Wedding Season Is Here—5 Dress Trends to Wear as a Guest This Year, According to a Stylist

Bettina Looney is a Who What Wear editor in residence, stylist, tastemaker, entrepreneur, and creative consultant recognized for her curated eye and cross-industry influence. Spanning fashion, interiors, and beauty, she translates style into substance through private styling at The Bettina Looney Edit.

It’s wedding season. And every year without fail, the question is always the same: What do I actually wear, and where can I find something different? Cue the doom scrolling, the abandoned carts, the tabs you leave open for three weeks and then somehow never return to. As someone who genuinely loves getting dressed, I still find wedding dressing uniquely stressful. There are so many unspoken rules, so many things to consider, and yet the window to actually find something feels impossibly small.

As I’ve been on the hunt myself for a few weddings I’m attending this year, I also put together a selection of my current favorite dress trends for the occasion.

Classic All Black

I really hope people’s aversion to black at weddings has subsided. I always find it to be the chicest, most elegant option, and you can never go wrong. When I look for dresses to wear, I always try to find something that feels a little different from what I have seen before. I stumbled upon this Cult Gaia Samya dress and thought it was so fun; perfect for a day party or dinner prior to the actual wedding day.

Wearing: Cult Gaia Samya Dress ($909)

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Champagne Romanticism

I fell in love with this Zimmermann dress and recently wore it to a wedding in Spain. The color is this perfect champagne—one of those shades that just feels inherently elegant without trying too hard. It was also genuinely so comfortable, which matters more than people admit. When you have two kids under 4 running around, the last thing you need is a dress you have to think about.

Wearing: Zimmerman Alchemy Billow Dress

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Classic Caftans

I have never met a caftan I didn’t like. There’s something so beautiful about being wrapped in all that material; it feels dramatic in the best possible way. This Taller Marmo number is one I’ve had my eye on for a while. The fringe detail and the fabric are just so good. They do so many different versions of a fringe dress, and I feel they are perfect for a formal evening or black-tie. Comfortable, elegant, and genuinely one of the easiest things you can wear.

Wearing: Taller Marmo Tigris Ecru Dress ($515)

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Unexpected Color Combo

If there is one color combination I keep returning to, it’s green and brown. It just stands out and feels very different from what you would usually see at a wedding. I thought this Silvia Tcherassi dress was so fun—the sleeves, the color, the silhouette. It has this Spanish flair to it that I am always drawn to. Incredibly flattering and perfect for a day party or outdoor wedding event.

Wearing: Silvia Tcherassi Afrodita Dress ($2200)

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A Statement Gown

This is a Rosie Assoulin dress that I wore in Spain. The black structured bodice against that gold organza skirt—it’s just such a moment. I love that it manages to feel both dramatic and elegant at the same time. If you are going to commit to a statement gown for a wedding, this is exactly the kind of thing I would reach for.

Wearing: Rosie Assoulin Peak Drama Gown ($7495)

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