Black Formal Dresses For Weddings

Black dresses used to be a no-go for wedding guests, but no longer. Tastes have changed and many brides are leaning towards a more ‘gala’ feel to their wedding theme. Of course, there are still a few expectations to consider when picking out your black wedding guest dress.

While black dresses for morning weddings are still a little taboo, afternoon and after-sundown weddings are perfectly acceptable. In these cases, all it takes is a little accessorizing or dressing down the look with a floral print to fit the scene.

Scroll down and we’ll show you a few simple rules to keep in mind for a variety of black dress wedding guest

Black Prom Dresses V Neck Puffy Sleeves A Line Evening

Yes! Wedding guest black dresses are expected to be a trend this year. There used to be a feeling that black is exclusively for mourning. However, these days are long gone and replaced with a more ‘Gatsby’ sentiment wherein the color black represents glamor and class.

Unless the couple specifies a color palette, there are no limitations to what guests can wear. The one exception, of course, is white. Black dresses for wedding guests are neutral and versatile. The simple addition of accessories, patterns, or splashes of color can easily transform the outfit to suit any wedding theme.

There’s a chance that a black dress could represent mourning, but it all depends on how you wear it. In the majority of cases, a black wedding guest dress demonstrates class, elegance, and sexiness. Conversely, many cultures are making their way into North American wedding themes. Some of these cultures wear black to symbolize the ‘until death do we part” portion of the wedding vows.

Gothic Black Wedding Dresses

A black maxi dress for a wedding guest is the first style that you should consider. Its natural state is casual, making it appropriate for the outdoor, destination, or less formal themes. However, black maxi dresses are glamorous enough to fit in at classier events.

As a rule, choose a maxi style that isn’t cut too low or shows too much skin. Also, remember to accessorize for the season. Maxi dresses can easily pair with outerwear to keep you warm in cooler months. They can also be paired with stylish accessories, making your ensemble black-tie-ready with ease.

Ablack midi wedding guest dressis the ideal length for spring and summer weddings, especially during daylight hours. Beach weddings in particular can be a blast! A pair of sandals or flats and a novelty sunhat will instantly transport you to relaxation with an effortless look.

Cocktail Dress For Wedding Guest Tulle Black Prom Dress

For example, Refined details and gentle lace emphasize elegance. You will be at the height of your marked party in such clothing. You can be sure that intricate lace will give it its romantic flair and in addition in black, it will be even more unforgettable.

Ablack lace wedding guest dressisn’t the best choice for every situation, but it definitely has its place.Black dressesare sexy. Lace dresses are sexy. Put them together and you may find yourself overshadowing the bride or standing out in a way that you don’t want.

To wear it right, reserve black lacewedding guest dressesfor evening weddings. Use a splash of color to tone down the somber look and blend into the wedding theme.

Dream Evening Dress Jx6078 By Jadore Evening

Long sleeves have a few attributes beyond keeping you warm. Wedding guests that choose dresses with long sleeves will visually lengthen their arms and instantly create a more refined look.

You can also choose flowing sleeves if you are attending a down-to-earth, yet elegant boho or rustic wedding theme. Long sleeves are also a great option to offset the amount of skin showing in a cocktail or other short-cut dresses.

If the dress code calls for aformal black tie wedding guest dress, there are 3 main options; blend in, compliment, or contrast.

Faq: Is It Ok For Guests To Wear Black To A Wedding?

Blending in entails matching the tonal range of your date and the rest of the wedding guests. Keep it simple with a few tasteful accessories. Complimenting involves taking elements from the wedding and blending them to create your own unique style. Contrasting means making bold choices that make you stand out, but make everyone else stand out by visually comparing a variety of lights and darks across the group.

In each case, reach for a traditional frame, stay on the modest side of patterns and texture, and give a bias towards flat colors.

White and black is a classic color combination. To makeblack and white dress wedding guestattire you will want to avoid too much white, and that you are competing with the bride. This is easily accomplished with floral appliques, white belts or bows, or tasteful patterns.

