While the textbook 150-person destination wedding has fallen out of favor for the foreseeable future, it doesn’t mean that people aren’t still getting married. From the brides taking their show on the road and having mini-ceremonies all over the country to couples heading to City Hall in matching jumpsuits, there are plenty of folks getting hitched in creative ways. And, as we all know, for every wedding gown there’s a wedding guest dress to follow suit.
While there may be fewer nuptials on your calendar this fall — save the intimate ceremonies of your very nearest and dearest — it wouldn’t be a proper autumn without at least one matrimonial shindig on the horizon. And now, with affairs shrunk down to pint-sized proportions, you might feel like letting your freak flag fly a little more than you would have last season. When there are only a handful of guests at the wedding you’re attending, you can wear something that feels extra-special. With this year’s unique circumstances in mind, we rounded up some fall-friendly wedding-guest frocks that feel extra-festive.
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Fraiche By J Velvet Waist Tie Jumpsuit Pants? At a wedding? When they come in the form of a tailored velvet jumpsuit offering all the fanciness of an evening gown with the comfort and coverage of a boilersuit, the answer is a resounding yes. Fraiche By J Velvet Waist Tie Jumpsuit, $, available at Nordstrom Rack
Buenos Ninos Long Sleeve Belted Maxi Want to make an entrance? This under-$30 hidden gem will ensure that you waft gracefully in the room. (Or the Zoom, if it’s a virtual wedding.) Buenos Ninos Long Sleeve Belted Maxi Dress, $, available at Amazon
Free People Kit Kat Set You may have found a velvet pajama-inspired set a little too outre for last year’s party, but this is 2020 and all rules are out the window. We dare you to sport this magenta set at your best friend’s micro-wedding — we certainly would. Free People Kit Kat Set, $, available at Free People
Mrs. Pomerantz Liberty Print Day Dress “I think about making dresses as a combination of chemistry and poetry,” says Etsy seller Dasha Pomerantseva, the designer behind this sweetly patterned 1950s-inspired frock. “It starts as a dream. For me, the dream is always a mix of childhood memories, inspiration, and current thoughts. I believe special things happen in dresses: people fall in love, new people are born, and the world grows.” Mrs. Pomerantz Liberty Print Day Dress, $, available at Etsy
& Other Stories Voluminous Sleeve Crochet Collar Mini Dress Don’t let the lacy collar of this demure dress fool you into thinking it’s overly modest — the frock’s knee-grazing hemline poses a go-go inspired counterpoint to the frilly detail. & Other Stories Voluminous Sleeve Crochet Collar Mini Dress, $, available at & Other Stories
Daniel Rainn Rosalita Sheer Maxi Dress Available in sizes XS through 3X, this floaty tiered confection is giving us all the fall feels — we can practically see the russet leaves drifting from the trees, thanks to the frock’s sunset-hued pattern. Daniel Rainn Rosalita Sheer Maxi Dress, $, available at Anthropologie
ASOS DESIGN Embroidered Soft Tiered Maxi Dress There is so much whimsy tied up in this sweeping, vintage-inspired goldenrod gown. Whether you want to channel a Nashville ingenue or a Laurel Canyon folksinger, this party-ready maxi dress will help you dream a little dream. ASOS DESIGN ASOS DESIGN embroidered soft tiered maxi dress with ladder trim and shirring, $, available at ASOS
H&M Satin Dress This liquid-look frock will have you shimmering across the dance floor — or the floor of your apartment, if you’re tuning into your friend’s nuptials from Zoom. H&M Satin Dress, $, available at H&M
Reformation Winslow Dress Removing my royal “we” hat for a moment to inform you all that I wore this dress — or a very similar one — to my sister’s pre-COVID wedding, and it does indeed smash in person as much as it does in photos. My advice? It looks like sizes are dwindling — buy! Reformation Winslow Dress, $, available at Reformation
Lulus Garden Bliss Emerald Green Cutout Maxi Dress Ignore the lackluster hanger photo and proceed directly to the copious customer images to get a sense of how lovely and universally flattering this cutout maxi dress is. (One customer even wore it — and loved it! — while pregnant.) Lulus Garden Bliss Emerald Green Cutout Maxi Dress, $, available at Lulus
COS Tiered Dress This simple a-line sheath boasts an effervescent fabrication in a deep oceanic hue, making it an unexpected and very becoming choice for fall nuptials. COS Tiered Dress, $, available at COS
Christopher John Rogers Double Breasted Pleated and High Waisted Pleated Pants Channel an actual work of art in this statement-making two-piece suit from CFDA designer Christopher John Rogers. Christopher John Rogers Double Breasted Pleated Jacket, $, available at McMullen Christopher John Rogers High Waisted Pleated Pants, $, available at McMullen
Self Portrait Rust Taffeta Midi Dress Sure, the bride is supposed to feel like a “princess” at her wedding — but can’t her guests feel like cool, modern ladies-in-waiting? This sienna-toned frock cherry-picks the best design details from medieval dress and adds sleek contemporary tailoring for a look that’s romantic, but still hip. Self Portrait Rust Taffeta Midi Dress, $, available at Shopbop
Eloquii Mock Neck Sequin Dress With Puff Sleeve No matter how intimate the gathering, this sequined turquoise sheath will help you bring the party. A longer sleeve makes it cool-weather ready, but a higher hemline keeps this dress out of the friend zone. Eloquii Mock Neck Sequin Dress With Puff Sleeve, $, available at Eloquii
Leith Long Sleeve Floral Dress Reviewers love the flattering waistline and plunging neckline of this autumnal boho confection, which is equipped with two slits for maximum floatiness. Leith Long Sleeve Floral Print Dress, $, available at Nordstrom
Green Daisy Midi Ruffle Tea Dress You’d think that prairie-ready ruffles and cinched sleeves would make this midi frock seem fusty, but the cottage-core look couldn’t be trending more fervently — Topshop warns us that this sweet style is selling fast. Topshop Green Daisy Midi Ruffle Tea Dress, $, available at Topshop
Helmut Lang Twist Dress What appears to be a simple, slinky column dress is actually a striking backless number that, thanks to its wool and alpaca composition, will keep you toasty during a fall or winter affair. Helmut Lang Twist Dress, $, available at Revolve
ASOS DESIGN Embroidered Soft Tiered Maxi Dress There is so much whimsy tied up in this sweeping, vintage-inspired goldenrod gown. Whether you want to channel a Nashville ingenue or a Laurel Canyon folksinger, this party-ready maxi dress will help you dream a little dream. ASOS DESIGN ASOS DESIGN embroidered soft tiered maxi dress with ladder trim and shirring, $, available at ASOS
Badgley Mischka Off Shoulder Gown Is your upcoming event of the intimate, candle-lit, black-tie variety? We suggest pulling out all the stops with a sweeping, off-shoulder gown. Badgley Mischka Off Shoulder Gown, $, available at 11 Honore
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