With wedding season just around the corner, taking stock of your wardrobe for wedding-appropriate attire is more important than ever.
It’s also essential to understand the different types of wedding dress codes and what you should be wearing for each one.
Aside from any special themed weddings, you’ve got three types of dress codes:
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Formal weddings
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Semi-formal weddings
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Casual weddings
Below, we’ll highlight some of our favorite dresses and accessories for each type of wedding, along with some pieces to wear over your dress.
What to Wear to a Formal Wedding
Formal weddings are typically where you’ll have the least amount of leeway with your attire—but that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun with your outfit and look your best.
At a formal wedding, you’ll want to stick to floor-length gowns. Basic colors (except for white!) work great here and help you avoid upstaging the bride. However, if you want to stand outjust a little bit, a fun dress like this Mesh Burnout Velvet Maxi Dress is a great option. The combination of a velvet print and mesh material adds a touch of elegance to the recommended floor length dress.
Weddings are also the perfect place to show off your favorite accessories. Bracelets, necklaces, and earrings are all examples of accessories that can take your outfit from good to great.
At a formal wedding, pearls can add a touch of elegance to your outfit and have you turning heads. The Clustered Faux Pearl and Crystal Necklace from Anne Klein mixes clustered pearls with crystal accents to elevate your look to the next level.
If you want to look your best at a formal wedding, the combination of a floor-length gown and elegant accessories, like a pearl necklace, can get you there.
What to Wear to a Semi-Formal Wedding
Semi-formal weddings allow you to loosen up your outfits a little bit while still looking put together. A common example is wearing a shorter dress, opening up your dress options to cocktail dresses and even smart suits.
At a semi-formal wedding, you can never go wrong with a black dress. It might be cliche for every woman to own a “little black dress,” but there’s a good reason why—it’s a classic, and itworks.
This Solid Mesh Midi Dress from Anne Klein gives you a demure-yet-feminine aesthetic with a mesh detail design and a form-fitting self-sash.
It doesn’t always have to be black, either. If you want to mix it up with lighter colors or patterns, go for it!
This Washed Satin V-Neck Midi Dress is both smooth and sophisticated, making it perfect for a semi-formal wedding. The blue jay colorway adds a pop of color and helps you stand out—but not too much!
Semi-formal weddings still have you looking put together, but they allow you to shorten up the dresses and open up your options to more fun outfits. Both of these dress options are must-haves for wedding season this year.
What to Wear to a Casual Wedding
Casual weddings are where you canreally have some fun. Almost all of the restrictions on what you can wear are gone, though you’ll still want to look nice even without the pressure of dressing more formally.
The Linen Midi Dress with Attached Sash from Anne Klein is an example of a more casual dress that has you looking nice without being too formal. The dress features a simplistic yet timeless silhouette with pullover styling for added convenience. The bright calypso blue is sure to turn heads.
For an even brighter pop of color, the Cotton Midi Dress with Attached Sash in bright daffodil is the right choice. A beautiful, casual dress that you’ll never want to take off.
What to Wear Over a Dress to a Wedding
Evenings at outdoor weddings can sometimes get a little chilly. In those situations, it’s always nice to have something to layer over the top of your dress.
It’s also an opportunity to add some more style to your outfit at the same time.
The Pearl Button Collarless Jacket is a great place to start. The combination of pearl buttons, textural tweed fabric, and patch pockets make this a staple piece for making a statement at a wedding.
