The Best Summer Wedding Guest Dresses — From Beach to Black Tie
Finding a wedding guest dress you feel confident and comfortable in is no small feat. Add the complexities of dressing for summer — hello, wrinkly fabrics and visible sweat marks — and you’ve got yourself a full-blown shopping project. The good news? You don't have to spend your weekend braving fluorescent-lit dressing rooms to find the perfect summer wedding guest dress. Whether you’re looking for a breezy dress for a beach wedding, a formal gown for a black-tie ceremony, or a slip dress that works across a myriad of dress codes, we’ve got you covered.
Ahead, we’ve rounded up the 28 best summer dresses for every type of wedding — from casual to cocktail — in a wide range of sizes, styles, and price points from Refinery29 reader-favorite retailers like Nordstrom, Anthropologie, and Zara. All that’s left to do? Put on your dancing shoes and raise a glass to the happy couple.
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Embrace your whimsical side for beach and destination weddings. Slide into sandals, espadrilles, or wedges, and slip on a vibrant-hued or tropical-printed dress. This is your moment to lean into the breezy, slightly more casual dress code — think linen maxis and floral prints you’ll want to wear all season long.
Farm Rio Delicate Tapestry Euroflax Premium Linen Midi Dress, $, available at Farm Rio
Free-est At Leisure Midi Dress
free-est At Leisure Midi Dress, $, available at Free People
Zara Printed Linen Blend Mini Dress
Zara Printed Linen Blend Mini Dress, $, available at Zara
Madewell Textured Maxi Slip Dress
Madewell Textured Maxi Slip Dress, $, available at Madewell
Eywasouls Malibu Scarlet Dress
Eywasouls Malibu Scarlet Dress, $, available at Shopbop
Abercrombie and Fitch Beaded Flowy Midi Dress, $, available at Abercrombie and Fitch
Summer Black-Tie Wedding Guest Dresses
Dress to impress at a summer black-tie wedding. The formal dress code calls for floor-length gowns in bold colors (yes, you can skip the black). Classic column, drop-waist, and slip silhouettes are always on point — or go for something unexpected, like a patterned maxi or cascading chiffon dress.
Sabina Musayev Nicola Dress, $, available at Shopbop
Dress The Population Bella One-Shoulder Tie-Waist Side-Slit Plissé Maxi Dress
Dress The Population Bella One-Shoulder Tie-Waist Side-Slit Plissé Maxi Dres, $, available at Anthropologie
Gap Studio Satin Slip Dress
Gap GapStudio Satin Slip Dress, $, available at Gap
Lulus Glamorous Dedication Sleeveless Column Maxi Dress, $, available at Lulus
Hutch Aza A-Line Halter Dress
Hutch Aza A-Line Halter Dress, $, available at Nordstrom
Helsa The Sabine Dress in Silk Chiffon
Helsa The Sabine Dress in Silk Chiffon, $, available at FWRD
Show Me Your Mumu Lisa Maxi Dress
Show Me Your Mumu Lisa Maxi Dress, $, available at Show Me Your Mumu
Summer Cocktail Wedding Guest Dresses
Cocktail weddings strike the balance between formal and fun, and your dress should do the same. Go for a midi-length with eye-catching details like keyhole cut-outs, mesh overlays, or architectural ruffles. Minis and maxis can work too, as long as the fabric and finish feel refined — think lace appliqués, tailored shapes, or flutter sleeves.
Arrange Satin Embroidered Lace Applique Column Midi Dress, $, available at ASOS
Mango Floral-Print Dress with Asymmetrical Straps
Mango Floral-Print Dress with Asymmetrical Straps, $, available at Mango
Eloquii Floral Pattern Tank Dress
Eloquii Floral Pattern Tank Dress, $, available at Eloquii
The styling opportunities are endless when it comes to a casual wedding. Try a mini, midi, or maxi in a solid shade with playful smocking or puff sleeves, or go the cheerful print route (hello, polka dots). The best part? These styles work well beyond the wedding — perfect for brunches, bridal showers, and every RSVP in between.
Damson Madder Sita Multiway Midi Dress, $, available at Damson Madder
Banana Republic Ruched Cotton Poplin One-Shoulder Maxi Dress, $, available at Banana Republic
Reformation Katarin Linen Dress
Reformation Katarin Linen Dress, $, available at Reformation
Everlane The Smocked Column Dress
Everlane The Smocked Column Dress, $, available at Everlane
Universal Standard Sunset Linen Flounce Dress
Universal Standard Sunset Linen Flounce Dress, $, available at Universal Standard
J.Crew Palermo Dress in Viscose-Blend Crinkle
J.Crew Palermo Dress in Viscose-Blend Crinkle, $, available at J.Crew
Black-Tie Wedding Guest Dresses
Dress to impress for black-tie weddings. The formal dress code calls for cascading and column gowns in satin, silk, tulle, and lace fabrics. Feel free to dive into your red carpet dreams of rich gem tones, opt for lighter, pastel-hued shades, or invest in a timeless black gown. No matter your vibe, there's a range of summer wedding guest dresses perfect for your upcoming formal affairs.
Skims Deep Plunge Halter Long Dress, $, available at Skims
Cocktail Wedding Guest Dresses
Get ready to dance all night long, cool drink in hand, while wearing a sleek cocktail dress. Pick a traditional midi-length style with eye-catching details, like a one-shoulder neckline, textured overlay, or side cutouts. Or opt for a mini or maxi dress with unexpected bustier-style tops or statement slits.
Abercrombie & Fitch Giselle Pleated Cutout Maxi Dress, $, available at Abercrombie & Fitch
Norma Kamali x Revolve Diana Gown
This particular cocktail dress has been an R29 reader-favorite style for a while, and we understand why. The ruched fabric, one-shoulder neckline, asymmetric hemline, and sweet periwinkle hue make a winning summer dress formula.
pari passu Floral Long Sleeve Poplin Shirtdress, $, available at Nordstom
Casual Wedding Guest Dresses
The styling opportunities are endless when it comes to a casual wedding. You can opt for a mini, midi, or maxi dress in a simple one-tone shade with subtle touches, or you can choose a cheerful pattern. The perk with these wedding guest dress designs is that you can actually wear them to plenty of other events, too.
Free People Primmy Midi Dress, $, available at Free People
L’Agence Jodie Silk Slip Dress
A slip dress can easily be dressed up or down, making it one of the most versatile wedding guest dress styles. But for more casual affairs, you can pick playful prints, like florals and butterflies.
Zara Linen Blend Printed Shirtdress, $, available at Zara
Beach Wedding Guest Dresses
Embrace your whimsical side for summer beach weddings. Slide into sandals, espadrilles, or wedges and feel airy and cool in a vibrant-colored or tropical-patterned frock that is especially fitting for a destination wedding. Lightweight maxis or midis with a flowing skirt not only look dramatic in the summer breeze, but they can also protect you from — ahem — wardrobe malfunctions.
ASOS EDITION Embellished Stone Halterneck Mini Dress, $, available at ASOS
Show Me Your Mumu Stella Smocked Dress
While airy, voluminous dresses are prime for beach weddings, smocked bodycon dresses are equally summer-y, especially when they’re worn in cheery colors like this on-trend yellow.
Sézane Summer Aphrodite Dress, $, available at Sézane
LoveShackFancy Suniva Silk Charmeuse Slip Dress
Swish along the seaside in a drapey silk slip dress that doesn’t cling too tight to the body, like this LoveShackFancy style in the brand’s signature florals.
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