A Guide to Festive Wedding Attire for Wedding Guests
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If you’ve recently been invited to a wedding with a “festive attire” dress code, you’re probably a bit confused and worried about what you’re expected to wear. Do you sport Christmas-themed red, green, and gold hues? Should your ensemble feature tons of sparkle and color? Are you required to adhere to a unique theme? Here’s our initial answer: Festive attire isn’t actually as complicated as you’re making it out to be (trust us!).
A relatively new term, festive attire ultimately allows guests to truly lean into their personal aesthetics when getting dressed for a friend or family member’s big day. Best of all, it’s a versatile dress code that can work for any season and time of day, making it easy for individuals to style themselves for all types of celebrations. But before you start searching for an outfit to suit this fashion directive, there are a few things to know prior to heading to the store or placing an online order.
Interested in learning more? Here, we consulted with two stylists to fill us in on the who, what, when, where, and how of festive attire—including expert-approved tips on how to perfectly nail this dress code for every upcoming wedding you have to attend.
Meet the Expert
- Ericka Plackowski is a bridal stylist based in Detroit, Michigan. Her goal is to help brides create and put together the best looks for their special day.
- Lara Mahler is the founder and chief planner of The Privilege is Mine, a wedding planning collective based in New York.
What Is Festive Attire?
“Festive attire is a fun and colorful spin on semi-formal wear,” says bridal stylist Erika Plackowski. “It’s an excuse to wear bright colors and prints to a wedding.” However, it can also lend itself to black-tie and formal events, just as long as guests adhere to the fancy side of the dress code before infusing their individuality into their day-of look. Wedding planner Lara Mahler adds, “Guests are encouraged to have fun and play with their look with bold colors and accessories.”
Given the versatility of festive attire, it’s important to pay attention to context clues—like the formality of the invite and venue or if the couple noted an additional dress code—when figuring out how dressy or casual your ensemble should be. But in general, your best bet is to veer toward semi-formal with a twist.
Photo by Elizabeth Austin Photography
A Breakdown of Festive Attire for Women
Weddings are formal events, so no matter how your friend or family member delineates their festive attire directive—black tie versus cocktail, for example—it’s always best to wear something dressy to ensure your ensemble is wedding-appropriate. Aside from that, however, think outside the box and lean into prints, patterns, and colors when selecting your day-of look. For example, a floral-printed gown would perfectly suit a garden-inspired, festive black-tie wedding. Or, a houndstooth printed maxi would be the perfect choice for a festive winter dress code. “You can definitely have fun with some Carrie Bradshaw-type accessories,” Plackowski adds.
Another tip? Don’t forget about the season and location when choosing your overall outfit. Mahler notes that the weight of the fabric will change depending on the climate, especially as it pertains to summer festive attire. “If you’re in a warmer climate, you may opt for a chiffon dress, linen, or cotton outfits,” she says. “Something lightweight and breathable. For cooler climates, you can go for something heavier, like velvet, satin, or something heavily beaded.”
Photo by KT Merry
A Breakdown of Festive Attire for Men
Men should also feel free to play around with their looks when attending a wedding with a festive dress code. Instead of wearing a simple black suit, for instance, get creative with different textures and colors, like green, brown, or cream-colored hues. Additionally, “Opt for a suit in a fun color with a nice printed tie,” Plackowski advises. “If you’re bold, wear a nice dress shirt in a fun print to complement your plus one.”
Feel more comfortable in a classic black suit? Both Mahler and Plackowski recommend jazzing up your attire with a colorful tie or pocket square. Accessories can also change up a look without feeling too overwhelming, such as unique cufflinks and bold sunglasses. Not afraid to really go bold? If you aren’t afraid of taking risks, a floral suit can be fun for spring or summer festive attire—or a really bright shade like pink or yellow.
Mahler advises men to play around with materials; seersucker, linen, and other breathable fabrics work great for warmer climates, while “pea coats, turtle necks, corduroy, and velvet suit jackets,” are lovely options for cooler temperatures, she notes.
The Top Festive Attire Etiquette Rules to Know
According to Plackowski, the main rule guests should follow is to never upstage the couple. Meaning, steer clear of anything that’s white and outfits that have the potential to become the center of attention. After that, consider leaning into the season or any holidays that might fall near the couple’s wedding date. “If we are around New Year’s Eve, it might be fun to wear a festive mini dress. If the wedding is around Christmas, it might be nice to opt for a [holiday festive] maxi dress option,” Mahler says. “I think in the end, what we are working towards with festive attire is to really channel the time of year: the colors surrounded by the season and the weather.”
Lastly, don’t mistake festive attire for casual. “Men are still expected to wear a suit and women should wear fun dresses,” Plackowski says. As mentioned, weddings are formal affairs, and guests should always respect the formality of this type of celebration.
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