Spoiler alert: knitwear is allowed.
Ah autumn, that glorious time of back-to-school shopping, pumpkin spice-everything, and apple picking pictures flooding your Instagram feed. But, seasonal clichés aside, the space between the start of September and end of November also happens to be a remarkably underrated few months for weddings. Think about it: The weather is perfectly bright and crispy (which looks lovely in photos) and there’s so much potential to get creative with one’s outfit. Indeed, should you have the good fortune to be invited to a fall wedding (or any of the many festivities surrounding one), you have the opportunity to go for a dress with long sleeves or formal gown in thicker fabric — and you can play around with pairing luxe knits with everything. Fun!
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Josanne Dress |
Rialto Maxi Dress |
That said, it can sometimes be tricky following a specific wedding dress attire when cooler temperatures come into play. This time of year the forecast shifts between warm and bright and downright chilly, and you simply can’t rely on wearing a cute dress alone anymore. You’ll either need something that’s going to keep you warm (but won’t cause you to overheat on the dance floor) or have a layering plan in place—aka, you’ve got to strategize your look like a pro.
That’s where we come in. Ahead, we’ve compiled smart style advice for specific fall wedding guest needs, including both suggestions for what to wear to a fall wedding that work with your current wardrobe or update it. Keep scrolling for inspiration on dressing for black-tie affairs, low-key parties, and everything in-between.
What To Wear To A Casual Fall Wedding
Do not take the word “casual” to mean you can show up in any old sweater and jeans. However, it is a chance to wear something slightly more playful, like a sweater dress or knit set, or printed skirt (best paired with a polished pullover or embellished cardigan). In general, if it’s something you’d wear out to dinner at the kind of restaurant that uses cloth napkins—and would also feel really excellent about accidentally running into your ex in it—then you’re on the right track. Shoe-wise, you really can’t go wrong with a pair of kitten heels, but flats are totally acceptable fall wedding attire if you go the ballet slipper or Mary Jane route.
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Bertha Skirt |
Parson Pullover |
If nothing else, your go-to LBD or floral skirt (paired with a fitted and flirty cardigan or, if you want to be a bit more elegant, white button-down blouse) will do the trick. But you can also use this as an excuse to order that matching set you’ve been eyeing—it’ll look amazing in photos and you’ll definitely wear it again, both together or broken into separates.
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Blanca Cardigan |
Velman Skirt |
What To Wear To A Formal Wedding
All the same rules you’d follow for a fancy summertime soiree apply here—think sweeping formal gowns, ball skirts, tall heels—but you’ll need a little styling finesse to make them world for sub-70 degree conditions. For instance: Perhaps you might go for a floor-length dress with long sleeves instead of a décolletage-baring neckline. Or, if you are married to the idea showing some collarbone and shoulder, then you’ll want to add in a cozy shrug or pashmina. Silhouettes with micro hemlines are also acceptable in this situation so long as you are super conscious about picking one made from luxurious fabric.
This would be an optimal time to pull out that velvet dress you wore once to a holiday party last year. Or, if you are jonesing to buy something totally new (who isn’t?), try picking a piece that’ll work with heels you already own. It’s a smart idea to pick a gown in a material you could translate to warmer weather next spring but in a seasonless color like black (but never white for a wedding). From there you can make it work for cold weather by putting a knit shrug or tailored bolero on top.
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Kingley Dress |
Olmine Maxi Dress |
What To Wear To An Outdoor Fall Wedding
If there’s an outdoor venue in play, you really must factor in whether this is an early fall wedding or one that takes place later in the season. For most of September, you can usually get away with most any party dress you’d wear in the summer with some sort of dressed up jacket or shawl to throw on top when the evening chill sets in. Post-October, though, you’ll want to specifically look for options made from weightier materials and thicker fabrics for that fall weather chill —think satin and velvet— with a little extra coverage, be it by way of a hidden lining or longer sleeves.
