16 Autumn Wedding Guest Dresses For Fancy Affairs & Outdoor Ceremonies

Wedding season is generally thought of as summer, but the most popular month to say “I do” is actually in the autumn (it’s October, for anyone taking notes). Maybe it’s the vibrant colours of the changing foliage or the much-anticipated relief from the heat, but autumn weddings, much like autumn itself, are definitely a thing. While the season’s multi-hued leaves make for stunning wedding pics for newlyweds, finding wedding guest outfits that are both dressy and seasonally appropriate can often stump attendees. The increasingly erratic trans-seasonal weather — from rainstorms to heat waves — isn’t particularly helpful either.

Fear not, because ahead are 20 bonafide wedding guest ensembles that are festive in colour and design, and suitable for the up-and-down temperatures. There are options for every ceremony type, from a cocktail wedding to a black tie affair — and even better, we’ve considered the re-wear potential. Read on to uncover a plethora of new autumn dresses that are the perfect wedding guest look.

There’s really only one prerequisite for a dress to be appropriate for a black-tie wedding and that’s simply that it’s floor-length. Luckily, there are tons of stunning floor-length gowns perfect for the cooler weather. Look out for interesting details like voluminous sleeves, drop waists, thigh-high slits and matching scarves to stand out from the crowd and get you on the best-dressed list.

Cocktail attire is one of the most popular special-occasion dress codes, offering a balance between formal and casual style, and allowing you to effortlessly go from day to night. This opens up your options to more silhouettes, hemline lengths, fabrics, prints and embellishments. For autumn, we recommend looking for tried-and-true midi dresses (but you can also seek more casual maxi dresses or more formal mini dresses). We’re personally eyeing midi cocktail dresses with skin-baring details like plunging necklines, statement cutouts and dramatic slits.

If your upcoming autumn weddings are on the casual end of the spectrum, you can likely pull a dress already in your wardrobe or find one at a non-astronomical price. For daytime nuptials or casual venues, like restaurants or pubs, reach for mini and midi dresses in unexpected fabrics like crepe de chine or poplin, and look out for playful details like stripes, puff sleeves, smocked bodices and bows. Consider going for elevated tank dresses or milkmaid dresses that can be styled multiple ways for different celebrations (or even be worn to the office).

You may have attended a beach wedding this summer, but outdoor autumn weddings could instead take place in gardens, lakeside forests, refurbished barns, or at rooftop bars. For those, you’ll want to consider carting up a wedding guest dress that has a high neckline, long sleeves, and/or a maxi skirt to account for the cooler weather. You can also look for bold prints like snakeskin and florals, or unexpected fabrics like heavier linens and knitted mesh. Then pair your look with trusty ballet flats or cowboy boots for the outdoor terrain, and comfortably dance the night away.