Every year, you're joining numerous other women entering 'wedding guest dresses' into Google (especially in the summer). From the moment the invite lands in your inbox or on your doormat, you have a set of decisions to make. Do you want to be striking or pretty, fashion-forward or timelessly sophisticated? If it’s an old friend from school, do you want wedding party dresses that let you show off a bit (subtly, of course)? When browsing the best dresses to wear to a wedding there are just so many choices – the first being, do you even want to wear a dress?
City slicker
What city weddings may lack in natural green beauty, they more than make up for with their contemporary, urban appeal. There are plenty of photo opportunities to be had in front of industrial brick buildings and graffiti-adorned walls, and they're far less dependent on mild weather. This potential for cold winds and heavy rain means it's worth thinking beyond your dress. The Valentino SS17 show celebrated sheer layering with romantic intent, but it was the coats with heavy embroidery and genteel tailoring casually thrown over diaphanous dresses that looked perfect for mid-season city nuptials. Alternatively, take a leaf out of the Roksanda AW16 book – think fur-collared jackets or geometric print capes in rich ochres or plums draped over cocktail dresses for weddings in the Big Smoke.
A city wedding is also the ideal setting to try out androgynous tailoring. With everyone from Emma Watson to Anne Hathaway showcasing sharply cut suits on the red carpet, the female tux is finally being included in event dressing conversations – so set aside those dresses for wedding guests. Saint Laurent blazers are an iconic option. Channel the label's legendary Le Smoking suit with slim-leg trousers and a pair of heeled courts. For a more nonchalant aesthetic, Lanvin trousers offer laid-back luxury in opulent fabrics and rich jewel tones. Embrace the SS17 pyjamas-as-eveningwear look by juxtaposing an unstructured jacket from the collection with some towering heels and a metallic clutch bag.
To the manor born
When looking for the best wedding guest dresses in the country, florals usually predominate. Both romantic and apt when surrounded by rolling fields, nature-inspired patterns on dresses for wedding guests can also risk looking staid if not given a contemporary lift. Designs featured in the SS17 show by Balenciaga are the antithesis of Aunt Maud’s favourite floral dress. Demna Gvasalia’s first collection for the fashion house employed flower print spandex in high-impact shades for long-line, 70s-shaped outfits. For that same season, Alexander McQueen dresses put a floral and feminine twist on the punk aesthetic with delicately embroidered leather bodices and sheer printed fabric.
Country winter wedding guest dresses require a little more thought. Will there be fields? Just where in the country is it – and does that mean taxis aren’t available after 7pm? Look to the AW16 catwalk at Erdem for answers. Inspired by the glamour and surrealism of the 30s and 40s, the fashion house presented panne velvet gowns and embroidered princess coats in muted autumnal hues. While elegant and opulent, there was also a dishevelled element that allows these 20s shift dresses and 30s bias-cut gowns to be worn with flat Stuart Weitzman boots as easily as Jimmy Choo sandals.
Beach-bound
Choosing beach-appropriate dresses for a wedding guest might be the most fun of all. While you're in the same vein as holiday dressing, you can push your boundaries just a little bit further; that vibrant cocktail dress you’ve been admiring but can’t quite see working even on the balmiest of London evenings, say. The Haider Ackermann SS17 collection could almost all be classed under that perfect-for-the-sunshine banner. Eye-watering citrus and bubble-gum pink hues dominated, while silhouettes were elongated and elegantly draped. Choose one of the label's long dresses for wedding guests to wear to a far-flung beach, and throw on a cropped biker after the sun goes down.
Tropical locations are colourful and glamorous, with a side order of light-hearted fun – which essentially sums up the entire Dolce & Gabbana ethos. The Italian label's SS16 collection was heavy with outsized floral prints, exaggerated nautical elements and a playful retro flair. Dolce & Gabbana skirts worn à la the catwalk with contrasting crop tops and floral crowns make the perfect alternatives to wedding guest dresses for summer soirées. And Dolce & Gabbana dresses from SS17 had a distinctly tongue-in-cheek element – oversized ice-cream cones and sunflower prints might be all you need to celebrate the happy marriage.