What To Wear To A Spring Wedding As A Guest

Tackling this highly requested topic: Spring Wedding Guest Dresses for any dress code!

I don’t always feel in tune with what you guys want – but I definitely did today!! I’ve had “update my spring wedding guest dresses post” on my to do list for today for the past week. And then when I opened the question box in stories earlier, so many of you asked for just that! Woo! Great minds think alike!

I know it can be hard to figure out what to wear to a spring wedding as a guest when it’s still freezing outside. Especially since spring weddings vary so much in terms of dress code – not to mention the fact that we all have different budgets to work with! So I spent some time sifting through some of my favorite retailers to bring you a wide variety to get your shopping wheels turning.

Also, for my petite gals – there aren’t a lot of wedding guest dresses made specifically for petites. I know, it’s annoying… but hear me out. I tried to be really mindful of including brands/designers that tend to be petite-friendly, as in they usually aren’t overwhelming on a petite frame thanks to fabric/cut/etc. Of course, this means that the formal dresses will need shortened, but I also included some midis (that would be maxis on us) for that very reason!

And one last note for everyone – stay tuned for an update on this post about wedding guest shoes! I’m hoping to get to that one this week!

What To Wear To A Spring Wedding As A Guest

Dress up your sundresses.

Sundresses may be cute with flat sandals and a topknot, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be cute with heels, curls, and killer earrings! Here are a few of my favorites if you’re looking for something new! 

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You have tons of options for fancier weddings!

A more gown might be essential if you know you’re going to a very black tie wedding – but that’s not required for most fancy weddings. I love these chic minis, midis, maxis, and gowns!

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Rent or borrow from your friends!

If you don’t want to buy a new dress, I recommend checking out Rent The Runway! I’ve heard that Nuuly and FashionPass also have some wedding guest dresses in their subscription selections, too!

That being said, you could also host a dress swap with your best girls. They’re probably trying to figure out what to wear to weddings, too! And obviously, don’t forget to shop your own closet. I know that seems silly to point out, but people forget about that killer dress they bought 5 years ago. Try that bad boy on again!

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Evening Spring Wedding Outfit Ideas

As I mentioned above, there are so many different options for fancy weddings nowadays. Unless their big day is an over-the-top black tie affair, you can usually get away with wearing a pretty maxi or chic cocktail dress instead of a gown. Here are a few ideas!

Can’t go wrong with a floral wrap maxi.

Wrap maxi dresses are universally flattering, and the longer length feels a little bit fancier than minis. This one is silk, so it still feels pretty fancy even though it has a fun floral print. If you’re not a floral gal, opt for a solid color instead! Yumi Kim makes my favorites, hands down. They’re all so beautiful!

Rent a gown that you don’t need to buy.

If you really need to (or really want to!) wear a gown to one of your weddings this Spring/Summer, renting is a no brainer. Plus, you can get something way above your normal price range!

This blue gown would normally be out of budget, but I rented it for the Snowball gala and it was perfect! And as for this cutout gown… I’m still looking for an excuse to wear it again! Anyone want to invite me to their black tie wedding?!

*Tip for Petites: Rent the Runway has petite gowns that are shortened for gals like us! It’s not available for all styles, but it’s worth seeking out so you don’t step on your dress all night!

Rock a jumpsuit!

I wore this jumpsuit to a wedding back in 2019 – all it needed was a cute gold belt and it was festive and fun! I love this option, especially if it’s going to be chilly out (hey April and May weddings!), or if you’re just not a dress girl! I love this one so much! How chic?!

Add some sequins.

Sequins make everything more fun! Plus, a sequin cocktail dress feels just as fancy as a floor length gown to me, so if you want to free your legs – go for it! This one isn’t available anymore, but I love this one so much!

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Daytime Spring Wedding Outfit Ideas

I love the flexibility that comes with daytime weddings – there are SO many options! It’s also a little bit less stressful for practical shoppers. Instead of buying something for ONE wedding, you can buy something that you’ll wear all summer long. All you have to do is mix and match your accessories!

Covered shoulders can be nice for April/May weddings.

We all know that Chicago weather is unpredictable. You might want to have some sort of sleeve on before summer really hits, especially if it’s an outdoor wedding! The print above is a little too bridal but it comes in navy blue now! SO PRETTY!

Not a floral person? Try polka dots!

I am a BIG fan of polka dots, and I think it’s an underrated print for weddings. I love this red version!

Don’t be afraid of fun colors!

Hot pink isn’t for everyone, but Spring and Summer weddings are the perfect opportunity to wear fun colors! They’re celebrations, after all! The one pictured above is old, but I love this pink linen midi and I’m swooning over this printed cutout maxi by Rahi!

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What Not To Wear To A Spring Wedding As A Guest

I hate restrictions on personal style, but these 2 rules are pretty obvious. #1: Don’t wear white. DUH! And #2: Don’t wear anything too revealing. That doesn’t mean you can’t have some fun with a plunge or cutouts or an open back… but you know what I mean. Do you really want everyone talking about how revealing your dress is instead of the actual wedding? (Hint: The answer is NO!)

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How many weddings are you going to this spring and summer?

Let me know if you’re looking for anything I didn’t cover in this post and I’ll try to find it for you!

PS. You might also like Wedding Guest Shoes (That Don’t Sink In The Grass!) and Steps to Snowball.