The best winter wedding guest outfits for the season ahead

winter wedding guest dresses
(Image credit: 2020 Dominique Charriau)

With wedding season officially underway, you've probably got a fair few ceremonies ahead of you this season, which is why there's never been a more fun time to shop for winter wedding guest outfits (though if you'd rather practice circularity, there are plenty of places which you can hire designer dresses from).

When it comes to autumn trends, the message is clear: go big or go home. We're seeing joyful dressing galore, in the form of sequin gowns, bright hues and loud prints. Let's be honest, you can never bring too much joy to a wedding.

At fashion week, I loved the sequin gowns served up by Valentino and Balmain, the draped frocks at Dolce & Gabbana and Victoria Beckham and the bold prints at Chanel and Versace.

That said, minimalists shouldn't despair, there were plenty of paired down options on the catwalk too, including this season's must-have: the little black dress, as seen at Victoria Beckham and Khaite. Yes, it's perfectly ok to wear black to a wedding, sartorial rules be damned.

It's not all about designer-wear though, the high street is awash with gorgeous affordable winter wedding guest outfits, from dresses to jumpsuits and cool suits you'll want to wear again and again. H&M, Zara, Needle & Thread et al all come up trumps this season.

Sometimes, the type of wedding you’re going to might limit the kind of silhouette you can opt for. When it comes to traditional church weddings, go for a long-sleeved style with a bateau or other high neckline to avoid showing too much flesh. This look works well for a black tie affair, though that's a great occasion to go for a truly dramatic piece.

Your clothes are just part of your outfit however and the right accessories can seriously elevate your look. For AW23 weddings, try Dynasty-esque statement earrings, layered gold necklaces and a pair of slip-on sandals or glittery heels. Oh, and don't forget to add a mini designer handbag - baguette bags are still all the rage.

Keep scrolling to shop my edit of the best winter wedding guest outfits.

Penny Goldstone

Penny Goldstone is the Digital Fashion Editor at Marie Claire, covering everything from catwalk trends to royal fashion and the latest high street and Instagram must-haves.

Penny grew up in France and studied languages and law at the Sorbonne Nouvelle University in Paris before moving to the UK for her MA in multimedia journalism at Bournemouth University. She moved to the UK permanently and has never looked back (though she does go back regularly to stock up on cheese and wine).

Although she's always loved fashion - she used to create scrapbooks of her favourite trends and looks, including Sienna Miller and Kate Moss' boho phase - her first job was at MoneySavingExpert.com, sourcing the best deals for everything from restaurants to designer sales.

However she quit after two years to follow her true passion, fashion journalism, and after many years of internships and freelance stints at magazines including Red, Cosmopolitan, Stylist and Good Housekeeping, landed her dream job as the Digital Fashion Editor at Marie Claire UK.

Her favourite part of the job is discovering new brands and meeting designers, and travelling the world to attend events and fashion shows. Seeing her first Chanel runway IRL at Paris Fashion Week was a true pinch-me moment.

With contributions from