Wedding season is here, and I’ve been getting a lot of requests for affordable wedding guest dresses. When purchasing a dress for a single event, most of us probably don’t want to spend a lot, so I rounded up a bunch of wedding guest dresses under $100.
floral midi dress // woven slide sandals // metallic ruched clutch // pavé drop earrings // square tag necklace // oval link bracelet
These days, there are so many levels of formality when it comes to dress codes for weddings, but for this post I’m focusing on what is typically considered semi-formal or festive attire. I wouldn’t wear these to a black tie or formal event, but they should work for just about anything else.
The dress I chose to style is a sleeveless mesh midi dress in a bold floral print. I love how the lettuce edge on the skirt helps define the asymmetrical handkerchief hem.
It’s filmy and flowy and romantic — perfect for a spring or summer wedding! I would wear this to a daytime wedding, or an evening wedding if the dress code isn’t listed as cocktail or formal attire. The price is right, too, at just $69.
This dress fits true to size, or size down if in between. I’m wearing the size 6, and I typically wear a 6 or 8 in dresses.
My only caveat is, I will need to have it taken up a bit in the shoulders. You may be able to tell, it sits a little too low in the chest area and under the arms, but that’s a simple alteration that can be done at Nordstrom (where I purchased the dress) or at a dry cleaner or local tailor.
For shoes, I went with block heel slide sandals with a woven strap. These are very on trend at the moment, and a shoe that would be easy to walk in if you find yourself at an outdoor venue on grass.
I like how the cream color pulls from the lighter colors in the dress. I tried black sandals with it, and I felt like they were too harsh. These sandals run true to size, or size down if in between. Best of all, they’re on sale at Evereve, and they run true to size.
Looking back at these pictures, I wish I’d worn a dressier necklace. I actually just purchased this multi-strand necklace in the silver from Kendra Scott, and it would be a better choice. I’m kicking myself for not grabbing it when I was headed out to this shoot. I also could have grabbed a different bracelet.
At any rate, the earrings I’m wearing are also Kendra Scott, and I do like them with this dress. They’re delicate enough to offset the simple, filmy dress, but they have just enough bling for the occasion.
I carried this metallic ruched clutch, which I also really like with this outfit. Your bag and shoes don’t have to be the same color tone, but I did select two that are about equal in value. Choosing lighter colors a create a low contrast against my skin, which allows the vibrant print of the dress to really shine.
As far as a wrap or topper to wear with this dress, I would stick to something light and airy, such as this shimmer wrap.
Affordable Wedding Guest Dresses for Summer 2021
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photos: Alison Cornell
19 Responses
Oh my goodness! That dress is stunning and looks great on you! I’d pick that one in a heartbeat. With so many weddings being outdoors now, that dress would be perfect! Would fit right in for a garden style wedding or even the country chic theme. Have a great day!
Very pretty dress, love it!!
Thanks so much Jo-Lynne!! I have a wedding in a few weeks and just ordered this and another dress you suggested to try!!
Lovely dress – and looks so good on you! And I agree with you that the multi-strand necklace would have looked nice with the dress. This past Saturday, I must have tried on at least 30 different articles of clothing, from skirts to pants to blouses to dresses…trying to find just the right thing to wear to my daughter’s high school graduation. I work from home so I don’t purchase lots of “event” type clothing. I’m happy to say I purchased a cute black and white polka dot (small dots) surplice dress from Dillard’s. It’s so flattering! Can’t wait to wear it later this month. I might have to take a look at the clutch featured in today’s post! 🙂
That sounds adorable!
Do you have a link or the name of the brand of polka dot dress. That print is so classic!
Love the dress I wish had an occasion!
Beautiful on you, Jo-Lynne! The last 2 weddings I attended (pre-Covid), I wore a jumpsuit that doubles as a “cocktail dress”. While jumpsuits are hard to find if you’re short-waisted, they are so comfy when you find one that fits. I like the idea of having pieces I love in my closet, just waiting for an opportunity to wear them rather than buying items for a specific event. It seems as if often I realize later that I didn’t love the item, just bought it because I couldn’t find anything I liked any better.
Yes, a jumpsuit can be really nice for these types of events if you find a good fit.
I think light grey shoes would be pretty too
That dress suits you to a “T”
I love the dress you styled and I have a question. My husband and I have a black tie optional wedding in June at a country club. Are are of the dresses you posted appropriate for that occasion?
Some of them might work, but probably not the one I’m wearing here. It depends on how people dress in your area. I went to a black tie optional wedding in downtown Wilmington a couple years ago, and it was mostly cocktail dresses and floor-length gowns. That black jumpsuit could work if you glam it up with accessories.
I wrote this post about it: https://jolynneshane.com/what-to-wear-to-a-black-tie-optional-wedding.html
And this one with some looks for less: https://jolynneshane.com/black-tie-optional-looks-for-less.html
What would you recommend for a formal – black tie optional wedding in Texas in July?
It kind of depends on the hosts and the culture of your area, so I would ask around and see if people will be wearing floor-length or cocktail length dresses. I saw a mix at the black tie optional wedding I attended a couple years ago.
Nordstrom has a nice selection: https://shopstyle.it/l/bumNy
And if you decide to go the cocktail route: https://shopstyle.it/l/bumOF
Basically formal/black tie optional suggests floor length gown or very dressy cocktail attire.
That is a very pretty dress that you looks so nice in. And those sandals look great with it and do like they would be easy to walk in. I hope that you are getting a lot accomplished today!
Love this whole look. We have an evening wedding to go to in July at a fancy hotel here in Colorado. I’m really looking forward to it but am struggling with what to wear. So thank you for this post! Also, love the shoes but looks like Evereve doesn’t have them on sale any more. Might be worth buying anyway because they look so nice and so versatile!
Gorgeous on you! I am contemplating purchasing but because I live in Canada, shipping will be A LOT so I want to get it right! I also want to get it right as I am Mother of the Groom. The wedding is outdoors in June on the beach at a camp. Do you think this would be dressy enough? Is it good quality? And lastly, did it look like it could easily be taken in if I drop the 10 pounds I am trying to???
Thank you! I know 3 questions is a lot but I wanna look perfect!!!
Hey Lori. Congrats on your son’s wedding! It’s hard to say if it is dressy enough. It’s not a traditional MOG look, but then it sounds like a more casual wedding. If you’re comfortable with asking the bride what she thinks, you could always do that. I do think it would be very pretty on the beach. I feel like the quality is good, considering the price tag. It definitely doesn’t strike me as cheap, either in look or feel. And as far as taking it in, I don’t know much about sewing, but I think it should be pretty easy to take in as far as the way it is designed. My only concern would be the weight of the fabric, as it’s very thin and filmy. I’m not sure how easy that is to work with. And it is lined, so that would complicate things somewhat. Sorry I can’t give you more definitive answers.