wedding guest wearing a satin one-shoulder champagne dress for winter weddings

Best Winter Wedding Guest Dresses and Outfits for the Festive Season

Photography by James Fear Photography

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So, you’ve received your long-awaited wedding invitation in the post to see a winter wedding date? While this may mean you have yet another party season event to schedule into your calendar, this also means acquiring yet another gorgeous gown that gets around the low-temperature situation.

Let’s be real - it tends to be trickier dressing for formal events in the winter months. Not because there’s a lack of stunning winter-appropriate gowns on the market (it’s actually quite the opposite), but because you have to consider a few extra things, entirely unnecessary to summer or even spring weddings. Coat or no coat? Are open-toe shoes a mistake? Is a long-sleeved dress essential?

If these are the questions you’re currently asking yourself, you’re in the right place! Personally, we love winter weddings, they’re cute, cosy and ultra-festive, full of warm colours, glowy lights and a certain jolly atmosphere you only feel when Christmas is around the corner.

To help you find the perfect winter wedding dresses for guests, we’ve pulled together an edit of the 17 best winter wedding guest dresses for the season ahead. 

wedding guest wearing black and gold dress with feather headband
bride wearing winter wedding dress and wedding guest/ bridesmaid wearing teal satin gown with fur shawl
christmas tree at wedding venue for winter wedding
one-shoulder satin champagne winter wedding guest dress
winter wedding venue with two christmas trees and festive decor
red winter wedding dress with cape for winter wedding

The 17 Best Winter Wedding Dresses for Guests

From forest green dresses to shimmering party-season-worthy metallics and vibrant pinks and reds, all of a beautiful bed of shiny satin, rich velvet and more - browse Rock My Wedding's Editor's picks of the best winter wedding guest dresses to look and feel your best at an upcoming winter wedding.

Want to broaden your horizons when it comes to wedding guest attire? Shop the best wedding guest dresses for all year round or autumn wedding guest dresses to find an abundance of beautiful earth tones. 

green jacquard winter wedding guest dress with elegant mock-neck and billowy sleeves

Anthropologie Winter Wedding Guest Dress 

The Somerset Long-Sleeve Maxi Dress: Mock-Neck Edition - £148

If we can think of one non-negotiable for a winter wedding guest dress done right - it’s sleeves! Perfect for fending off the chill, without overtaking your gorgeous wedding guest look, these beautiful, billowy sleeves easily take centre stage. From the cosy jacquard print to forest green colouring and elegant mock neck - we love this dress for a winter wedding. 

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Silver metallic winter wedding guest dress in a midi silhouette with crew neckline, puff shoulders, 3/4 ruffle

Mint Velvet Winter Wedding Guest Dress 

Silver Metallic Midi Dress - £189

If there’s any time to wear something with some shine, it’s winter. Whether you’re channelling festive or party season energy, this winter wedding dress from Mint Velvet is the perfect style to help you achieve it. We’ve been seeing more and more metallic options, as opposed to sparkles and sequins, and think it’s a great option for a more alternative edge to conventional glitz & glam. Alongside the ruffle details, this midi dress is a trend-follower's dream.  

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hot pin, velvet winter wedding guest dress with v-neckline and long balloon sleeves

John Lewis Winter Wedding Guest Dress

NRBY Freya Velvet Midi Dress, Hot Pink - £299

The winter months aren’t all about the reds, greens and sparkles - rich, warm or jewel-toned dresses generally tend to work beautifully for winter weddings. Looking for an easy way to winter-proof their wedding guest dress? Focus on texture. While linens and jersey dresses are synonymous with summer, things like satin, corduroy and velvet are perfect for winter. 

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black winter wedding guest dress with figure-skimming silhouette, contemporary drop waist, and twisted bardot neckline.

Club L London Winter Wedding Guest Dress

Marguerite Black Twisted Bardot Drop-Waist Maxi Dress - £120

If you’ve been paying attention to wedding trends, you’ll know that drop-waist gowns are more popular than ever, and this trend translates to wedding guest fashion, too! We all know that you can’t go wrong with a little black dress, and this glamorous number from Club L London offers the perfect level of elegance for a winter wedding. 

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bottle green winter wedding guest dress, made with premium satin. Featuring classic wrap design and high split

Club L London Winter Wedding Guest Dress 

Mika Bottle Green Satin Short-Sleeve Wrap Maxi Dress - £75

For those who want something effortlessly elegant, this classic wrap dress is perfect for winter weddings. Made from gorgeous shiny, premium satin, this dress offers just the right amount of shimmer in an understated, elegant way. 

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red winter wedding guest dress in midaxi length and balloon sleeves

Nobody's Child Winter Wedding Guest Dress

Hannah Midaxi Dress with Balloon Sleeve in Red - £120

Nothing signals the start of the festive season quite like an influx of red. While there’s some debate about whether red is an acceptable shade for guests, as long as you check any dress codes or with the couple directly, we think winter is the perfect time for red wedding guest dresses. Along with the puff sleeves - something we’ve seen a lot of in 2024 - this dress promises to turn heads. 

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dark green mini winter wedding guest dress, with voluminous sleeves and open back that ties together with bow

Nobody's Child Winter Wedding Guest Dress

Forest Green Balloon Sleeve Zola Mini Dress - £99

Just because we’re on the subject of winter wedding guest dresses, doesn’t mean you can’t consider a mini gown. More and more brides are opting for short wedding dresses, and there’s no reason you can’t explore tasteful, shorter dresses for weddings as guests, too! While the long sleeves are on hand to fend off the chill, you can always explore some tights and boots options for the more casual ceremonies.

