As the summer approaches, wedding season beckons all guests to ask themselves the eternal question: once you’ve saved the date, what will you wear? Our editors ask themselves the same question. With outfits as unique and varied as the individuals sporting them, our in-house fashion aficionados have inspiration for any upcoming nuptials and all the festivities in between. Think smart all-black ensembles, ruffled midi dresses, romantic florals, bold accessories, and easily re-wearable minimalist pieces.
Vogue Editors’ Favorite Wedding Guest Dresses:
- The Print Perfect: Etro medallion-print ruffle midi dress, $3,400
- The Sleek Gown: Sir Depeche balconette gown, $720
- The Strapless Midi: Bernadette Odette strapless midi dress, $840
- The Figure-Hugging Maxi: St. Agni asymmetric draped twill maxi dress, $465
- The Romantic Ruffle: Khaite ruffled slip dress, $2,400
- The Under-$300 Favorite: By Malene Birger strapless organic cotton maxi dress, $250
- The Sequin Number: Lapointe draped sequined crepe midi dress, $1,350
- The Halter: Interior the Johana ruffled halterneck maxi dress, $1,130
- The Luxe Silk: Dôen Claire dress, $398
Whether you’re attending a black-tie soirée, a cool-girl courthouse ceremony, or a countryside outdoor wedding calling for cocktail dresses, window shop for inspiration with 16 Vogue-approved looks, below.
Chloe Malle | Editor, Vogue.com
I don’t have any weddings this summer—my friend group has aged out of first weddings and not yet hit second marriages—but I love a breezy floral or print dress that I can dance in like the below ruffled number from Etro, the paisley one from Rabanne, the two-toned floral from Dôen, or the embroidered flapper shift from Bode.
Sam Sussman | Senior Director, Creative Development and Programming, Social Media
These dresses would be perfect for a summer wedding, and more important completely re-wearable. I love a wedding as an excuse to get the dress you have been eyeing. From a city wedding to a ceremony on the beach, I think these options cover day and night festivities.
Talia Abbas | Senior Shopping Editor
I usually shy away from all-over prints but I can’t help but adore this red checkered Bernadette dress! It’s so joyful, which to me feels just right for the occasion and also perfect for the outdoor weddings I’m attending. Heeled sandals are a safe choice, but I’m actually thinking of pairing it with these pointy mesh mules from Proenza Schouler instead. I’m obsessed with all of Savette’s pochettes (most of which are sold out right now!) but this crossbody is really good too. A pretty pearl necklace is the ultimate finishing touch, and Sophie Bille Brahe makes my all-time favorite. –Talia Abbas, senior shopping editor
Mai Morsch | Editor
You can’t go wrong with a classic slip dress for a summer wedding, and I have been especially loving the minimalist silhouettes from St. Agni. This particular style offers endless possibilities in terms of accessories—like these statement-making Tory Burch earrings or Ben-Amun’s giant shell necklace—just switch out the jewelry and re-wear this look to all of your summer events.
Hannah Jackson | Fashion Writer
I’m obsessed with ruffle detailing, and a wedding seems like the perfect occasion to wear it. Just make sure nobody steps on a wayward ruffle on the dance floor! You’re guaranteed to be the life of the party. A strappy, neutral kitten heel is perfect for any occasion, but this pair from The Row seems especially well-equipped for the summer wedding season. You won’t have to stress about sinking (too far) into the grass—and while you’re there, every outdoor wedding guarantees that you’ll be facing directly into the sun. Why not level up your sun protection with this dramatic oversized pair from Fendi? When picking a bag, I really appreciate the ample room and adjustable strap on this Bottega bag. You’ll also be able to spot that pink intrecciato weaving anywhere.
Madeline Fass | Senior Market Editor
Unlike past season’s destination weddings and corresponding themed dress codes, the one wedding I am attending this summer is a New York City ceremony and reception and I’m looking forward to keeping it classic. I’m not entirely sure what I’m wearing just yet but I’m sort of interested in a slinky long sleeved silhouette or a two toned option for summer black tie. For accessories, you can’t go wrong with a strappy shoe, and I don’t go anywhere without Leonor Greyl’s smoothing hair cream. One must always keep summer humidity in mind!
Alexis Bennett Parker | Senior Shopping Writer
Traveling for weddings can get really expensive, so my strategy is to find a dress that won’t break the bank and most of Helsa’s designs are under $300. I’ll pair it with investment-worthy accessories that are already in my closet—like Giuseppe Zanotti’s classic mules and Saint Laurent’s Manhattan bag, which can also be carried as a day clutch.
Margaux Anbouba Polaux | Senior Beauty & Wellness Editor
At this point, I’m a professional wedding attendee—and it’s such a treat when I’m a simple guest who gets to choose my own outfit (shout out to my 20+ friends I’ve been a bridesmaid for, love y’all). I look for an outfit that checks two boxes: get me a compliment from your grandmother and give me the freedom to dance. My only rule when it comes to heels is it has to be a platform with an ankle strap like Larroude’s The Dolly; I find them much more comfortable for long sessions on the dancefloor.