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Adelaide Mini Dress |
Talika Tweed Jacket |
With that in mind, weddings at the start of the season mean you can likely recycle something you wore out-and-about in the summer with a layer on top. Later, you can break out festive party dresses and possibly a pair of tights. This is also the ideal chance to stock up on going out jackets (the Theda blazer is an ideal choice) and knits! These pieces are the sort of thing that always feels like a frivolous purchase, but you’ll be surprised how often you’ll reach for these options on brisk nights out. Be sure to check the wedding dress code for any fall outdoor wedding!
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Theda Jacket
What To Wear As A Bridesmaid
Sure, the correct answer here is to wear whatever the bride tells you to wear. However, unless you’ve been prescribed an exact bridesmaid dress for the affair, you do have some control over your final look. Say you’ve been asked to go the pink route: Rather than look at bubblegum and petal shades, which can skew a bit springtime, you may want to limit your search to dusky rose and warm magenta hues to match a fall color scheme. From there, you’ll want to factor in seasonally appropriate silhouette and fabric as well as whether you’ll be allowed to throw a shrug or cardigan on top of your look.
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Rialto Dress |
Lowry Dress |
Unless you and the bride-to-be have perfectly aligned style synergy, it is—unfortunately—unlikely you’ll have exactly what you need for the occasion. However, it is far more probable that you’ll have at least one pair of shoes that meet the specifications you’ve been given and work with the prescribed dress. Fingers crossed that might be a gorgeous maxi covered in romantic ruffles—the Rialto gown, for instance, comes in enough shades to satisfy most every possible color scheme.
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Parisa Dress
What To Wear To A Bridal Shower
Unless the invitation lays out a very specific dress code, bridal shower style is fairly wide-ranging. Sure, you can always go with a standard party dress (long sleeves or a sweater on top is ideal for fall) but flouncy skirts and matching sets are also foolproof options. There’s just two real rules you should follow: Don’t wear a T-shirt and jeans—unless it’s been very explicitly stated this is a very casual affair—and avoid anything that will outshine the bride. This means white is a no-go (yes, this rule extends to all wedding-related activities) and if you want to show skin, you should pick only one place to do it; think a plunging neckline paired with a longer skirt or vice versa. A brilliant way to give your look some personality without it screaming for attention is via eye-catching textures—bouclé, knit fabric, and wool are all wise selections in the fall.
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Elisiette Barrette |
Ballerina Flat |
Heart Earrings |
If you don’t want to spend a lot of money, this is one wedding-adjacent situation in which you definitely already own something that’ll work. Some ideas to fall back on: a fall skirt and snuggly sweater combination, any long sleeve fall dress (mid-length is ideal, as very short or very long feel better suited to night events), or striking co-ord set. Whether you order something new or not, it’s worth purchasing a few accessories to make your pieces feel more current. Pro tip: Hair bows, ballet slippers, and heart-shaped jewelry all are up-to-the-minute additions.
What To Wear To A Rehearsal Dinner
Much like choosing an outfit for a bridal shower, rehearsal dinners call for polished and pretty looks. They don’t, however, require following a strict formalwear prescription—especially if the meal is a more intimate, just-close-friends-and-family situation. If you want to shake things up, try a leggy pair of trousers with a cozy cropped sweater, or go for a one-and-done jumpsuit. This would also be the ideal situation in which to pull out a chic sweater dress, as soft and stretchy fabric is always a win when you’re eating and drinking all night.
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Manuela Dress |
Pansy Jacket |
This is a nice moment to bust out your nicer knit pieces and fancy flats. And why not seize the moment to buy that day-to-night dress or skirt you’ve been eyeing? It'll serve you well in pictures throughout the evening and you’ll definitely put it out for other occasions as the season progresses. Or, if you want to dress up a simpler outfit—like, say, a black skirt and turtleneck sweater—buy a piece of statement outerwear. It’s such an easy way to up the cool factor of your look without looking like you actually tried to.
