Seven Australian creatives show us their go-to wedding outfits

Wedding guest dresses, suits and everything in between.

The older I get, the more I realise: Any wedding is exciting. It’s a chance to gather with friends and family to celebrate the love of people you care about – with the added bonus that most weddings also involve a bar tab, dancing and an excuse to dress up.

As you adjust into summer and start daydreaming about Aperol spritzes and al fresco celebrations, it pays to sort out your wedding guest outfit early on.

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While some people have a talent for putting together outfits at the last minute, usually it’s a stressful ordeal involving dreaded trips to the mall to panic-buy something you inevitably won’t wear again. Plus, wedding outfits need extra consideration – you want something that’ll take you from standing outside, to sitting for dinner, to sweaty hours on the dance floor without faffing around.

There are plenty of ways to add personality to your look while staying comfortable, from renting to accessorising and scouring secondhand outfits on eBay. For some inspiration, we asked seven Australian creatives to show us their go-to wedding guest outfits. Take notes!

Lauren Elbee, fashion content creator

Forget the Little Black Dress, it’s all about the Big Black Dress when it comes to versatile formal attire. The silhouette of this Remain Sloan dress is perfect for eating, drinking and spinning around on the dance-floor with reckless abandon, making it the ideal wedding guest outfit. What’s even better is there are so many ways you can wear it after the event (did someone say office wear?!).

@frivolousfashion

William Thomas, model

When attending a wedding, I think the most important factor is individuality. I always try to take inspiration from my idols and incorporate features from musicians and music from the ’70s.

For this look, I’m wearing a 1970s suit, a satin shirt, Mexican boots and my father’s old cowboy hat. The majority of the items here are thrifted or handed down to me by my parents. I love the uniqueness of the suit and the satin shirt really makes the colour stand out. From the dagger collar to the flare of the pants, I feel this outfit is the epitome of my personal style.

@__will represented by @people.agency

Adray Minh, environmental engineer and model

My go-to wedding style is any ’90s slip dress. They’re so versatile so you can essentially mix them up with different hairstyles, makeup and accessories. I have like a hundred of them because I’m just so obsessed.

Having said that, it’s essential that you ask the bride and/or groom about the wedding dress code to make their day even more special. For example, I wore this beautiful red cowl neck slip dress (very inspired by the one Monica wore to Ross’s wedding in Friends where he said the wrong name) to my best friend’s wedding last summer, after checking with her if the colour and style would be on theme. I also decided to go very simple with hair, makeup and accessories. Plus, it’s always better to consider what you already have before making a new purchase for an event.

@adrayminh represented by @stonestreetagency

Jess Alizzi, content creator and founder of Hikuu

As a neutral girly through and through, a formal occasion like a wedding is the perfect opportunity for me to play around with colours and unique cuts I don’t typically gravitate towards. I’ve gone with this incredible dress from Sir the Label, which is both elegant and modern.

The flowing silhouette couldn’t be more perfect for a night of dancing and the tones are perfect for a spring or summer wedding. I’ve paired it with my sequin Rabanne bag to ensure it feels formal enough for an evening affair and heels that aren’t too high (in an attempt to avoid the inevitable blisters at the end of the night).

@jessalizzi

Karen Flores-Alfaro, model

Whenever I’m heading to a formal event or wedding, I try and keep my outfit selection simple, with a fun twist. I want to look good but also feel comfortable. For this look, I’m wearing a halter top I’ve had since lockdown (a time when I lost all sense of space and existence, so turned to online shopping to keep me going) and an Alix Higgins skirt (I love everything they do and after seeing their first show at AFW 2023 I just had to own it). Lastly, I’m wearing Dirt kitten heel mules that I borrowed from a sweet friend of mine.

I love all these pieces individually and together – they’re hot and on-brand with my style. They’re all pieces I can use to mix and match, dress up, dress down, it’s all a good time, which is exactly what a wedding should be.

@pcrtb represented by @people.agency

Dongjoo Jung, student and model

For a wedding, I love wearing a tailored suit but also, I love going for a more casual look like this, with a printed T-shirt underneath a grey jacket I thrifted in Bangkok during the summer. To keep it classy, I matched my outfit with classic black Cos pleated pants and leather loafers that can add to the formality aspect. This way, I can keep the comfort and funkiness of the T-shirt and also dress appropriately for a wedding. Who doesn’t love a T-shirt with Earl Sweatshirt’s face smack bang in the middle?

@d.jung1, represented by @people.agency

Lucinda McGarrity, contract administrator and content creator

The key to effortless formal dressing lies in pieces that are classic, timeless, and comfortable. For me, silk or satin bias-cut slip dresses are a go-to. I’ve built a collection, mostly from Silk Laundry because they’re high-quality, beautifully designed and available in a wide range of colours. I love how a classic silhouette provides the perfect foundation to elevate with fun accessories or experiment with different hairstyles.

Depending on the season (or day here in Melbourne), they can be layered and pair well with a variety of jacket and coat styles. Personally, I love pairing a silky slip with a long trench coat – it’s a combination that always feels effortlessly chic.

@cindamcgarrity

For more wedding guest outfit inspiration, try this.