wedding guest style | garden of glam

Wedding Guest Fashion: Formal & Cocktail

I think it is fair to say that the most common dress code for weddings is formal or cocktail attire therefore today’s Spring/Summer Wedding Guest Dress for Success Guide is dedicated to the broad spectrum that is formal wedding wear. Formal is wonderful because you can go short or long (and you know how much I love long). Formal is of course a step down from black tie and lends itself to many different styles, silhouettes, colors and fabrics. And cocktail is a slight step below formal. However, when experimenting with fabrics and volumes always be mindful of the location of the wedding and if it is indoor or outdoor. Take it from someone who tends to overheat quickly, the last thing you want is to be stuck outside in an oppressively heavy dress. With that said play around and find what works best for you, your body type, the venue, and make sure your shoes are comfortable enough to dance the night away in.

A very special thank you to my fabulous collaborators that made this post possible! Thank you Carine’s Bridal Atelier for providing the gorgeous gowns, Charm & Fornash for the flawless baubles, and Drybar for the beautiful blow out!

Dress: Marchesa (c/o Carine’s Bridal), Jewels: Charm Georgetown & Fornash, Hair: Drybar

One of the most amazing things about spring/summer wear is that brights are always in. Make sure that one aspect of your ensemble is a true stand out.

Just because the dress is bold does not mean you have to shy away from accessories and bling!

The exaggerated fan sleeve is my absolute favorite! Because there are a lot of components to the dress a more conservative hemline is crucial.

Wedding Guest Fashion: Black Tie

My life has completely been taken over by weddings! By the end of September I will pretty much be able to add professional wedding guest/bridal party member to my resume. Weddings are the ultimate party and the most special of celebrations. Everyone is happy, ready to have a good time and you can feel the love in the air. Weddings are also so wonderful because they provide the perfect opportunity to dress up, which if you are a follower of the blog you know I love to do. Dressing fabulously and flawlessly for weddings can be tricky at times and because of this I decided to put together a weeklong Spring/Summer Wedding Guest Dress for Success Guide.

To put this post together I turned to some of D.C.’s glamour staples. Carine’s Bridal Atelier provided the gorgeous dresses. I also sat down with Carine and chatted with her about wedding trends, bridal market, her beautiful boutique and so much more. For the video of this interview head over to Carine’s blog & Facebook page. For the baubles I, of course, turned to Charm Georgetown & Fornash. As you know accessories provide the perfect finishing touch to each look and must be given as much attention as the clothes themselves. Special thank you to Jackie from Charm for graciously opening up her store to me and helping me complete each ensemble. Also, in case you missed it check out my exclusive (vintage) interview with Jackie here. For the hair I turned to none other than Drybar. This was my first Drybar experience and it was absolutely amazing! The staff was super friendly and knowledgable, the atmosphere was absolute perfection and of course the blow out was impeccable. My stylist even instructed me on how to secure an easy and fabulous up do. I could not recommend Drybar more highly!

And now for today’s wedding look feature….the black tie wedding. Black tie is less common, but with that said it is virtually impossible to make it through wedding season without being invited to one black tie wedding. I love long dresses so I jump at the opportunity to wear a long gown. Floor length gowns are also the most appropriate for a black tie wedding or function, but a shorter dress can work, but really go long, when else will you be able to! Long gowns are also flattering for all body types and just truly stunning.