WHAT TO WEAR TO A WEDDING: How to pick the perfect outfit for YOU!

Okay wedding outfits - let me start with the basics as there are some ground rules that we should cover before you go rushing out to the shops in a panic frenzy - we are trying to avoid any scenarios where an impulse purchase ends up in your wardrobe!

A recent wedding guest outfit that I wore - it was a warm day. I wanted to wear something bright, but with a little edge. The v-neck creates a flattering shape and the cut out waist and open back give the whole look a bit more sass! Accessories are simple so that the dress can do all the talking. My skin was tanned due to recently returning from Dubai so the emerald colour really complemented my skin tone and hair - remember everyone can wear every colour. It's just a case of finding the right hue for YOU! For anyone unsure of what colour to coordinate emerald with, gold is a great place to start - it will give your outfit a really sophisticated look.

When deciding what to wear to a wedding there are a few initial things to be considered:

1. YOUR COLOUR PALETTE

All of us have a colour palette, full of tones that work for us based on our hair and skin colour.

I would recommend understanding the best colours that work for you before anything else, as this will give you more direction when hunting down the perfect wedding guest outfit.

Your colour palette is made up of 3 main categories: Neutrals, Mains and Accents.

Neutrals are the backdrop and most basic colours of your palette (such as white, grey, black, nudes etc) main colours are the ones you wear most, and the accents are the colours for little details and accessories in your wardrobe; but can also be colours that are worn for special occasions - as generally they are a lot brighter and bolder!

Questions to ask yourself are: what colours are dominant in my existing wardrobe? What colours do I most enjoy wearing? What colours suit my skin tone? All, important questions, and ones which will assist you in finding your perfect wedding guest outfit.

2. DRESSING FOR *YOUR* STYLE 

With very little in the way of a wedding guest outfit rulebook (other than no white, obvs) there is relative freedom when it comes to putting together your look.

Which is why you should always dress to suit your preferences in terms of areas you would like to disguise, and features you want to show off. Get that right and you’ll feel as confident and as fabulous as humanely possible!

To translate, this basically means there are endless options - depending on the type of styles that suit you, you could go for a dress, a pant suit, a top and maxi skirt combo - the list goes on. 

I would say my style is pretty girly and chic, and I love colour. I am not someone who wears a lot of black, lets put it that way! I have a small bust so I can get away with going braless and wearing backless styles. I have also got long legs so I sometimes prefer to go for a maxi style, as a 'normal' length dress can sometimes come up too short on me, which isn't the kind of look I like to go for!

3. KEEP IT LOCATION APPROPRIATE

This may sound like a no-brainier but always keep in mind what type of wedding you’re going to be attending. Is it a church wedding? Or perhaps a glorious beach location on the other side of the world? Or maybe it’s on the grounds of a luxury hotel.... 

Wherever it may be, always keep this at the back of your mind. The last thing you want to do is buy a black maxi dress to wear in 30 degree heat - sweat - no thankss!!!!

Okay so now we have cleared up the basics I am going to share some tips and tricks on how you can pick the perfect wedding guest outfit for YOU!

Summer wedding? Well let’s just start by forgetting neutrals. Summer weddings are all about embracing colour! This could be in the form of a block colour, think emerald green, fuchsia or canary yellow.

There's also absolutely nothing wrong with falling back on a floral dress (especially if it's a wrap, and particularly if you team it with a pair of mules or barley there sandals). You can also opt for a spring-ready suit that matches your new pastel shoes or tuck your favourite blouse into a chic embellished skirt.

Better yet, you could just pull out your trusty LBD from your wardrobe - however if you use this as your safe option please switch up the accessories so you don’t look like your attending a funeral. Think statement necklace or snake or colour block heels and a bold clutch - perhaps embellished or covered in feathers - accessories that are going to give your outfit that extra bit of sass! 

If you're not a big fan of print, try a silky satin frock, satin has a way of making a statement and looking extremely luxurious, plus it's sooo feminine! A wrap or cami style are on trend and look fab with barley there heels and a statement clutch bag.

Below are some of my favourite celebrity looks which could be replicated for wedding guest looks, take their inspiration and make it YOUR own!

Celebrity Wedding Guest Outfit Inspiration

Celebrity Wedding Guest Outfit Inspiration

Celebrity Wedding Guest Outfit Inspiration

Remember weddings are an occasion to show off your not-so-everyday personality and style! Go for colour and textures, and remember not to wait until wedding season to start thinking about your outfit, because the chance of you finding something that fits and looks good and that makes you stand out in a crowd is very slim when you're actually looking for something - you know what it's like? It's that curse like when you have extra money and you can never find anything you want to buy? Arghhhh!!

If you see something you like, buy it there and then, often when wedding season approaches, (this especially applies to weddings in September), the shops have started to bring in their Autumn/Winter ranges and most of the styles available are slightly more muted in colour and there are never as many 'wedding-y' options available.