Wearing Maxi-Length Dresses for Weddings (2024)

Can you wear a maxi dress to a wedding? Absolutely! Wearing a maxi dress to a wedding is a great choice year-round. Be comfortable and fashionable when you spare the gown and wear a maxi-length dress to a wedding. Also known as a tea-length or a full-length dress, a maxi dress is long with a hemline that typically rests at or just below your ankles. Wedding guest dresses with maxi-length skirts can be crafted in a rainbow of colors and styles from soft pastels to vibrant, bold hues. These dresses can be found in solids and prints and can be styled in loose-fitting shifts to form-fitting sheaths. Once you know the formality and the season of the big event, you can maxi-mize your wedding guest look in a maxi dress through your accessories.

Matching your Maxi to the Dress Code:

    • Formal and fancy: When the invitation reads "formal", select a maxi wedding guest dress that fits the formality of the venue. A splash of sparkle is nice for formal affairs, so a maxi dress adorned with shimmering accents or enhanced by sparkling jewelry will fit right in. Religious services call for more coverage, so choose a maxi dress with sleeves, or consider wearing a shrug or a matching jacket for reserved ceremonies. When styling your formal wedding-guest maxi dress, you can go with high heels and style your hair in a fancy updo for a polished look.

    • Semi-formal and sleek: A semi-formal wedding-guest dress with a maxi length skirt can be flowing with an airy fit or form-fitting from bodice to hemline. For the ceremony, style your wedding guest maxi dress with a trendy wrap that you can take off for the celebration. From soft, wavy curls to casual updos, choose a hairstyle that is a step up from your everyday look, but perhaps not as fancy as you might prepare for a formal event. Low heels or fancy flats can round out the look of semi-formal maxi dresses for wedding guests.

    • Casual by chance: Get a fresh look for a casual or semi-casual wedding in a full-length maxi dress with fun prints, lace accents, and flowing skirts. A casual wedding might take place outdoors on a beach, in a garden, or on the family property. Dainty cap sleeves, feminine ruffles, and bows are all details that can lighten the formality of a full-length dress for guests of weddings. Complement your casual wedding guest maxi-dress with a free-flowing hair style (think beach waves or messy buns).

Choosing a Maxi Dress by Season

    • Chic and warm: Bring your maxi dress into fall or winter by changing out your high-heeled sandals for smart closed-toe pumps, ankle booties, or trendy tall boots. Go for a maxi dress in a dark or warm color for the cooler season, and consider a heavy fabric like jersey knit, soft velvet, or satin. Wearing a maxi dress with leggings, a matching jacket, or a shawl is good for staying warm when an extra layer is needed.

  • Cool for spring and summer: Be pretty in pastels, prints, and delicate lace for warm-weather wedding venues. Choose an a-line dress or a free-flowing chiffon shift maxi with a loose airy fit. Go for sandals, flats, or trendy wedge heels for destination ceremonies. If you're at a beach or cruise wedding, be stylish and stay safe from the sun sporting a fun, floppy hat.

Wedding-guest dresses in maxi lengths are ideal for ladies that like versatility. With the tips above, you now know how to style maxi dresses by using accessories to dress them up or down for any wedding theme or weather. Whatever the venue or season, a maxi dress is a comfortable and stylish way to attend a wedding.

Wearing Maxi-Length Dresses for Weddings (2024)

FAQs

Is it acceptable to wear a maxi dress to a wedding? ›

When it comes to maxi dresses at casual weddings, you might feel like you're overdressed, but really, maxis look good at any wedding. To keep things on the casual side, choose dresses that feature playful prints, like ditsy florals, and unique details, like a cut-out, to ace the dress code every time.

Can I wear a full length dress to a wedding? ›

Women wedding guests should wear a full-length dress, be it a ballgown, a sheath or an A-line style. High heels are strongly recommended. Feel free to accessorize with opulent jewelry and even elbow-length white silk gloves.

Can a maxi dress be too long? ›

The length of a tall maxi dress should be long enough to reach the ground, but not so long that it drags on the floor. When choosing the length of a maxi dress, it is important to consider both height and body shape.

