Take inspiration from Filipino fashion

Florals wound their way into another visual component: Erika’s wedding dress, which eschewed the typical beach wedding slip dress vibe with a dramatic skirt featuring oversized, sculptural flowers. To Erika, the blooms resembled camellias, which are ubiquitous in the Philippines, as well as the crinkling petals of the marigold, which are significant for Hindu weddings.

“I always knew I wanted to wear something by a Filipino designer, but a lot of them take your measurements and design something custom for you and you have to come back [to complete the dress],” a process that would be too difficult to pull off from New York,” Erika says. After trying on loads of dresses in New York, the bride was thrilled to find the dress on a trip to the Philippines, at the boutique of celebrated designer Francis Libiran. “I just fell in love with it,” she says. “It meant so much to me that it was designed by a Filipino designer.”

After the couple’s first dance at the reception, Erika changed into a Filipiniana dress, which has a leaner silhouette and puffed sleeves, to get into party mode. The garment belonged to her grandmother, who was unable to attend the wedding due to her health. “It was a beautiful nod, to incorporate her and her story,” says Erika.

Maulik, too, wore a ceremony look with roots in the destination: a barong, an embroidered dress shirt that is the traditional outfit for Filipino grooms. “I thought it was really important to wear, as opposed to something more Western, and I really did like my outfit!” he says. He also had barongs made for his father and groomsmen as gifts. The custom work was done in Manila, with communication completely remote until the couple arrived in the Philippines in December before the wedding for final tailoring.

If you have a spring wedding on the calendar this year, it’s time to find the right dress to suit the occasion. When shopping for a spring wedding guest dress, you’ll want to consider the dress code, the venue’s climate, and the overall vibe of the event. Try to avoid heavy fabrics or dark colors in warm destinations, and instead opt for lighter materials, like linen, silk, or chiffon. And if you’re looking for something as vibrant and lively as the season itself, pastel colorways, floral prints, and airy fabrics all lend themselves perfectly to outdoor garden parties and sunset cocktail hours.

To help you celebrate the happy couple in style, we’ve gathered dozens of elegant wedding guest dresses to wear this season, with options for every type of affair. Whether you’re headed to a lavish black-tie wedding in Newport, Rhode Island, or an intimate beachside ceremony in Riviera Maya, we’ve got you covered with plenty of dresses to choose from (nothing white, of course). We found ritzy gowns, flirty cocktail dresses, and laid-back maxis from Lulus, Nordstrom, Reformation, and more of our favorite retailers. (Pro tip: Some of these brands even have sections on their websites dedicated to wedding guest dresses, making it even easier to narrow down your search for the big day.)

Keep scrolling for our edit of the best spring wedding guest dresses, or jump right to the dress code you’re shopping for.

Black-tie weddings

If you’ve been invited to a black-tie wedding, get ready to dress to impress. You can expect a formal wedding ceremony and reception with this type of invitation—guests should be dressed accordingly, with men wearing a tuxedo or dark suit and women in elegant, floor-length gowns. Dark colors are more in line with the dress code, but given the time of year, lighter hues work too—as long as the dress is tasteful and sophisticated. While long dresses can be tricky to pack and aren’t always the most comfortable to walk around in all night, the lightweight styles below fit nicely in a garment bag and won’t feel too bulky if the wedding falls on a warmer day. Pair any of these timeless looks with comfortable heels, statement earrings, and a matching clutch.

How We Pulled It Off is a monthly column in which newlyweds spill the beans on planning their destination weddings, from agreeing on the right location to incorporating local traditions and designing a memorable weekend for their guests.

There are worldly couples, and then there’s Noha Olivia Fahmy and Syed Saif Ul Mujahid. Noha, who works at luxury brand LVMH, was born in Geneva of Swiss and Egyptian descent and grew up across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, while Saif is from Pakistan and works at TikTok. They met as students in 2012 while living in Doha, Qatar, and now call Dubai home. “We are, as they say, citizens of the world,” Noha understates.

When the couple got engaged in Dubai in 2023, they knew that the majority of their loved ones would have to board a plane to attend their wedding. So, they figured, why not host it in a special place? Marrakech was one of the first places they considered, for its melting pot of European, North African, and Middle Eastern cultures, and on their first planning visit, they fell in love. “The beauty of Marrakech is that it can accommodate any culture for any budget and any party size,” says Noha. “It fits everyone in one way or the other.”

