Wedding guest dresses for every shape, style and budget

With wedding season in full swing, the quest for the perfect guest dress has begun. Do you go long? Short? Floaty or fitted? This season, sophisticated prints, florals and rich velvets are filling the rails, meaning there are plenty of wedding guest dresses in the shops to choose from.

Summer wedding guest dresses

I’ll be honest, for me, spring and summer are the best seasons to dress for a wedding. There are more dress options, and you can be a bit more daring with your sartorial choices.

For a destination wedding where heat is a big factor, going slinky will ensure you keep your cool all day. Look to Ghost, Halston Heritage, La Ligne and the Row for minimal slip dresses.

The maximalist fans will be glad to hear that our love affair with print has been revived for the new season, whether that’s polka dots, tropicals, florals or deck chair stripes. Look to GANNI, STAUD, Rixo, Kitri for some vintage-inspired buys, and Dodo Bar Or, Rosie Assoulin, Zimmermann and Needle & Thread for modern classics with a twist.

If you’re going to a black tie wedding, stick to a midi or maxi length dress for maximum elegance. You won’t go wrong with something from Givenchy, Lanvin and Oscar de la Renta if you’re looking to splash out a bit.

Of course, the high street is a great go-to if you’re struggling, with & Other Stories, H&M, Zara, New Look, Topshop and Arket all offering everything from pretty floral dresses to elegant jumpsuits.

To bring your look up to date for summer 2018, accessorise with a basket bag and a sculptural heel.

Winter wedding guest dresses

You might argue that wedding guest dressing in autumn and winter is a bit more of a challenge. Wind is bitterly cold and heels on an icy path are never a good idea. Plus, it doesn’t seem ideal if you have to sit through the church service or reception wrapped up in a coat and scarf either.

Long-sleeved lace dresses are always a safe choice for winter weddings, and as always, Reiss, L.K.Bennett and Coast have a great selection. But for the more fashion-forward of you, AW17’s crushed velvet trend – as seen on the catwalk at Tibi, Jason Wu and Max Mara – is one worth embracing.

Reserved, the Polish brand fronted by Kate Moss and freshly launched in the UK, has a beautiful khaki ombre pleated dress with black lace detailing, that you can pair with metallic ankle boots or a velvet 70s platform shoe.

And if you think a black cocktail dress is your only option, think again. Millennial pink shows no sign of dying out, and long-sleeved pink dresses (preferably with OTT sleeves) are the hero pieces you need to be seen in – as seen at Emilia Wickstead and H&M – and if you dare, with a splash of red à la Valentino.

But if you really want to go all out, then bold trends like Dynasty-esque metallic dresses, 80s sequin suits and bold ruffles are all trends that will easily make you stand out on that dance floor (and promise to keep you gloriously warm during the winter wedding).

So, your hunt for the perfect dress ends here. Without further ado, scroll on to shop Marie Claire’s edit of the best wedding guest dresses.