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17 Formal Wedding Guest Dresses Perfect for Fancy Nuptials

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We’re going to bet you have quite a few weddings lined up this year, and whether you’re headed to a barn or a ballroom event, the dress code is up to the couple. Some like cocktail, others prefer dressy casual and a third group goes all out with formal. Formal wedding guest dresses are fun to shop for because there are so many options out there and it’s hard not to feel like the belle of the ball in an ultra-elegant frock. To get you started on your search, we’ve rounded up the 17 best formal wedding guest dresses to wear to all of your 2022 nuptials.

19 Beach Wedding Guest Dresses that Pair Perfectly With the Stunning Seascape


formal wedding guest dresses plunging
Nordstrom Rack

1. Love By Design Athen Plunging Maxi

Best Plunging Neckline

A simple gown with a plunging neckline is a beautiful, elegant option for a formal wedding. This baby blue is sure to highlight your tan (and that high slit will show off your legs and heels, too).

Size range: XS to XL

formal wedding guest dresses best strappless
Revolve

2. Susana Monaco Strapless Dress

Best Strapless Maxi

Yellow is one of the trendiest hues for summer 2022. This muted yellow number has gorgeous side cutouts that connect to an open back, and the A-line silhouette with the strapless, straight-across neckline is very ‘90s, which is so in right now.

Size range: XS to XL

formal wedding guest dresses cowl neck
Revolve

3. Nbd Shelby Gown

Best Cowl Neck

We’d definitely buy this even if we didn’t have a formal wedding to wear it to. This stunning satin gown has a flattering high slit and cowl neck, and we can’t say enough good things about the regal dark blue color.

Size range: XXS to XL

formal wedding guest dresses best green dress
Revolve

4. Superdown Ryleigh Strapless Maxi

Best Green Dress

Green is definitely one of the hottest colors of 2022, and this dress has a soft, jersey-like fabric with boning in the bodice to give your torso structure. Pair it with gold jewelry and some strappy heeled sandals and you’re good to go.

Size range: XXS to XL

formal wedding guest dresses nookie jasmine
Revolve

5. Nookie Jasmine One Shoulder Gown

Best Black Dress

A trio that can’t be beat? A one-shoulder black dress with a high slit. This triple threat is so timeless that you can wear again and again throughout the years.

Size range: XS to XL

formal wedding guest dresses lulus jumpsuit
Lulus

6. Lush Perfect Night Culotte Jumpsuit

Best Jumpsuit

Sometimes you want to step outside the dress box with a stunning jumpsuit, and this one checks all the boxes. The shiny satin is lined for a supportive fit and the wide legs are great for keeping you comfortable while dancing.

Size range: XS to XL

formal wedding guest dresses short dress
Revolve

7. Lovers And Friends Hayes Mini Dress

Best Short Dress

OK, we need this dress. The super high neck creates a great contrast when paired with a mini length and low back, and you really can’t go wrong with this light pink shade.

Size range: XXS to XL

formal wedding guest dresses fame and partners
Fame and Partners

8. Fame And Partners Asymmetrical Drape Dress

Most Customizable

This gorgeous option can be customized to your exact measurements. Just pop your numbers into the Fame and Partners website and you’ll soon receive a dress that was quite literally made for you. Just make sure you order well in advance, since orders take four to seven weeks to be completed.

Size range: Customizable

reformation
Reformation

9. Reformation Marguerite Dress

Best Silk Dress

You’re never going to want to take this lavish silk dress off. The soft silk and romantic silhouette is enough to make us want to wear this every day.

Size range: 0 to 12

formal wedding guest dresses amanda uprichard
Saks Fifth Avenue

10. Amanda Uprichard Amalia Gown

Best High-Low Gown

The ruffles are by far our favorite part of the dress, but the bright pink is such a great color option for summer. The sweetheart neckline is always a flattering choice, too.

Size range: XS to L

retrofete
Retrofete

11. Retrofête Dana Dress

Most Elegant Gown

How magnificent is this dress? The asymmetry of the sleeves paired with the high neck and high slit makes this one of our favorite picks on this list.

Size range: XXS to XXL

lulus silk
Lulus

12. Lulus Still The One Satin Maxi Dress

Best Floral Dress

This dress is a great pick if you’re in the mood for a no-fuss, comfy, maxi dress. One PureWow editor, who wore this floral maxi to a summer wedding, raves about how easy to wear it is and how the deep V-neck complements her chest without showing too much

Size range: XXS to XL

formal wedding guest dresses best lace
Lulus

13. Lulus Alluring Dream Trumpet Dress

Best Lace Dress

Va-va-voom, are we right? The lace overlay is feminine and elegant, plus we love the navy, which is slightly less expected than black but equally versatile when it comes to styling.

Size range: XS to XL

formal wedding guest dresses off the shoulder
Nordstrom

14. Vince Camuto Popover Cocktail Dress

Best Off-the-Shoulder Dress

Show off your decolletage in this simple off-the-shoulder midi. Customers mention the material is super supportive but not too tight, which is great if you are looking for a little extra compression.

Size range: 0 to 12

formal wedding guest dresses best halter1
Nordstrom

15. Eliza J Floral Halter Neck Dress

Best Halter Dress

If summer could be summed up in a dress, this would be it. The feminine, flowy feel of this silhouette makes it a no-brainer for a formal outdoor wedding. Halter necks are great to keep you cooled off and we recommend a sleek ponytail to go with it.

Size range: 0 to 18

formal wedding guest dresses monique lhullier
Saks Fifth Avenue

16. Monique Lhullier Sequin Tulle Gown

Best Designer Option

Talk about luxury. The lavender shade of this dress has us swooning, and the subtle sequin details in the floral print elevate the formal look of this more casual silhouette.

Size range: 0 to 16

formal wedding guest dresses best chiffon
Lulus

17. Lulus Radiant Ruby Chiffon Dress

Best for A Beach Wedding

Chiffon is a breezy material for warm days, and this fun, tropical pattern is perfect for dancing the night away.

Size range: XS to XL



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Commerce Editor

Olivia Dubyak is PureWow's Commerce Editor and textbook Capricorn. She studied journalism at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, but has gone from New York City to...