16 Fall Wedding Guest Dresses You'll Love
Love is in the air. Here's what to wear.


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.
The Dresses
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
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.
The Dresses
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
Stay In The Know
Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.

Sara Holzman is the Style Director for Marie Claire, where she's worked alongside the publication for eight years in various roles, ensuring the brand's fashion content continues to inform, inspire, and shape the conversation about fashion's ever-evolving landscape. With a degree from the Missouri School of Journalism, Sara is responsible for overseeing a diverse fashion content mix, from emerging and legacy designer profiles to reported features on the influence of social media on style and seasonal and micro trends across the world's fashion epicenters in New York, Milan, and Paris. Before joining Marie Claire, Sara held fashion roles at Conde Nast's Lucky Magazine and Self Magazine and was a style and travel contributor to Equinox's Furthermore website. Over her decade of experience in the fashion industry, Sara has helped guide each brand's style point of view, working alongside veteran photographers and stylists to bring editorial and celebrity photo shoots to fruition from start to finish. Sara currently lives in New York City. When she's not penning about fashion or travel, she’s at the farmer’s market, on a run, working to perfect her roasted chicken recipe, or spending time with her husband, dog, and cat. Follow her along at @sarajonewyork
-
Blake Lively Is Reviving My Early ‘00s Obsession With This Nail Trend
Minimalist nails with a little something extra.
-
Will 'Weak Hero Class' Return for Season 3? Park Ji-hoon Shares His Hopes for the Hit K-Drama's Senior Year
Fans are clamoring for more after that shocking cliffhanger.
-
Prince Charles Made an "Improper" Suggestion Before Their Marriage, Per Diana
*Clutches pearls*
-
Take It From a Fashion Editor: These Summer 2025 Trends Are Certified Compliment-Magnets
Don't wait until June.
-
So, What Do You Wear to a Winter Wedding?
Buying Guide We've got options, so the only thing you'll need to worry about is shoes.
-
How Rixo's Vintage-Inspired Dresses Became a Modern Celebrity Style Phenomenon
The duo behind Rixo has dressed Kate Middleton, Sofia Richie Grainge, and Hailey Bieber.
-
Meghan Markle's Take on Fashion's Drop-Waist Trend Features $550,000 Earrings
She put a royal spin on fashion's favorite style.
-
Spring 2025 Will Bring an Even Bigger Bubble Skirt Boom Than Last Year
From the Paris runways to J.Crew window displays.
-
Dôen Is Overflowing With Celebrities' (and Editors') Favorite Spring Dresses
Elle Fanning is just the latest to spend spring in one of its easygoing pieces.
-
The Best Vacation-Worthy Beach Dresses
From barely-there to playful fringe.
-
The Best Spring Dresses Simplify Any Outfit Formula
Style this wardrobe staple for any occasion, from farmer's markets to formal affairs.