causing a ruckus at the moment of ‘I do’. In a wedding situation, small and discreet speak volumes.
5. Wearing white
Does this rule for wedding guest dresses still apply? Traditionalists believe yes; others say that it’s permissible to wear white, as long as the dress isn’t too formal or bridal looking. Whichever side you’re on, wearing ivory says more about being considerate of your relationship to the bride and what she wants for her big day. If you’re thinking of something white, it’s polite to check with the bride first, so that there are no surprises as she’s gliding down the aisle. While white can look sophisticated, pastels are an equally good choice for summer dresses for weddings – and there’ll be absolutely no fear of upsetting the bride. Or her mother.