It’s a fact–springtime weddings are the best. Okay, maybe that statement is entirely subjective. Even so, there’s really no denying that being a guest at a spring wedding comes with a lot of amazing perks:
- Mild weather = no awkward sweat stains that will forever be captured in wedding photos.
- You’re now motivated to throw away the last of that delicious, calorie-laden eggnog (*sheds a single tear*) and start getting into shape for spring.
- The peonies and lilacs are so aromatically blissful that you’ll hardly even smell the breath of that one groomsman. Yes, the one who lives in a van.
- You can ditch your dreary, winter colors for pastels and finally convince grandma that you aren’t some sort of closeted goth.
- Mint juleps. ’Nuff said.
See what we mean? Getting invited to someone’s springtime nuptials is actually a blessing in disguise. The only real downside (if you can even call it that) is figuring out what to wear to a spring wedding in the first place.
To help you dress the part, we’ve gone ahead and rounded up a few of our favorite looks for a springtime celebration. Read on for spring wedding outfit inspo that will have you feeling F-I-N-E this season.
What to Wear to a Spring Wedding: Women
Look, we won’t bore you with wedding guest attire etiquette because you probably know the basics already. No wearing white. No mini-skirts. No denim (unless there’s a honky tonk right after, in which case, maybe??). Yada, yada, yada.
So, what are you supposed to wear to a spring wedding? The short answer: Pops of dynamic color and pretty much anything floral. For the long answer, keep scrolling.
Outfit Idea #1: A Colorful Dress
Sure, it might not feel like spring right now, but just you wait. As soon as temperatures start to rise, you’ll start to feel it: The irresistible urge to wear colorful and preppy dresses everywhere you go. Consider it a side effect of suffering through an unbearably long, dark and cold winter.
When choosing a dress to wear for springtime nuptials, remember to keep the finicky weather in mind (we said spring weather was mild—not foolproof). If you’re attending an early spring wedding, be sure to throw on a cute jacket to help you stay warm and chic (and to avoid excessive headlights, if you know what we mean).
Outfit Idea #2: A Wide-Leg Jumpsuit
Dislike wearing dresses? Feel like trying something new this spring? Consider wearing a wide-leg jumpsuit to a spring wedding. Stylish, comfortable and surprisingly versatile, the wide-leg jumpsuit is the trendy spring staple that is sure to make you stand out this wedding season.
If you’re not so sure about wearing a wide-leg jumpsuit to a wedding, then let us try to sell you on the idea: 1) It takes literally zero effort to style (fellow lazy girls, feel free to thank us later); 2) you’ll stand out in a crowd without eliciting any death glares from the bride; and 3) it sort of makes you look like you could jump out of a plane at any second, which may not be useful in practice, but it definitely ups your cool factor by a few points.
See? We knew you’d come around to the wide-leg jumpsuit. Remember to finish the outfit with an eye-catching clutch (great for storing all your makeup essentials) and a pair of understated heels for a look that’s guaranteed to stun.
Outfit Idea #3: A Chic Pantsuit
Going to a black-tie or formal wedding this spring? Consider swapping out the usual cocktail dress or evening gown for a fancy pantsuit instead. Wearing a dressy pantsuit to a black-tie affair will make you stand out in a sea of dresses and earn you some serious style cred.
Not to mention that you’ll be able to cut a mean rug and get L-O-W on the dance floor (or the bus driver dance, whatevs). To keep your pantsuit appropriate for a wedding, just be sure to wear a cute and comfortable button-down shirt underneath and finish off your look with some strappy heels.
What to Wear to a Spring Wedding: Men
Admit it–you initially dreaded getting the wedding invite in the mail. After all, who wants to spend their time and money trying to figure out what to wear to a spring wedding?
We totally get it, which is why we’ve gone ahead and taken care of the most difficult part for you. Below, you’ll find a few failsafe looks for a springtime wedding that will have the ladies fawning all over you (or, at the very least, your impeccable sense of style).
Outfit #1: Chino Pants + Crewneck Sweater + Sport Coat
So, the wedding invite doesn’t state a dress code. Sweet! That means you can wear anything you want, such as Zayn Malik’s terminator arms from the 2016 Met Gala, right? Actually, well—no.
If the wedding invitation doesn’t say anything about the dress code, you should aim for business casual attire that toes the line between dressy and casual. Yep, sorry, that means no terminator arms. Instead, you’ll have to settle for wearing chino pants with a lightweight, crew neck sweater underneath a sport coat.
On the upside, this look will definitely keep you warm on a chilly, spring day. On the downside, this look is cool, just not cyber assassin-level cool.
Outfit #2: Khaki Pants + Button Down Shirt + Preppy Bowtie
If your wedding invitation says cocktail attire, it’s time to level up the formality of your outfit by a little. Bench your chino pants and swap them out for a pair of men’s khaki pants, which are slightly more formal.
For your top half, wear a men’s button down shirt in a seasonal color (light blue, yellow, light pink, etc.). If you’re one of those people who just can’t stand pastel hues, a white Oxford shirt will work, too.
Last but not least, consider rocking a preppy tie to show off your unique personality. Menswear accessories are really your one and only shot at looking different than every other guy at a wedding. So, go ahead and show ’em what you’ve got.
Outfit #3: Suit + Button Down + Fancy Pocket Square
For a semi-formal wedding, you need to wear a suit. Sorry guys, but there’s just no getting around it. The good news is that you still have some room for creativity with your outfit (no, still no terminator-arms-level creativity—we’ve been through this).
Since the weather is getting warmer, you’ll probably want to choose a suit with lighter fabrics (think cotton, linen or lightweight wool). Also, pay close attention to color options. Stick to lighter suit colors for a daytime wedding and darker hues for an evening affair.
Again, the key to standing out in a sea of other boring suits is choosing fun menswear accessories. Ditch the tie altogether (yes, that’s allowed) and don a classic fold pocket square in a punchy color or pattern. It will give your outfit the right amount of flair that will help set you apart from everyone else.
Failsafe Looks for Spring
Spring weddings are the perfect excuse to put away your dreary, winter clothes and refresh your wardrobe for the warm-weather season. As you get gussied up for your pal’s big day, you might want to keep a backup outfit in the car. Between sporadic spring weather and the bride’s drunk brother spilling his drink, you never know what could happen.
