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    1. Fashion
    2. Fall fashion

    16 Fall Wedding Guest Dresses You'll Love

    Love is in the air. Here's what to wear.

    Sara Holzman's avatar
    By Sara Holzman
    Published 15 July 2021 In Features

    When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

    fall wedding dresses
    (Image credit: KAT IRLIN)
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    The Cocktail Party Wedding

    Unlike 2020, when nuptials were few and far between, 2021 is turning out to be a big year on the wedding circuit. If your refrigerator is brimming with save the dates, finding the perfect dress for your wedding guest debut is obviously top of mind. Swapping sweatpants for ballgowns can be a bit of a shock, so you'll want to find something that ticks both the comfort and style boxes. Whether you're attending a rescheduled 200-person affair or a more intimate micro-wedding, finding the right dress doesn't have to spiral you into full-on panic mode. Ahead we've got options that will have you looking so good, you'll practically upstage the bride.

    The Courthouse Wedding

    With a spike in city hall marriages over the past year, it's plausible that you'll be invited to an intimate gathering at the marriage bureau. While there are no hard and fast rules on what to you have to wear, a sophisticated midi-dress style will ensure you rise to the occasion.

    Latest Videos FromMarie Claire
    Watch full video here:

    The Courthouse Wedding

    (Image credit: KAT IRLIN)

    The Courthouse Wedding

    (Image credit: KAT IRLIN)

    The Dresses

    Delphine Sleeveless Midi Dress

    Tove Delphine Sleeveless Midi Dress
    $390.00 AT SAKSFIFTHAVENUE.COM

    Millie Ombre Check Dress

    Staud Millie Ombre Check Dress
    $262.50 AT SAKSFIFTHAVENUE.COM

    Striped Shirtdress

    Polo Ralph Lauren Striped Shirtdress
    $198.00 AT SAKSFIFTHAVENUE.COM

    wedding guest dresses

    Ciao Lucia Tie-Accented Satin Midi Dress
    $475.00 AT MODAOPERANDI.COM

    The Black Tie Wedding

    Don't panic when the wedding invite says "black tie attire." Evening wear can be fun without being fussy. Invest in a neutral color combination (like black and white) that you can repeat wear for other formal functions.

    The Dresses

    wedding guest dresses

    Rasario Draped Satin One-Shoulder Maxi Dress
    $588.00 AT MODAOPERANDI.COM

    wedding guest dresses

    Marina Moscone Floral Print Dresses
    $480.00 AT MATCHESFASHION.COM

    velvet silk gown

    Vika Gazinskaya Velvet Silk Gown
    $762.00 AT MATCHESFASHION.COM

    Gwyneth Cocktail Dress

    Zeta Gwyneth Cocktail Dress
    $525.00 AT FASHIONKIND.COM

    The Garden Party Wedding

    Be one with your surroundings in a floral printed dress that you can pair with a cardigan or light jacket for crisp fall days. For outdoor weddings set in the grass, opt for a flat or wedge shoe to avoid sinking.

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    The Dresses

    dalia dress

    Sachin & Babi Dalia Dress
    $395.00 AT SAKSFIFTHAVENUE.COM

    Mixed Floral Strappy-Back Midi Dress

    Tory Burch Mixed Floral Strappy-Back Midi Dress
    $358.80 AT SAKSFIFTHAVENUE.COM

    Empire Waist Dress

    Rebecca Taylor Empire Waist Dress
    $258.75 AT NORDSTROM.COM

    Floral Slip Dress

    Coco Shop Floral Slip Dress
    $480.00 AT FASHIONKIND.COM

    The Cocktail Party Wedding

    Choosing a shorter ensemble will ensure you can dance the night away. Toast to the new couples in something out-of-the-box, like a plaid, bow-embellished dress or a pearl spaghetti strap number.

    The Dresses

    wedding guest dresses

    Cinq à Sept Jody Cold-Shoulder Cocktail Dress
    $465.00 AT SAKSFIFTHAVENUE.COM

    wedding guest dresses

    LoveShackFancy Tilson Plaid Taffeta Mini Dress
    $545.00 AT MODAOPERANDI.COM

    wedding guest dresses

    Miu Miu Pearl-Detailed Cady Midi Dress
    $2600.00 AT MODAOPERANDI.COM

    wedding guest dresses

    Brock Collection Tessa Printed Satin Midi Dress
    $4215.00 AT MODAOPERANDI.COM

    Marie Claire Newsletter

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    Explore More
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    Sara Holzman
    Sara Holzman
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    Style Director

    Sara Holzman is the Style Director at Marie Claire, where she oversees fashion coverage spanning seasonal trends, celebrity style, designers, Fashion Month, and shopping. With more than a decade of experience in fashion media, she has held roles at Condé Nast’s Lucky and Self and contributed style and travel coverage to Equinox’s Furthermore. A graduate of the Missouri School of Journalism, Sara is based in New York City, where she writes about fashion through both an industry and personal lens, including the realities of getting dressed as a working mom. Follow her on Instagram at @sarajonewyork.

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