Ahead, Noha and Saif share how they plotted their November 2024 nuptials in Marrakech for 100 guests, from a boisterous Pakistani party on the first night to kick things off to a lovely ceremony among the palm trees of the Ksar Char-Bagh through to dancing the evening away under disco balls and hammered-metal lanterns.

Do a lot of research

Couples planning destination weddings tend to go one of two routes: Either they first hire a planner who’s an expert in the location and can direct them to the right venues and vendors within their budget, or they choose a venue and use one of the venue’s recommended (perhaps even in-house) planners. Noha and Saif decided to make things harder on themselves by doing extensive “parallel” research on those two big hires, as well as DJs, lighting, entertainment companies, and more. “A lot of it came from our own work and research, which personally made me feel more comfortable about the destination and what was available,” Noha says. “I like to take matters into my own hands sometimes.”

Six months out, in April 2024, they visited Marrakech to lock in these big decisions, visiting their favorite venues and meeting with potential planners in person to assess their vibes. “From there on, once we were back, everything was through social media and online,” says Noha.

Land on the dreamiest venue

Upon seeing it, the couple flipped for Ksar Char-Bagh, a 14th-century Moorish-style palace-turned-riad located within a palm grove. The groom loved its configuration. “It’s a perfect wedding venue logistically because the space is divided into four different zones, so the way we envisioned the flow of our wedding matched perfectly with the physical space,” says Saif. The garden made for a lovely pre-ceremony welcome area, after which guests were ushered through a massive wooden door into the majestic courtyard with its dramatic aisle lined by pools for the ceremony. The billiards room, with its carved fireplaces, was a moody spot for cocktails, and dinner and dancing took place in and around a glasshouse, called the Orangerie. Additionally, the 25 guest rooms of the hotel meant their closest family and friends could take over the property and stay with them. (For the remaining 75 guests, the couple shared a handful of hotel recommendations in their favorite neighborhood—around the Dar El Bacha palace to the educational institution Medersa Ben Youssef—and explained the pros and cons of staying within the world-famous medina).

After they’d been dating three years—some of them long distance between New York and Washington, DC—Ruben Marinbach decided to propose to Rebecca Winship on a milestone vacation. “It was my 30th birthday, and we took a trip to Jackson Hole, Wyoming with a bunch of our best friends,” says Rebecca. On the birthday itself, the group were posing for a few photos in front of the Teton Mountains when Ruben got down on one knee.

It was in the shadow of another mountain range, the Pitons of St. Lucia, that the couple (who are now based in the Miami-West Palm Beach area of Florida) were married this past May. Given their varied backgrounds—Ruben grew up in Long Island, New York, while Rebecca was born in Germany, raised in California, and has family in England—a destination wedding made sense. Plus, as Rebecca says: “We wanted something that was really personal, kind of cinematic, more intentional. We loved the idea of a full experience for our guests and ourselves.” Ahead, they explain how they plotted their intimate Caribbean celebration at a private villa for 47 guests, from finding a way around ‘island time’ to bringing Romanian touches into the celebration and a organizing a catamaran party under the stars.

The ceremony went down on the villa’s lawn, framed by two mahogany trees and with the Pitons towering in the background.

Louis Fort

Look beyond the resorts

Though Ruben and Rebecca briefly considered marrying somewhere in Europe, each had grown up close to the sea, and that mutual connection to the water pushed them to start looking in the Caribbean, which would also be more accessible to their Florida home. “We knew we wanted something different, something that felt unique to us,” the bride explains. Eschewing the idea of a paint-by-numbers beach resort, they instead focused their internet searches on cool homes and villas in the islands via sites like VRBO and Airbnb. When they came across the La Belle Hélène, they instantly fell in love. “We knew right away that this was it, so we booked it sight unseen,” she says.

What made La Belle Hélène so special? The former home of a British aristocrat, the private estate offers ten bedrooms, a private staff, its own boat mooring and jetty, a pool and beach bar, and more. It had European architectural flourishes the couple loved, like stately columns, a wide veranda, scrolling ironwork, and an elegant color palette of cream, taupe, and a pretty jade green. “We loved the idea of bringing together my European heritage with a tropical setting,” says Rebecca, for whom the grand lawn with its view of the Pitons sealed the deal. “I’m a very visual person, and I could see our wedding coming to life there,” she says.

