Your Fall Wedding Outfit Cheat Sheet
Whether you're attending backyard nuptials or a City Hall ceremony.


If you've got several save the dates—or, more likely, change of dates—stuck to your fridge, you're not alone: Fall wedding season is just around the corner. It's finally time to rekindle with family and friends IRL—in a fab fall-appropriate dress and a long-neglected pair of comfortable but chic heels, nonetheless. From colorful maxi gowns to shorter, dance-the-night-away outfits, try one of these wedding guest ensembles with elements that can be mixed and matched as you please.
The Dress Code: Black Tie Optional
Taking some liberties with a black tie dress code is a-OK in our style book. Opt for a fluttery maxi length gown that can be dressed up with sophisticated jewels and gold-flecked accessories.
Chanel Couture Fall 2021
The Outfit
The Dress Code: Tropical Destination Wedding
If you've traveled a long way to watch your friends tie the knot, you might as well look great doing so. Go for a whimsical print that will lend itself to the view. Accessorize with fun silhouettes and bold pops of color you can wear throughout the trip.
Luisa Beccaria Fall 2021 Couture
The Outfit
The Dress Code: Outdoor Soirée
Consider this your permission to show off some skin before the winter months have us swaddled in sweats again. For an outdoor wedding, lean into floral motifs and natural fabrics like linens and straw.
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Giambattista Valli Fall 2021 Couture
The Outfit
The Dress Code: Courthouse Cool
Spend your afternoon at City Hall in a sophisticated separates look that you can incorporate into your wardrobe again and again. Get away with a darker hue by incorporating fun fabrics and florals that will read smart, yet celebratory.
Fendi Couture Fall 2021
The Outfit
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Sara Holzman is the Style Director at Marie Claire, where she has worked in various roles to ensure the brand's fashion content continues to inform, inspire, and shape the conversation around fashion's ever-evolving landscape. A Missouri School of Journalism graduate, she previously held fashion posts at Condé Nast’s Lucky and Self and covered style and travel for Equinox’s Furthermore blog. Over a decade in the industry, she’s guided shoots with top photographers and stylists from concept to cover. Based in NYC, Sara spends off-duty hours running, browsing the farmer's market, making a roast chicken, and hanging with her husband, dog, and cat. Find her on Instagram at @sarajonewyork.
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