By What to wear to a wedding at the height of Australian summer
@leolin / @taramilktea
There’s nothing quite like a spring wedding. The florals are blooming, the Aperol spritzes are flowing, and you’ve already stress-Googled “summer wedding guest dresses” twenty times for inspiration. Like first dates and job interviews, shopping for the perfect spring-summer wedding guest dress presents a specific fashion challenge.
You want something that feels romantic, polished and ‘you’ without tipping into ‘did I just upstage the bride?’ territory. And of course, it needs to be breathable without being overly revealing. (If your friend’s or your own grandparents are in attendance, things can get awkward fast.)
That said, you want your look to be pretty flattering. There’s always the chance of running into an ex or, with luck, your next ex. Some wedding rules never change, while others you can bend depending on the couple’s vibe.
The ELLE Edit Of The Best Wedding Guest Dresses
BEST BLACK WEDDING GUEST DRESS
Leo Lin Rayna Embroidered Maxi Dress
BEST BLUE WEDDING GUEST DRESS
Bec + Bridge Xanthi V Neck Maxi Dress in Bermuda Blue
BEST GREEN WEDDING GUEST DRESS
Christopher Esber Orion Gown in Limed Olive
BEST MAXI DRESS
BEST MIDI DRESS
BEST MINI DRESS
BEST UNIQUE WEDDING GUEST DRESS
One rule that hasn’t changed? Wearing white is a faux pas. Even if it’s a not-technically-white slip dress from that Scandi label that looks so chic with a raffia clutch, someone will take issue with it. The bride has a monopoly on ivory and all related shades for the day, whether she chooses to exercise it or not. Then, there’s the question of comfort. Weddings are marathons, not sprints. You’ll be clinking glasses at 2pm, queuing for the bathroom at 8pm, and attempting to catch the bouquet at midnight. Your dress needs to go the distance.
Which brings us to the ultimate fashion crime: the boring block-colour palettes that dominate formal dresses. Nothing wrong with a minimalist shift in theory, but when the bridal party is head-to-toe in pastel chiffon, and the guests are decked out in primary hues, the photos destined for Instagram (and family albums) can start to resemble an impressionist painting — high on blobs of colour, low on detail. A painterly print, a floral in an unexpected shade, or a hint of texture, whether it’s velvet, diamantes, or lace, will always add personality.
So what works? For daytime ceremonies in the sun, consider a maxi dress in a fluid fabric that moves with the breeze or a print that feels interesting. If you’re prone to overheating, a mini dress with a conservative neckline keeps things playful while still being wedding-appropriate.
Most of all, if you’re shopping for a dress for a specific wedding, we recommend buying something you can picture yourself wearing again.
Below, we’ve rounded up the dresses we’d happily wear to any summer soiree, nuptial or otherwise.
Best Black Wedding Guest Dresses
Some people wonder if it’s okay to wear black to a wedding. I’m here to confirm: Yes, you can absolutely wear black to a wedding. Don’t believe me? Think of Dakota Johnson’s sheer black halter she wore to Taylor and Travis’ wedding spectacular. Joey King also wore a black dress with blue florals by Australian label Leo Lin to the same nuptials at Madison Square Garden. Hailey Bieber and Kylie Jenner also both wore elegant black maxi dresses to Jordyn Woods and Karl-Anthony Towns’ wedding in August 2026.
LEO LIN
Rayna Embroidered Maxi Dress
SHONA JOY
Campbell Halter Plunged Maxi Dress
BEC + BRIDGE
Elias Maxi Dress
SIR.
Lysia Halter Gown
Best Blue Wedding Guest Dresses
It’s Taylor Swift’s favourite colour to wear to a wedding! Be the bride’s ‘something blue’ with these blue wedding dresses. If you’re looking for something laid-back, try a slip dress from Swift-approved brand Doen, or if you’re looking for a blue dress with a bit of glamour, try the 70s-inspired Bec & Bridge Halter Dress.
BEC + BRIDGE
Xanthi V Neck Maxi Dress
SIR
Noria Tiered Gown
DOEN
Zoelle Dress
ACLER
Burbank Maxi Dress
Best Green Wedding Guest Dresses
Fashion has seen a recent surge in the colour green, and wedding guest dresses are no exception. In fact, Hailey Bieber recently wore a striking green dress to the wedding of Finneas O’Connell and Claudia Sulewski. Lena Dunham also wore a vibrant green matching skirt suit to Taylor Swift’s wedding rehearsal dinner.
CHRISTOPHER ESBER
Orion Gown
HARRIS TAPPER
Pairo Dress
RAT & BOA
Navarra Dress Lime
RACHEL GILBERT
Sophia Strap Dress
Best Maxi Dresses For A Wedding Guest
Maxi dresses are the solution for formal and casual weddings alike; however, the struggle in spring and summer can be finding one with enough room to breathe. For black-tie weddings, look to gowns in luxurious fabrics like silk, satin or chiffon. We love the Oryx Gown by Rachel Gilbert as a black tie-appropriate wedding dress for summer. If you’re headed to a more casual-style wedding, you can look to simple slip dresses or vintage-inspired designs, like the Sella Maxi Dress from Faithfull, which is the perfect maxi for a garden or beach wedding.
RACHEL GILBERT
Oryx Gown
MESHKI
Olivia Strapless Maxi Dress
FAITHFULL
Sella Maxi Dress Vintage
Scanlan Theodore
Turban Gown
Best Midi Dresses For A Wedding Guest
If you’re attending a wedding with a cocktail dress code, look for a midi dress. Perfect for outdoor weddings, or those with beach or garden themes, midi dresses offer a more relaxed spin on wedding guest dressing, and can be dressed up or down with jewellery and heels.
AJE
Mathilde Dress
REFORMATION
Teleia Red Dress
REBECCA VALLANCE
Bacio Midi Dress
MINIMA ESENCIALES
Torrin Maxi Dress
Best Mini Dresses For A Wedding Guest
A common formal dressing conundrum for shorter women is finding the right dress length. If the wedding is cocktail, courthouse or more casual, you can don an elegant mini dress. The key is balancing modesty with leg! If you want to wear a mini dress to a wedding, I recommend looking at the Medora Mini Dress by Acler or Self Portrait’s Satin Bow Mini.
ACLER
Medora Mini Dress
SELF PORTRAIT
Taffeta Collared Mini Dress
SELF PORTRAIT
Satin Bow Mini Dress
LEO LIN
Roselle Mini Dress
Best Unique Wedding Guest Dresses
If you want to stand out from the crowd, try a wedding guest dress with a unique style or pattern. Animal prints continue to be popular in spring and summer this year, with zebra print emerging as a popular choice, like the Majel Dress by Rat & Boat. Alternatively, look for unique details, like 3D floral embellishments or embroidery.
RAT & BOA
Majel Dress
DÔEN
Orphina Dress
ALEMAIS
Banderra Silk Scarf Dress
REFORMATION
Allissa Dress