Work with locals

Once the couple were in contact with the villa, they learned that the property manager, Febornia William, also worked as a wedding planner—and would be their local planner for the event. A few months after booking the space, they visited St. Lucia to see it in person and meet with potential local vendors, all of whom the property manager knew personally, or had worked with previously, and could vouch for. “We loved that in terms of a villa versus a resort, you can directly support the local economy and the community of St. Lucia.” Rebecca says. “Meeting all the vendors in person was honestly a dream. One of my favorite parts of the whole experience was working closely with these people.”

Their flowers, by TLC Events, were all locally grown—save for some cala lilies, because Rebecca loved the look for her bouquet—while the musicians included a local string ensemble led by violinist Michael Fletcher, and DJ Romanus from Soul Bliss Entertainment. For food, the couple worked with a local chef, Fabian Vigee, on a Caribbean menu that offered steak and of course loads of fish, for dishes like mahi mahi en papillote, Caribbean shrimp kebabs, and spiny lobster bisque. “I’m the foodie in the relationship, so I was very involved in helping to decide the food options, cuisine varieties and how everything was served,” says Ruben. The groom helped develop three custom cocktails for the wedding, like a St. Lucia-style Old-Fashioned with banana liqueur and a Piton Punch with the local, beloved Chairman’s Reserve rum.

Such a declaration could also apply to the Los Angeles-based couple’s decision to combine wedding planning with a giant international vacation with 143 of their closest friends and family, but they’re glad they did that, too. Ahead, they explain how they carefully plotted a blowout celebration in Bali in May 2025, complete with multiple food stalls, chandeliers, water drums, holograms of guests, and more.

Choose a location that excites everyone

While Ting and Ian also considered marrying somewhere in Europe, they knew early on that Bali was the right place for them. Each had traveled to the Indonesian island a few times before they met, and it’s where they went on one of their first trips as a couple. “We were both like, yeah, this is totally somewhere we could see ourselves getting married,” Ting remembers. “I tinkered with some ideas, but I didn’t really go that deep into it. We were pretty set on Bali.”

The prospect was super well-received by their guests. “There was just a lot of excitement to go to Bali. I think a lot of people have it on their bucket list,” Ian says. And although both were born on the east coast of the U.S. (Ian near Washington, DC, and Ting in New York), they had spent most of their lives in California, and the majority of their loved ones would be coming from the west coast—shaving off a few hours of flight time to Asia.

Join a dedicated Facebook group

Aside from sifting through images on Instagram and Pinterest, and reading through Google reviews of potential venues and vendors, Ting and Ian jumped into the several Facebook groups out there for couples getting married in Bali, or newlyweds happy to share advice from their experiences in the region. Real humans helped cut through the internet noise. “Bali has a thriving wedding industry, so there was just a lot of information,” Ting explains.

Their first step was finding a reputable wedding planner, and they chose Vara Weddings, for a few reasons: They catered to international couples, seemed adept at balancing multiple cultures, and their portfolio showed many huge Indian weddings. “We know how labor-intensive Indian weddings can be, so we felt, if they can handle Indian weddings, they can definitely handle our wedding,” Ting reasons. Plus, they found that most Bali event firms, including Vara, offered full service planning up through the wedding day, meaning there might be a team of a dozen or more planning staff on site the day of. “That really made things run so seamlessly,” the bride says.

The best winter wedding guest dresses are as comfortable as they are elegant, effortlessly moving with you from sunlit ceremonies to late-night dancing. When choosing the right dress to wear to a winter wedding, you should consider the event dress code, the destination’s climate, and of course, your personal style. To help you find a dress that makes you feel as good as you look, we’re rounding up the best winter wedding guest dresses to wear this season, whether you’re attending a glitzy black-tie wedding in Brooklyn or a cozy, romantic ceremony in Breckinridge. From satin gowns and velvet maxis for cold-weather cities to bright and bold, loose-fitting styles for destination weddings in tropical climates, we have you covered with polished looks for every setting. We made sure to include a mix of on-trend dresses and classic gowns you can rewear time and time again.

Keep scrolling for all of the winter wedding guest dresses we’re loving or jump straight to the dress code you’re shopping for.

