The Top 15 Best Spring Wedding Guest Dresses
A bride and her wedding guests posing together in various dresses. Image by Yasara Carfenlisesi.
Spring is the season of beauty, renewal, and new beginnings. When the flowers begin to bloom, your inbox will start filling up with invitations to spring weddings!
There’s no question that it’s a wonderful time to get married. Spring weather is much milder than summer, meaning you won’t be scorching while the couple is saying their vows.
The greens are greener and blooming flower gardens are the perfect backdrop for ceremonies and wedding photos. Plus, there are lots more options when it comes to honeymoon destinations!
Anytime you attend a wedding, your dress should match the setting. That means aligning your palette with Spring wedding colors and picking garments that will help you adjust to the unpredictable weather patterns with style.
From soft pastel floral prints to comfy boho finds, there are lots of great options to choose from. So if you have a spring wedding to attend and are wondering what to wear, we’ve got you covered!
Here are fifteen of the most on-trend spring wedding guest dresses and which setting they work best for!
Spring Wedding Settings and The Correct Attire
A woman posing in a blue dress leaning on a staircase. Image by Abercrombie.
Spring isn’t only a prime time for weddings. It also means lots of rainy days, so you must expect the unexpected when it comes to attending a spring wedding.
While many couples choose indoor venues during this time, some want to leverage the beauty of spring and hold outdoor ceremonies and receptions.
Here are some of the most common spring wedding settings and what you should wear to each.
Garden Party: If you’re attending a wedding set in an outdoor garden, you’ll want to look polished yet comfortable. Look for tea-length dresses and pair them with chunky heels so you can easily navigate grassy terrain. If the outdoor celebration extends into the evening, you’ll need a shawl as well.
Backyard Bash: Weddings set in backyards are casual events, but you’ll still want to turn up the volume on your outfit. Boho dresses with strappy sandals offer the perfect balance of comfort and style.
Dining Hall or Event Venue: Indoor weddings at venues require more formal attire, but you can still get away with breezy spring styles. Look for layers of chiffon or a more structured vintage style.
Formal Setting: No matter the season, formal venues require formal dresses. Look for richer spring hues and structured styles. Long or tea-length styles with a more conservative bodice fit well in these settings.
Top Trends in Spring Wedding Guest Dresses
Ruffles
Whether they are draping across the neckline or layered to make a fun skirt, light, airy ruffles are the perfect accent for a spring wedding guest dress.
They are especially perfect for spring when made from a fabric like chiffon, silk, or organza. This gives them that lighter-than-air quality, which is perfect for spring. Choose pastels like sage green, baby pink, or pastel blue.
Pastel Florals
Is it any surprise that pale florals are perfect for a spring dress? Go for small-scale floral prints that feature flowers that are ubiquitous with spring, like violets and wildflowers.
Avoid prints with white backgrounds- leave the white dress for the bride! Instead, use pale backgrounds in your favorite hues. Dark backgrounds are perfect for evening and formal settings!
Tea Length Dresses
Tea-length or midi styles are the perfect choice for any wedding guest looking for a stylish dress.. Not only are they conservative enough for religious and formal settings, but they are the perfect length for any height or body type.
They hit the wearer about mid-calf, so tea-length is perfect if you want to show off your favorite shoes! Choose styles that have a fitted bodice to ensure balance.
Sheer Sleeves
Spring flowers bloom thanks to spring showers, so there’s a good chance the wedding you’re attending may fall on a rainy day.
Long, sheer sleeves are not only stylish and beautiful, but they provide coverage just in case the weather turns chilly during the event.
Bohemian Flare
Color, patterns, and baggy fits are all hallmarks of a boho-style dress. This makes it the perfect choice for a casual wedding in a backyard or local park.
Paired with some earthy sandals and chunky jewelry, you’ll be comfortable and stylish when you attend your next spring wedding. Be careful, though, these dresses can read beachy or too casual for a wedding.
Look for boho prints with some structure or elevated details to ensure you look like a standout spring wedding guest. A boho flare dress is versatile enough to wear to a Spring bridal shower or the wedding itself!
Choosing Your Dress Based On the Event Time
The start time for a spring wedding will determine a lot of factors, but most of all what you will wear.
Early morning, afternoon, and evening weddings may be chilly during the springtime, so be sure to choose a dress that provides a lot of coverage or works well with a shawl, cardigan or wrap.
If the vows start mid-day, temps could be high, so be sure your dress is cool enough to keep you comfy.
Additionally, evening weddings tend to be more formal than daytime events. Choose darker colors and longer lengths for evening weddings, as well as more structured fabrics.
Save the flowy, light colored dresses for daytime, casual weddings. As always, if you are unsure of the dress code, just ask! The happy couple will be excited to share their wedding day vision with you.
How to Accessorize Your Spring Wedding Guest Dress
Two women smiling in wedding guest dresses. Image via Anthropologie.
Accessories are the highlight of any outfit. Delicate spring dresses call for equally delicate accessories, so choose wisely.
Dainty jewelry is trendy and perfect for a flowy spring dress. Choose necklaces, bracelets, and rings that are thick and stackable. Look for delicate chains in silver or gold with equally delicate charms and stackable rings.
If you’re going the boho route, you can even add ankle jewelry to complete the look. If you are looking to add a belt to your dress for a cinched waist moment, go for light colors and interesting details, like braided leather or silver studs.
Pastel clutches will hold all of your most important items. Go for a handheld one or a crossbody with a chain strap. Finally, as we’ve mentioned before, the weather can be unpredictable during the summer months.
This means you must bring light layers to ensure you are comfortable at all times. Pashminas or wraps are versatile options that won’t ruin the lines of your dress.
If you want a more structured garment, a coordinating bolero jacket or thin-knit shrug will work.
Where to Buy A Spring Wedding Guest Dress
When spring fashion hits the shops, there are countless options. But where can you find high quality spring wedding guest dresses?
Department stores offer a variety of designers and styles, as well as the ability to try them on in store. This is a great option if you are looking for a last minute dress or want to see what shapes work best with your frame.
Of course, there’s always the online route. Websites like Amazon.com, Etsy, and a variety of retailers offer endless possibilities.
You can order multiple sizes and styles to try on in the comfort of your own home and return what doesn’t work risk free. However, if you are on a tight timeline, one shipping delay could send you into a tailspin.
Conclusion
Weddings are amongst the happiest occasions. As a spring wedding guest, you are an important part of the highlight of the happy couple’s lives. This means it’s important that you choose your outfit well so you can enhance their unique wedding aesthetic.
Always keep the season and event dress code in mind when choosing your spring wedding guest dress. And no matter what, pick one that reflects your own unique style.
The right spring dress will make you feel like a million bucks and keep you comfortable as you celebrate the bride and groom.