Whether the bride and groom have you jet-setting off to southern Italy, a remote island in the middle of the Mediterranean, or even a city on the other side of the equator – melding a holiday with the celebration of the love of some close friends or family makes for an incredibly special occasion.
Nevertheless, the process of curating a wardrobe for a destination wedding can be painstaking, to say the least. Factoring in the weather, the likelihood of multiple events; rehearsal dinners and various beach-themed parties, as well as imposed dress codes – creating a packing list is an overwhelming task. That’s before you even think about how to adapt your hair and makeup routines to a potentially scorching, humid climate.
This is especially true if you aren’t a fan of crochet, multicolours or seashell adornments. For destination beach weddings, finding a dress that will keep you cool as the celebrations begin, and warm enough once the tropical sun begins to set, takes a savvy eye and a keen accessoriser.
Likewise, different cultures might require different dress codes. For instance, if you’re attending a Jewish destination wedding, you might need to think about having your shoulders covered appropriately while simultaneously having enough skin on show to keep you cool and sweat-free. If you’re off to India, you might be asked to wear a sari or a lehenga.
Thankfully, we’ve curated an edit of the best wedding guest dresses for destination weddings. Whether that destination is just outside of London and within the English countryside, or on the other side of the world – we’ve got you covered.
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Sabrina Halter Midi Dress
This gorgeous, eco-friendly viscose linen dress from Rixo immediately makes us think of the French Riviera. Dressed down with a pair of sandals and a headscarf, as pictured, this piece would work wonderfully for that pre-wedding rehearsal dinner. Likewise, dressed-up with a pair of strappy heeled sandals and some gold jewellery, the Sabrina dress will stun guests all the way on the other side of that sandy aisle.
Buy now £195.00, Rixo
Romily Floral Print Maxi Dress
The wonderfully green and leafy print which adorns this halter neck dress from Kitri reminds us of a Matisse painting. The ruffled tiers add texture and volume without overwhelming it, while the peekaboo halter neckline shows off the perfect amount of skin for a wedding taking place in the sunshine.
Buy now £245.00, Kitri
Mahima Mahajan Ivory Embroidered Lehenga Set
Looking for a unique, yet comfortable and suitably modern lehenga for that destination wedding in your diary? Look no further than Amrika. A multi-brand retailer which specialises in international fashion, Amrika provides a curated selection of show-stopping and beautifully crafted pieces from a range of independent designers and ateliers across the globe.
This lehenga set by Mahima Mahajan is featured in a stunning light turquoise hue. The beautifully embroidered blouse is complimented by an embroidered organza dupatta with further coin detail embroidery. That’s a lot of handcrafted expertise in one set. One of the retailer’s many options which offer a contemporary take on a classic heritage design, this piece would work wonderfully for any destination Indian wedding.
Buy now £561.00, Amrika
Fanm Mon Demre Linen Maxi Dress
Fanm Mon Demre’s Haitian heritage shines through in all of their unique and spirited designs. The name of the brand itself is taken from a Haitian phrase which translates to “mountain woman” and, as such, many of the designs reflect nature’s beauty paired with fairytale silhouettes.
This particular design features layered, ruffled sleeves which are offset by a draping linen skirt, cut with an empire waistline. The embroidered red roses offer a beautiful contrast to the light lagoon colourway, and we are in love with the detail which sees the roses get smaller as they curve round to the dropped back.
All of Fanm Mon Demre’s pieces are made to order, so we recommend sending your request well in advance of your destination event.
Buy now £282.35, Over The Moon
AJE Zorina cut-out cotton-poplin midi dress
If you’re looking for a more playful colourway to suit your own personal aesthetic, why not go for this bubble-gum pink piece from Australian designer Aje? Thanks to the fact that this piece is made from 100 per cent cotton, it’s sure to keep you cool if your event is set to take place in the sunny outdoors. We also love the small but thoughtful details, including the drawstring shoulders and side slip pockets.
Buy now £380.00, Matches
Rouje Rebecca dress
A slip for endless rooftop salsa dancing, the Rebecca dress from Rouje will have you twirling all night long. Pair with a simple red lip and some black kitten heels for a comfortable, yet club-night ready ensemble.
Buy now £205.00, Rouje
Frankie Linen Dress
A sleek, fitted linen piece which has a silhouette and pattern that is vaguely reminiscent of a medieval royal court (minus the puffed hips and various other regalia). This lightweight dress will keep you cool enough to dance all night.