Black-tie weddings

Black tie is the most formal wedding attire that a couple can request. The wedding will likely offer an elevated, white-glove experience, so pull out your fanciest floor-length gown. Men should be in tuxedos and women are expected to wear elegant, long dresses. This isn’t the time to take any risks with color or designs; stick with something sophisticated and timeless. This season’s best styles are fitting for any black-tie wedding, whether you’re headed to Savannah or Santa Barbara. Some of our top picks for black-tie weddings are from Reformation, Lulus, and Revolve.

Formal or black-tie optional

If the couple you’re celebrating requests formal attire or black-tie optional, you have a little bit more flexibility with your look. Dresses should still be floor-length and elegant, but you can have a little more fun with color and the details. Winter celebrations call for dark colors, festive jewel tones, and crushed velvet dresses—all of which are on-theme for New Year’s Eve weddings too. If the ceremony or photos will take place outside, you might even consider a long-sleeve gown, like these stunning options from Nordstrom or Anthropologie.

Cocktail dresses

If the dress code is a little bit more casual, then you might be looking for a chic cocktail dress. These styles are more laid-back than a formal dress, but they are still appropriate to wear on the big day. Midi and mini dresses are fair game, as well as some polished jumpsuits. The best thing about cocktail dresses—besides how comfortable they are to walk and dance in all night—is that they are easy to rewear again to future rehearsal dinners, bridal showers, or engagement parties. Also worth mentioning, these dresses are easier to pack and keep wrinkle-free than a longer gown. Slip on a comfortable heel, a bold handbag, and some sparkly earrings and you’re ready for the festivities to begin.

Warm-weather winter weddings

Many brides and grooms opt to escape the cold all together and head somewhere warm and sunny to tie the knot. If that’s the case (lucky you), then you’ll want something bold and vibrant that speaks to the destination itself. Colorful sunset-inspired midis and relaxed maxi dresses are ideal for beach weddings, while a fun floral look is just what you’ll want for dreamy outdoor garden parties. You can’t go wrong with any of Farm Rio’s bright prints or Meshki’s best-selling Amaya maxi dress.

This article has been updated with new information since its original publish date.

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Looking for more wedding packing list inspiration?

Whether you’re the bride-to-be or a bridesmaid planning her getaway, a well-considered bachelorette packing list sets the tone for a celebration of style and ease. Today’s bridal wardrobe calls for a mix of playful and modern elegance—with pieces that feel intentional, versatile, and tastefully understated. Our edit of bachelorette outfit ideas spans fluid ivory dresses, chic white matching sets, and fun yet necessary accessories.

This year-round bridal packing list is designed for every bachelorette destination—whether that’s a glitzy city weekend, a countryside retreat, or a quiet seaside escape. Each piece, from going-out staples to loungewear (and everything in between), was chosen for its ability to move effortlessly from day to evening, to layer with ease, and to rewear long after the festivities end. With an emphasis on silk silhouettes, neutral palettes, and thoughtful details, these bachelorette trip essentials speak to the modern bride’s taste.

Brides-to-be and trip-planners alike: Consider this your mood board of carefully selected—mostly white—clothing, shoes, and accessory recommendations for your pre-wedding celebration.

Dresses and skirts

There’s nothing like packing a brand new dress (or skirt) to wear for your upcoming vacation, but sometimes, finding the right style can be tricky. From vacation dresses and casual midis to wear to lunch to elevated nighttime looks for dinner and the afters, we’ve got you covered with picks from Anthropologie, LoveShackFancy, 12th Tribe, and more. These are the dresses to wear barefoot on the beach and further into the night, where you’ll need an outfit to wear from cocktail hour all the way to last call.

Loungewear and robes

The bride-to-be must be cozy, whether she’s getting ready for the evening or grabbing breakfast with the girls. Comfortable loungewear is a quintessential item on any packing list, including a bachelorette weekend. And just because it’s convenient to wear, doesn’t mean it has to be off-theme. With these options below, the bride can count every opportunity—even staying in—as a photo-op. Our top picks for the best loungewear and robes are inspired by our editors’ go-to comfy brands (we’re talking to you, Cozy Earth) and some Condé Nast Traveler reader favorites.

Bathing suits and cover-ups

Whether your bachelorette party is a coastal getaway (hello, Miami or Montauk) or one of a more inland, urban reprise (like New Orleans or Charleston), there’s no question that you’ll need a few chic bathing suits and cover-ups to choose from. This is the set you’ll wear all day at the beach club, on a sunset cruise, or simply lounging poolside. Below you’ll find a variety of swimsuits, from supportive one-pieces to trendy bikinis, and the cutest lightweight cover-ups to complete the ‘fit.

