30 Fall Wedding Guest Dresses Perfect For Women Over 40

Fall Wedding Guest Dresses

Deciding what to wear to a wedding is a daunting task. Weddings are special events, so we want to look special too. But the most important thing, no matter what you wear, is to make sure that you feel special. My number one tip for finding the perfect dress for an event? Don’t procrastinate! If you wait until the last minute, you’ll end up picking something you don’t truly love or feel special in. If you have a wedding coming up and you’re still looking for a dress, do NOT worry! I have MANY dress ideas (below), and some questions to help you focus your search.

What To Wear To A Wedding As A Guest

First things first…determine what to wear to a fall wedding by focusing your search and asking yourself these key questions…

1) What is my budget?

Know that you don’t have to spend a ton of money to look and feel your best! Whether your budget is $100 or $1000…there are SO many wedding guest dresses out there to choose from.

2) How do I want to look?

And more importantly…how do you want to feel? Sexy, elegant, fashion-forward, pretty? Decide how you want to feel in your dress and go from there.

3) Do you prefer to wear certain colors?

Think about what colors you’ve worn and then received the most compliments in. If everyone tells you that you look amazing in red, go for a red dress! Also, consider the season. This post is primarily focused on fall wedding guest dresses, which will be very different from summer weddings. For summer, I envision floral prints, bright colors, etc. When I think of an autumnal wedding I picture a pretty jewel tone dress, moody florals, and deeper hues.

4) What is the dress code?

I know wedding dress codes can be confusing. I shared tips on wedding guest attire and what to wear to a wedding based on dress codes here. But The Knot has a cheat sheet breaking down what all the dress codes mean here including info on black tie, semi-formal, cocktail attire, and much more.

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Formal Wedding Guest Dress

The stunning Zhivago dress I’m wearing above would be perfect for a fall wedding. The contrasting black and white is so chic and flattering. I know that it has white but it’s not too much white and my rule is that if the majority of the dress is not white, you can wear it to a wedding. This dress makes me feel elegant, sexy, and oh-so-chic. The one-shoulder, subtle cutout, body skimming silhouette, and flattering white panels are all such beautiful details that make this a standout special event dress for fall. This brand is known for their sexy, sleek, modern pieces and I own a few of their dresses and jumpsuits so I linked a few more favorites from the brand below. I styled it with some black slingbacks, but you could wear it with whatever pair of skin shade or black heels you have in your closet. It’s pricey so I’m sharing more options below…
More by Zhivago here.

Cocktail Wedding Guest Dress

If you’re headed to a wedding that’s less formal like cocktail attire, this Me+Em dress is a great option! It’s SO chic and versatile you’ll wear it to more than just weddings. The best part is definitely the fabric. It’s a Ponte jersey that’s wrinkle-resistant, which is great if you have to travel to the wedding. It’s thick and structured so it hides any imperfections, but still lightweight to keep you cool. The silhouette is also super flattering. (I love a fit and flare dress). The V-neckline creates an elongating effect and seam details around the waist give you a beautiful hourglass shape. I love that the dress has cap sleeves, to soften shoulders and get some arm coverage. Throw on some pumps, heels, mules, or strappy sandals for a wedding, dinner, work, or a special occasion.
Shop more Me+Em dresses here.

By the way, I shared FOUR ways to style this dress into fall/winter in this post. And keep scrolling for more fall wedding guest dress options…

Let us know in the comments if you’re looking for something specific…we’d love to help you find exactly what you want so you can look and feel amazing!

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