Wedding Guest Outfit Trends

By Felicia Czochanski

It’s finally becoming the season where the sun is out for more of the day. Now, we can walk around outside in the middle of the day and soak up those warm rays. Now that the snowstorms have finally come to an end, flowers are starting to bloom, and love is in the warm Spring air!

According to The Knot’s Real Wedding study, approximately 78% of all weddings take place between the months of May and October. The warm, sunny weather makes this time ideal for outdoor weddings. Plus, the blossoming of plants and flowers makes for some beautiful wedding photos.

If you’re finding your refrigerator filling up with cute “Save the Date” cards or wedding invitations, you’re going to want to save money where you can.

When it comes to being a wedding guest, there are a few things you can skimp on. Weddings are expensive. Of course, you still want your friend’s special day to be perfect! You’ll have to budget for transportation, accommodations, a wedding gift and your outfit. This can add up pretty quickly. Plus, thanks to social media and overlapping friend groups, you might not want to wear the same outfit twice.

The perfect solution is to start scouring the racks of your local Goodwill® stores for brand new and like new outfits to wear to all the weddings and events this Spring. You can likely find things like dresses that are up to 90% off the retail price. While you’re helping your wallet by shopping second-hand, you’re also helping people in your community find employment and access education or services they need by supporting Goodwill’s mission. It’s truly a win-win!

Now, let’s get into the Spring and Summer wedding trends for 2024 and recommendations for what guests can wear.

1. Beach Wedding

Photo: @maryorton

Weddings on the beach are special and beautiful. You can enjoy some of the best nature the world has to offer while professing your love in front of friends and family. When attending a beach wedding, there’s one main thing to keep in mind: the wind. You’re going to want to avoid dresses with slits or that have a tendency to flip up and show everyone things they shouldn’t see. For this type of wedding, you can stick with either a classy bodycon dress or a maxi dress. While you’re at it, don’t even think about wearing heels on the sand. A chic metallic sandal will do the trick instead.

2. Black Tie Formal Wedding

Photo: @bycaitlinanne

Formal weddings are beautiful in their own way. Just imagine walking into an elegantly decorated ballroom where all the guests are dressed to the nines. For this dress code, one option is a floor-length gown and a stunning pair of heels. If you’re indecisive about which gown to choose, light pastel blue is trending this season and pairs perfectly with a silver heel.

3. Semi-Casual Wedding

Photo: hellofashionblog.com

When it comes to a semi-casual event, you’re going to want to take a hint from the friend or relative who’s getting married. Think about what their style is. If you showed up in a sundress, would that suffice? If you came glammed out in a jumpsuit, would they still be excited to see you? You can also gather clues from the wedding venue or the invite to see what type of attire and colors would be most appropriate. The key rule for this type of event is to wear something you’re comfortable in, and that makes you feel put together and ready to celebrate!

4. Cocktail, Semi-Formal Wedding

Photo: @racheloveee

One of the most common dress codes for a wedding is cocktail attire. These are the types of weddings that leave room for the guests to have fun with their outfit choices, as long as they’re within the semi-formal guidelines. You can wear a dress decked out in sequins or show off your style with fun shapes and ruffles. Take, for instance, this mermaid gown with layered, slightly scalloped ruffles seen above.

Shopping for the Right Wedding Guest Outfit

If you want to start looking for your perfect wedding guest outfit, swing by your local Goodwill store to find everything you need.