Comfortable shoes

When it comes to shoes for any vacation, it’s essential to pack smart. The last thing you want is a cute pair of shoes that bite back, leaving you with painful blisters on the first day. From heels and sandals to house slippers, you’ll want to pack a pair that’s versatile, comfortable, and stylish. To protect you, in the name of fashion, we’ve compiled some options for the bride-to-be to wear to the beach, the bars, and everything in between.

Essential bags and purses

From daytime totes to evening clutches, the right handbag not only spruces up your outfit, but it’s roomy enough to hold all of your necessities (like your phone, keys, and lipstick). We found plenty of white and silver bags fit for the occasion in all sorts of styles and sizes, with beach days, boozy brunches, and fancy dinners in mind. Best of all, these versatile bags can be reworn on any summer trip.

Bridal accessories

What’s a bachelorette trip without some accessories? While you might fall victim to the classic customized bride-to-be glam, we recommend keeping your own sense of style in mind. Here are some playful and tasteful products worth adding to your outfit, from versatile statement jewelry and headbands to effortlessly cool straw hats and sunglasses.

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More of our bachelorette trip recommendations:

Though their work in and around the hotel business—Jennifer Isicoff is a hospitality publicist, and Peter Flexner works in hotel real estate—has found them crossing literal paths through lobbies on more than one occasion, the New York City-based couple met in 2018 “the old-fashioned way,” on a dating app. The professional overlap was just one of the many ways in which they found they were compatible. “One of the things that bonds us is our love of seeing the world, and seeing the world through really interesting properties,” says Jennifer.

After Peter proposed in 2023 on a ski trip in Canada, the pair knew pretty quickly they wanted a destination wedding. Aside from their passion for travel, both Jennifer and Peter’s brothers had thrown destination weddings, and their families had thoroughly enjoyed the experience. “How many times in your adult life do you get to take a trip with so many family members and friends? It was really so special,” says Peter. But which region would be the right one, and how could they plot a celebration that allowed the location to shine? Ahead, the couple share how they planned a lavender-scented wedding near Cannes, France in July 2024.

The afterparty was lit up with a fireworks display set to David Bowie and Paul McCartney.

Christophe Serrano

Follow your fixation

Around the time of their engagement, Jennifer had been working with a hotel group in Monte Carlo. Over several business trips to Monaco, she’d become more familiar with the French Riviera and started to develop favorite spots. “Peter had some envy of this beautiful place I was getting to explore through work, so we took our own trip there,” Jennifer says. On their visit, the couple couldn’t help fantasizing about marrying there, and soon it became a fixation.

They began to research venues, and mulled all the fun excursions guests might have on extra days in Monte Carlo, Nice, and of course Paris. “I felt like I could help people have a great time there,” says Jennifer, “and it was a destination that I could just be an informed host in.”

Don’t be afraid to pivot locations

After one work trip in the area, Jennifer visited a potential venue she’d found online, a beach club close to Monaco. “It was right on the water and had this spectacular mountain view, nestled near a rock formation,” she remembers. “It was a really rustic club, but charming and intimate. I thought I could make it look nice.”

The mother of the bride expressed some apprehension that perhaps the club was a little too rough and ready, but still the couple reached out to a few wedding planners who had planned events there. But the one they eventually hired, Chloé Atlan at Aava Weddings, actually steered them away from the venue. “You could do better,” was Chloé’s unfiltered advice. She shared a deck with some suggested venues that more clearly aligned with their vision, and which she had worked with in the past.

Trust your butterflies

Looking over the deck of venues, Jennifer and Peter narrowed the list down to their two favorites, and then took another trip to the area to visit each. When they walked into Château de la Napoule, they knew. “Immediately, when we walked in, there was simply no competition,” she says. “We were slapping each other. ‘Wow, this is the most beautiful place we’ve ever seen.’ How did we ever consider anywhere else?”

There were many details of the Château to love, from its Gothic architecture and medieval charm to the ocean views. There were spaces throughout the estate where they could stage each of their wedding events without having to raise a tent or other structure, allowing them to fully immerse guests in the French landscape. It was the best of ornate, stately French chateau culture with the benefits of the oceanside party she had initially envisioned. “It had beautiful views, but it was a proper space to have dinner where tables didn’t have to be placed in the sand,” the bride explains.