The adjustable spaghetti straps spring from the slightly rounded, modestly high neckline, while the smocked back bodice provides a little extra breathing room (much like undoing a corset ever so slightly). If you find that this piece is a little too long for your liking, Reformation will hem it for free.
Buy now £248.00, Reformation
Matteau One-shoulder gathered organic-cotton dress
This romantic dress from Matteau will allow you embody the vibe of an ancient Greek goddess, without offending the wedding party by wearing white. It is crafted from an airy organic cotton and features a gathered waistline and one-shoulder design.
Buy now £295.00, Matches
Orange Asymmetrical Maxi Dress
Feeling bright and beautiful? This monochromatic yet entirely bold design from Farm Rio would make a fantastic outfit for a destination wedding taking place on a beach of some sort. Whether you’re going bare foot on the sand or opting for a high heel, the relaxed fit and cut-out design of this dress is versatile enough to compliment any styling choice.
Buy now £205.00, Farm Rio
Amalia Knit Dress
One for the bold, accessory-loving eventgoer’s, this mini knitted halter neck dress from Reformation can be adapted to suit any destination wedding. Plus, 90s-inspired choker necklines adorned with oversized Carrie Bradshaw-esque posies are incredibly chic right now, so you can be sure that you’ll be on trend.
Buy now £148.00, Reformation
Meadow Red Floral Crepe Midi Dress
An incredibly versatile piece that can be re-worn time and time again, this ultra-soft garment washed crepe dress from Ghost is adorned with the prettiest of floral prints. The pintuck detailing at the neckline paired with the subtle frill at the hemline reminds us of the prairie style of dress that is so popular at the moment. Just have a look at Taylor Hill’s wedding pictures for further inspiration, if you’re a fan of southwestern American chic.
Buy now £95.00, Ghost
Midnight Floral Kitty Mini Dress
A staple floral mini, you simply can’t go wrong with this dress from Nobody’s Child. The squared neckline offers the perfect amount of modesty to compliment the mini hemline, while the thicker ruched straps are fantastically bra friendly. The adjustable corset-style straps at the back of the dress further allow you to adapt the fit to your desires, depending on how tight or loose you’d like the silhouette to be.
Buy now £35.00, Nobody’s Child
Topshop satin and lace cami midi dress in pink and red
Slip dresses and the ‘underwear as outerwear’ trend are all the rage right now. Offering a comfortably chic, elusive yet high-end style, the slip dress makes the perfect wedding guest dress when worn correctly. This maxi option from Topshop is available in a beautiful pink and red combo, with red lace detailing at the bust and hem as well as adjustable straps. Pair with some low-key stilettos and a slicked back bun for the ultimate model-off-duty look.
Buy now £75.00, ASOS
Stine Goya Kenza Sequin Dress
Did somebody say mermaid-core? We couldn’t think of a better companion piece for a destination wedding taking place by the ocean. Overflowing with metallic blue sequins as an eye-catching asymmetric ruffled neckline, we love how this dress isn’t too figure hugging – instead opening out into a slightly A-line skirt.
Buy now £161.00, Coggles
Red Heart Maxi Dress
Share the love with this stunning cherry-red maxi dress from Farm Rio. The – quite literally – sweetheart neckline offers a romantic and girly silhouette, further complimented by the cut-out sides and long, ruffled skirt. Re-wearing come Galantine’s day isn’t required, but definitely recommended.
Buy now £200.00, Farm Rio
Paul & Joe Floral Print Silk Crinkle Chiffon Maxi Dress
Fabricated from a waterfall-like silk crinkle chiffon, this floral maxi dress from French designer Paul & Joe features a deep V neckline which gathers into a market waistline and opens out into a symmetrical bare back. The orange and blue hues are perfectly opposed, and we love how this piece has been styled with a ribbon choker necklace for a très français coquette look.
Buy now £629.00, Paul & Joe
Remain Birger Christensen Samina beaded organic crocheted cotton midi dress
We know we said that we’d avoid crochet for a beach-themed destination wedding guest dress, but we simply couldn’t resist this ethereal piece by Remain Birger Christensen and its luminescent beaded pearl detailing.
Buy now £308.00, Net-A-Porter
Iris Midi Dress in Pistachio Green
Comfortable, chic, and pistachio green, this viscose dress is as kind to the planet as it is kind on the eyes. The sustainable Lenzing Ecovero viscose is 100 per cent biodegradable and will decompose far quicker than the normal kind of viscose. Don’t worry, this doesn’t mean it’ll decompose throughout the night, this isn’t the Coperni SS23 show. You’d have to be a human compost pile for that to happen.
Buy now £79.00, Omnes
