Can you wear black to a winter wedding? What style of winter wedding guest dress should I wear? Can I wear snow boots as a guest at a winter wedding? Do I need to drape myself in velvet?!

There are so many questions on what to wear as a winter wedding guest and we’re here to answer them all! (Yay!) Winter weddings are increasingly popular, and I’m not just saying that because I was a winter bride myself. :)

Winter is a beautiful time of year to get married and you may even benefit from some discounts from venues, as they’re often trying to fill up open weekends and offer special rates for “off-season”.

In addition, if your winter wedding is ahead of the holiday season, you’ll score even more extras like decorations for your ceremony and reception in holiday splendor; you’ll probably even benefit from discounted rates on hotels for out-of-town guests, with competition from hotels during the busy holiday season.

As a guest, though, you may be wondering what to wear. And let me tell you, there are tons of beautiful winter wedding guest dress ideas out there! You may be facing questions mentioned above, like what colors are appropriate or which length you should wear. Let us help: our winter dress guide for wedding guests is outlined below. Enjoy!

Here are our tips on what kind of dress to wear as a wedding guest during the winter months.

1. Opt for dark hues, long lengths (sleeves and dress), and luxurious heavy fabrics.

Dark colors are in! Long length sleeves, also in! Another option: flutter sleeves, a great twist on a traditional sleeveless dress.

This dress is named Lena and it is by BHLDN. I love the color and the flutter sleeves! See it here.

For the length of a winter wedding guest dress, it really depends on your own preference, but knee-length or longer will keep you extra warm. For fabrics, we love velvet, thick satin, heavy charmeuse, and anything with lace. Lace sleeves are an excellent choice for a winter wedding.

An off-the-shoulder look is great for winter weddings, especially when the dress is this beautiful rose color and offers a luxe velvet fabric! I love this one; I wore a similar dress (but shorter and in black) to a wedding last summer and loved the look; this is the dress I wore.

This charmeuse dress in olive is one of my favorites; I love the unique neckline and ruffle detail. It’s from BHLDN and you can see it here.

If I had to choose just one winter wedding guest dress, THIS would be it! I love the velvet fabric, the color, the deep plunge neckline, and the floor-length! By Jenny Yoo shown in French Blue.

And here’s another velvet dress that I adore, this time with sleeves and an open-back for a statement. By JennyYoo.

2. Choose a winter guest dress that complements the theme and formality of the wedding.

Look to your wedding invitation for clues on how formal your attire should be, whether that means cocktail or black tie.

Look for unique details, like high-low hems or ruffles to add a feminine touch. This dress — named Julia — is a favorite, with bow ties on the shoulders and a cute ruffle detail accentuated with a high-low hemline.

A fun detail for New Years’ weddings or winter weddings with an Art Deco theme is this sequin dress: it has a short length with long sleeves. I love this look!

Add a little shine with a maxi dress like this one in Dove Gray. I love how this looks — and check out the back! By Monique Lhuillier. This one makes a lovely bridesmaids dress, too.

Is there ever a time when a black lace wedding dress isn’t perfect? No. It’s ALWAYS in style! This one by Needle & Thread is available here and looks so elegant. I like the Victorian-inspired style.

3. The alternative to a winter wedding guest dress: a jumpsuit!

Yes! Instead of a winter wedding dress, of course you could wear a chic jumpsuit! There are many styles now available for a winter wedding guest, so why not try one on to see how it looks? Here are a few winter wedding jumpsuits to consider.

This green jumpsuit with a one-shoulder is so elegant! See it here.

Love glitz and glamour? Check out this sparkly jumpsuit in navy blue from here.

4. Stay warm!

No one likes to freeze at a wedding! Make sure you add an additional layer, like a pashmina shawl or faux fur shawl to your wedding attire. The wedding probably won’t be outdoors — at least, let’s not hope so if it’s snowing or 30 degrees! — but you may still get chilly, so be prepared. Here are some cover-ups to inspire you; even a simple wrap like this will do.

In addition, you can wear snow boots to and from the wedding, if needed (it’s safer that way with snow and ice!) but bring a change of heels in a tote bag to put on at the wedding. It’s not proper to wear snow boots at the actual winter wedding itself. :)

Winter Guest Dress Ideas

And there you have it: your guide to finding the perfect winter wedding guest dress. See? It’s not too hard, especially when you have some great examples to inspire you. :)

Are you attending a winter wedding? What do you plan on wearing? Tell us about it in the comment box below!

Happy Planning!

xo
Emma