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rich forest green velvet winter wedding guest dress with mandarin collar and cap sleeves

KITRI Studio Winter Wedding Guest Dress

Carmella Green Velvet Midi Dress - £185

As mentioned, velvet is a favourite for winter wedding guest dresses, and this gorgeous green midi dress from KITRI Studio is no exception. If you’re looking for something with a unique silhouette this is the perfect choice, thanks to the mandarin collar and cap sleeves that add extra coverage for the colder months. 

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green velvet winter wedding guest dress, with a cross-halter-neck and a-line skirt

KITRI Studio Winter Wedding Guest Dress

Neve Green Velvet Halter Dress - £190

Two green velvet dresses from KITRI… We know. But we couldn’t say no to this stunning gown! If you’re after something more classically winter wedding guest, this is the one for you. It has all the components of everything we love about winter wedding guest attire, designed to be ultra-flattering for a range of body types, thanks to the halter neckline and A-line skirt. 

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deep olive tone winter wedding guest dress, with gold fleck foil jacquard print

Never Fully Dressed Winter Wedding Guest Dress

Olive Jacquard Tilda Dress - £129

Jacquard print is a popular choice for winter wedding guest dresses, especially when a touch of shimmer is concerned. The deep olive tone alongside the gold fleck foil print screams party season special occasion. We adore this pick if you’re attending a wedding with a cocktail-esque dress code. 

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two-piece, jacket style black midi winter wedding guest dress, with padded shoulders, long sleeves, all-over metallic textured weave, contrast pleated skirt, and lace trim at hem.

Self-Portrait Winter Wedding Guest Dress 

V-Neck Metallic-Weave Woven Midi Dress - £440

If you’re looking for something higher-end on the luxury scale, we love this Self-Portrait winter wedding guest dress. For those who want to completely avoid the cold, without compromising on wearing a dress and sparkles, we’ve found the dress that promises to call off your search. While at first glance, you may think it’s a two-piece jacket and skirt - think again! Perfect for wedding guests of all ages, you won’t want to miss this for winter weddings

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eye-catching green winter wedding guest dress, with fitted bodice and dramatic skirt lined with tulle

Self-Portrait Winter Wedding Guest Dress

Mikado Maxi Dress - £595

If you’re attending a black or white tie wedding and need something on the fancier side, we have just the dress for you. In a beautiful eyecatching green colour, perfect for the festive season, it boats just the right amount of drama in a way that doesn’t cross the bounds for a wedding guest. Better yet, it has pockets! What’s not to love?

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yellow winter wedding guest dress with smooth crepe fabric, dramatically flared faille cuffs, and off-the-shoulder neckline

Solace London Winter Wedding Guest Dress

Talia Off-the-Shoulder Faille-Trimmed Crepe Gown - £520

Just because you’re attending a winter wedding doesn’t mean you have to avoid colour altogether. While yellow is typically associated with the summer months, it’s important to remember that there are no hard and fast rules, as long as you feel comfortable and confident. And, maybe, colour is exactly what a winter wedding needs - it’s a celebration after all! We particularly love the dramatically flared faille cuffs in a gorgeous, almost golden, shiny satin. Pair this dress with gold jewellery, which will work perfectly with the off-the-shoulder neckline. 

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red winter wedding floor-length gown, made from lustrous bias-cut satin with open back and cami straps

Victoria Beckham Winter Wedding Guest Dress

Cami Open-Back Satin Gown - £850

Victoria Beckham is the queen of simple elegance, and this gorgeous red gown is the perfect example of a winter wedding guest dress done right. While the floor-pooling hem and open-back design, add the perfect amount of drama, it’s relatively sleek and simple in silhouette, enabling you to stand out in the best way possible. Elevate the look with some minimalist jewellery and you’ll be onto a winner. 

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brown satin winter wedding guest dress with an effortless drape, vintage-inspired gather at the waist, and asymmetric straps

Dries Van Noten Winter Wedding Guest Dress

Asymmetric Draped Gathered Satin Gown - £1,257

If you can’t get enough of autumn’s earth tones, there’s no reason you can carry the natural shades into the winter months. While we love an abundance of sparkles and jewel tones, this warm chocolate-toned dress has caught our attention. With beautiful draping, ruffles and an asymmetric neckline, it promises to hang perfectly, ensuring you look the epitome of elegance on the big day. For more fall-inspired looks, check out our favourite autumn wedding guest dresses.

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black ankle-length winter wedding guest dress with subtly padded shoulders and ostrich feathers trimmed cuffs.

Sleeper Winter Wedding Guest Dress

Sleeper Suzi Feather-Trimmed Satin Maxi Dress - £390

If you’ve been busy keeping up with trends, you’ll know that feather accents are everywhere. From feather cuffs to hems, we can’t get enough! This Sleeper dress is a party-season must, sitting perfectly between simple and classy. Style with a simple pair of pointed-toe kitten heels and some beautiful dangly earrings - and we promise - that’s all this dress will need! 

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Green high low winter wedding guest dress, featuring mock neckline with 3D flower, sheer long puff sleeves, and ruched bodice.

Mac Duggal Winter Wedding Guest Dress

High Low Long Sleeve Chiffon Gown With 3D Flower - £470

While we’re on the subject of trending dress styles, high-low gowns are up there! Mac Duggal is renowned for elegant formalwear, making it the perfect place to acquire a stunning winter wedding guest dress. With a fully lined bodice and skirt, plus beautiful sheer sleeves, it provides just the right amount of coverage for weddings during the colder months. 

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Shop the Best Winter Wedding Guest Dress For You!

Finding the best dress for a winter wedding doesn’t have to be daunting. From elegant velvet gowns to chic long-sleeved dresses, there’s no shortage of stunning options to suit the season. In the winter months, don’t forget to consider any necessary extras like layering up with stylish coats and cosy accessories to stay warm, with all the more glamour. Win-win if you ask us! 


Wedding Guests