Sache Taylor | Manager, Events
I have been told off many times (by my mother) for wearing black to weddings, but I cannot help it. I wouldn’t feel like myself in anything else! In the last couple of years, I have become a Tory Burch girl. When people ask me about what I am wearing, it gives me so much pleasure to say, “It’s Tory Burch!!” This tunic is honestly my go-to for anything even remotely formal—and I get teased for being an outfit repeater often. The last time I wore it to a wedding, the bride texted me 10 days later saying that she was still thinking about my outfit.
Laia Garcia-Furtado | Senior Fashion News Editor
This prompt from the shopping editors made me realize I actually do have a go-to wedding guest look—it’s a groovy Issey Miyake-inspired pleated dress with floral jacquard Manolo Blahnik mules. (I was basically 9 months pregnant when I first wore it, as pictured, and have worn it two more times since, so you know this is truly a fool-proof formula.) I have a teeny Luar bag that I carry at parties, which I love because the handle fits perfectly around my wrist so your hands are free if you’re standing around during cocktail hour. Finish it off with a great pair of sunglasses and a statement lip. I have this one from About Face in a few colors—it’s moisturizing and the color is buildable. Win win!
Lea Donenberg | Associate Producer
This summer, I am actively channeling Bridgerton Regency-era elegance. A yellow floral Markarian Gilded Brocade dress with grand shoulder bows feels vintage and trendy at the same time—perhaps something a modern day Daphne Bridgerton would don at the ball. With chic silver accessories, glowy skin, and a decadent scent, this look feels like the “diamond” of the wedding season.
Eliseé Browchuk | Experiences Production and Marketing Manager
I’m heading to Greece this July for a colleague’s wedding on Patmos. I can’t wait to lean into the island’s laid-back yet playful style. This mermaid-inspired sequined dress by Lapointe feels effortlessly festive. I’ll definitely add some gold jewelry like these seashell earrings and a delicate arm cuff by Ben-Amun. To finish off the look, a pair of sleek blue slingback sandals will elongate my legs (especially since I’m only 5’5”!) while the iconic Rabanne mini bag is an ideal wedding guest accessory for any destination.
Taylor Lashley | Manager, Social Media
I’m currently in the thick of the wedding circuit and I’ve been having a lot of fun dressing up in pieces I usually wouldn’t gravitate towards. If you know me, my wardrobe is full of neutrals, but for weddings I think a bold pop of color is never a bad idea. I recently wore this Interior dress to a rehearsal dinner and now, like many of my friends and colleagues, I have a new found love for the color red. For the weddings I have coming up this summer I plan to continue leaning into color, but if I do fall back into my neutral ways and opt for a black gown, I’ll be accessorizing with a statement shoe, fun bag, and a chic pair of sunglasses.
Conçetta Ciarlo | Associate Manager, Events
As sincerely happy as I am for friends and family celebrating their nuptials, weddings are admittedly not my soireé of choice—I know, gasp! I need a no-think formula with as few layers as possible when putting together the perfect look. Another vital requirement when building my ensemble is that each piece I purchase is authentic to my style so I can mix and match items for other occasions. I can’t help but consistently gravitate towards dark colors, so my favorite trick to incorporating a bit of fun without playing too much into colors is adding metallic accessories (and I always have at least one perfume and lip liner handy)!
Arden Fanning Andrews | Beauty Editor at Large
I’m flying into Milan this summer for my friend Gia’s destination nuptials and taking partial credit for inspo after getting us jars of Italian Wedding soup while we were proud adult roommates last year while I was moving into her apartment and she was moving in with her fiancé, Tom. I want to be light on my feet and able to help with any last-minute requests (Nana’s makeup! We forgot a bouquet!) so I’m going to probably pull on one of Azeeza’s cute little babydoll dresses or silky gowns with room to keep it moving, snacking, and sipping all along the way.
Alexandra Ditch | Associate Commerce Producer
Lately, I’ve been going out of my way to peek inside the windows of Dôen’s West Village shop as often as possible. The summer weddings on my calendar are the perfect excuse to treat myself to one of its feminine silk dresses! I plan to pair it with accessories that are just as feminine—like these strappy Aeyde sandals (with a block heel for dancing, of course), a pearl hair bow, and a vintage-inspired handbag by Loeffler Randall.
Maya Layne | Entertainment Associate
I won’t be shy about it—I’m a good wedding guest. Passed trays of canapes, flutes of sparkling champagne, and live jazz arrangements bring out dreamy, romantic notions from within me. Maybe love is a celebration, maybe the small talk with the waitstaff is the funniest thing I will hear that night, maybe there’s drama with the bride’s sister! Life is rich! But I digress. I love this blush pink scoop back dress from Reformation with a pair of white Jeffrey Campbell kitten-heeled sandals and gem drop stone earrings for a fun, early-aughts vibe. The best accessory—a film camera to capture it all for later.