Can I wear a maxi dress to a formal event? ›

Whether it's a formal event or an important work meeting you need to dress for, a maxi dress with a blazer will never fail to look smart, classy and stylish.

Can I wear a maxi dress to a co*cktail wedding? ›

Because you're picking a slightly more formal silhouette by going full-length, you can go a little more casual with your color and print choices. If it's a spring or summer event, maxi dresses in terra cotta or mustard tones are great options, as are dainty florals in vibrant colors.

Are maxi dresses too formal? ›

Maxi dresses have grown in popularity for formal events but also your more casual events such as co*cktails with the girls, bottomless brunches, party nights and date nights. If you're looking to be a trendsetter, you can't go wrong with a maxi dress.

Is a long dress too much for a wedding? ›

I really encourage people to go long. If you aren't going to wear a long dress for a black tie, that's fine, but do make sure it's a really dressy co*cktail dress. Maybe it's tea length to elevate it to be appropriate for what the bride wants.

How long is too long for a wedding dress? ›

A professional tailor specializing in wedding gowns will understand that the dress should be only about one inch from the floor and slope downwards slightly toward the dress's back.

What is the appropriate length dress for a wedding guest? ›

Black Tie Optional or Formal Wedding Guest Attire

Nicer dress shoes are appropriate. Ladies should wear either a floor-length evening gown, a formal pantsuit or a formal (longer hem) co*cktail dress. Go for heels rather than wedges or sandals.

How far off the floor should a maxi dress be? ›

A maxi dress typically falls between the ankle and the floor with a hemline that slightly grazes the ground, while a tea-length dress falls between the knee and the mid-calf.

Do maxi dresses make you look shorter or taller? ›

There's a very common misconception that maxi skirts only look great on girls that are really tall. A well-cut maxi skirt can actually make you look taller. Choose a solid colour or patterned maxi dress that will create the appearance of a long vertical line and ensure the hemline is as long as it can go.

Can you wear maxi dress over 50? ›

They can also be incredibly stylish and flattering for women over 50 as well. With the right styling, a maxi dress can make you feel elegant and confident. So what do you think? From vibrant floral prints to elegant solid hues, they offer an array of styles to suit every occasion and mood.

Are long maxi dresses in style in 2024? ›

Maxi dresses are totally in for 2024, and the good news is there are tons of ways to style them depending on the vibe you're going for. Here are some hot trends to inspire your next maxi look: Embrace Bold Prints and Textures: Don't shy away from statement florals, geometric patterns, or eye-catching tie-dye.

How to make a maxi dress look professional? ›

For a formal event, elevate a maxi dress by choosing rich, sophisticated fabrics like silk or chiffon. Opt for a solid, subdued color or a classic print. Add a statement belt to accentuate your waist, and pair the dress with elegant heels. Accessorize with minimal, tasteful jewelry and a clutch.

What occasion should I wear a maxi dress? ›

Maxi dresses can be worn for both casual and formal occasions, depending on the styling and fabric. For a casual look, pair a maxi dress with sandals and a denim jacket. For a formal look, opt for a maxi dress in a luxurious fabric, such as silk or satin, accessorized with jewellery and heels.

What dress is not appropriate for a wedding? ›

Unless you're the bride, wearing a white dress to a wedding is (still) a major faux pas. Leave all white, ivory, and champagne-hued shades alone, unless the invitation specifically designates an all-white dress code.

Is a maxi dress dressy casual? ›

"That really cute sundress or maxi dress is a great example of dressy casual,” Swann says. There are actually a lot of options that fit into this category, and Swann says although it's fun to buy something new, you can often work with what's already in your closet and lean into accessorizing.

Can you wear a black maxi dress to a wedding? ›

Since nuptials are celebratory occasions, the dark hue was labeled off-limits for attendees in the past. However, in today's modern-day age, wearing black to a wedding is completely acceptable, and in many cases, it's even encouraged.

Can I wear a maxi dress to a fall wedding? ›

Not only will a long-sleeved midi or maxi dress keep you warm and chic on the big day, but they can also be dressed down with boots throughout the rest of the season.

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