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The eternal question of what to wear to a wedding can reach new levels of difficulty when the nuptials are taking place at the beach. From fabric choice to color to length, there’s a lot that comes into play (and that’s not even counting the shoes: What heel works best with sand?).
Our suggestion? Don’t overthink it. As long as you keep the dress code in mind, your answer to the right beach wedding guest dress can be as simple as a classic Pucci print, as bold as bright red Proenza Schouler, or as out-of-the-box as a painterly pattern by Ulla Johnson. It’s all about translating your personal style to a seaside setting.
Vogue’s Favorite Beach Wedding Guest Dresses
If you’re truly stuck, starting by decoding the venue. Not all beaches are the same. While a luau in Maui may call for bold colors or tropical patterns—like a printed dress in sunset hues by La DoubleJ, or a sparkling mini by Simkhai—a Nantucket affair is better suited to something a little sweeter, à la the pastel yellow plaid we found by Rosie Assoulin. The best thing about a beach wedding is the connection to nature, so if it feels right, lean into coastal-inspired colors, airy fabrics, and a generally playful aesthetic—beautiful options from Dries Van Noten, Staud, and Zimmermann are right in line with the theme.
Below, shop all the best wedding guest dresses befitting a beachy destination; from casual cocktail affairs to black-tie fêtes.
