Wedding guest dresses, midi, maxi and mini styles

The ceremony starts at four, dinner runs past midnight, and your wedding guest dress has to get through both without a single trip back to the hotel. We sew most of ours as velvet midis with long sleeves, and the rest are long gowns, lurex pieces and a few minis.

A four o’clock ceremony in a church or at city hall

Go midi. It covers your knees in the pews and still lets you dance later. The pleated velvet midis are made for exactly this kind of day, since all those tiny folds open up when you move. Powder pink comes with three-quarter sleeves, blue with long ones, emerald or red with short ones.

Prefer something smooth? The fitted powder pink velvet midi covers your arms and ends just past the knee. Pearl earrings, and that’s it. For an emerald wedding guest dress that keeps your arms and neckline covered, there’s a plain velvet midi with a round neck. You won’t have to bring a shawl for the photos.

White and ivory belong to the bride. Leave them at home.

Black tie, a ballroom and dinner until late

When the invitation says black tie, wear something that reaches the floor. Our navy velvet mermaid sits close down to the knee and opens out after that. The champagne gold gown has one long sleeve and a slit, and it glows under the reception lights. Burgundy goes off the shoulder, with three-quarter sleeves and a slit at the leg. Put your heels on before you check the hem, every single time.

Lurex midis are the other evening option. The purple and the emerald have round necks and long sleeves, and the metallic thread does all the sparkling, so jewelry can stay small. If you already know the season, see our October and November wedding looks or the styles for a December wedding.

Shorter and a little bolder

A short wedding guest dress, the mini kind, works best at a relaxed city wedding, and only if you know the couple won’t mind. Our burgundy velvet wrap mini lets you decide how deep the V goes by tightening the tie. The blue shimmer wrap has draping at the waist. Powder pink lurex with a V-neck is the softest of the three. Sheer tights, small heels, and you’re set for the after-party.

Frequently asked questions

Is black okay at a wedding?

At most evening weddings, sure. If the family is traditional, ask the couple first.

What if the wedding’s in July?

Most of what’s here is velvet for fall and winter. There’s one exception, a sleeveless pink midi gathered into ruffles around the waist, and we make it for any time of year.

Which size works for a fitted velvet midi?

Measure your bust and hips and compare them with the table on the dress. We cut every one from XS up to XL. An S works out to about a US 4.