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The wedding fashion is changeable. But our editor, Kate Zakharova, is always at the cutting edge of modern trends. She has been examining new collections of all the best wedding designers for more than 3 years. She is always happy to share her knowledge with Wedding Forward readers. Besides the editorial work, Kate adores frame-up dancing. Also, she spends her free time drawing digital illustrations on a graphic tabletWhen you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site.

Emily Rochotte is a writer for a variety of wedding and lifestyle publications and works with wedding professionals to grow their business using content and social media. Her work has appeared on The Knot, Cosmopolitan, Good Housekeeping, Harper's Bazaar, Town & Country, and many more. 

Rachel Varina is a full-time freelancer with over 10 years of editorial experience and six years of experience in the wedding industry. Her work has been featured in 

Women's Black Wedding Guest Dresses

Photo by Kelley Williams A black-tie event doesn’t come around often, so when you find yourself invited to a formal wedding, you’ll want to feel your most elegant. By definition, a black-tie event calls for floor length dresses or tuxedos. And if you’re petite (typically defined as being 5’4” or under), finding a black-tie wedding guest dress that flatters your body and isn’t dragging on the ground, requiring extensive alterations, can be a challenge. Shopping for a petite dress means looking for designers who have petite-specific as well as styles that best suit your silhouette. No one wants the waistline of a dress to fall at their hips! This is not going to guarantee you won’t need alterations, but it may decrease how much altering needs to be done for you to feel your best in a comfortable, well-fitted look.  A shorter stature does not mean ruling out dresses you love. With the help of a stylist, we’ve found the best dresses to make you feel like your tallest, most confident self at any black-tie wedding. Our Top Picks Best Sleeveless : Lulus Molinetto Lace Ruffled Tiered Sleeveless Maxi Dress at Lulus Jump to Review Best Black: Betsy & Adam Ruffle Gown at Nordstrom Jump to Review Best Trumpet: Reformation Petites Nadira Dress at Reformation Jump to Review Best Jumpsuit: Abercrombie & Fitch Plunge Crepe Jumpsuit at Abercrombie.com Jump to Review Best Ball Gown: Fame and Partners Queen Of Peace at Fameandpartners.com Jump to Review Best Pleated: ASOS DESIGN Petite Puff Sleeve Lace Trim Pleated Skater Dress at Asos Jump to Review Best Patterned: Aureta Studio Puff-Sleeve Cutout Dress at Anthropologie Jump to Review Best Linen: Reformation Petites Frankie Linen Dress at Reformation Jump to Review Best for Summer: Revelry Paloma Chiffon Dress at Shoprevelry.com Jump to Review Best for Spring: Reformation Petites Olesia Satin Dress at Reformation Jump to Review In This Article Expand Our Picks What To Look For FAQ Why Trust Best Sleeveless Lulus Molinetto Lace Ruffled Tiered Sleeveless Maxi Dress Lulus View On Lulus This ruffled maxi dress is available in navy blue, burgundy, white, forest green, and black so you can put the black in black-tie or add a bit of color to your look. The tiers add a layered effect to give the dress some volume from the waist down, creating a cinched bodice look.  Price at time of publish: $99 Size: XXS-3XL | Materials: Cotton, Nylon, Polyester, Spandex | Length: Ankle Best Black Betsy & Adam Ruffle Halter Crepe Gown Amazon View On Nordstrom View On Lordandtaylor.com View On Macy's While black-tie doesn't need to mean black dress, you can never go wrong with a timeless all-black number. The high slit gives visible length to the leg making this gown an excellent choice if you’re looking to increase your height appearance. The voluminous ruffles up the slit will have you looking just like the dancing lady emoji come to life. Plus it comes in petite-specific sizes. Price at time of publish: $259 Size: 2P - 14P | Materials: Polyester, Spandex | Length: Floor  Best Trumpet Reformation