Receiving a save-the-date for a destination wedding is exciting for two reasons (as long as it arrives early enough). First, there’s the honor of being invited. Then there’s the trip itself—a weekend away at a venue that feels like a vacation. But there’s also a fashion bonus: destination wedding guest dresses are some of the most fun to wear, letting you take inspiration from the location.
Vogue’s Guide to the Best Destination Wedding Guest Dresses:
The Little Red Dress
Staud Liliana dress
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$450 NET-A-PORTER
The Party Fringe
Taller Marmo Yacare dress
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$1,015 TALLER MARMO
The Cobalt Lace
Rixo Lysandra midi dress
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$545 NET-A-PORTER
The Nautical Maxi
Altuzarra Moonlight maxi dress
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$2,795 NET-A-PORTER
The Metallic Stunner
Mercer Collective metallic ruffle gown
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$395 NORDSTROM
The Ruffled Tiers
Aje Cleo gown
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$770 NET-A-PORTER
The Scarf Dress
Mango halterneck dress
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$400 MANGO
The Blush Silk
Victoria Beckham Isabella dress
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$1,590 NET-A-PORTER
A countryside wedding, for example, calls for something with a pastoral touch or at least some florals. Heading to a rooftop ceremony in a distant city? Keep it modern and polished with Staud or Christopher John Rogers. Maybe you’re taking a small plane to the New England coast? You don’t need to change your whole style to embrace preppy looks, but a hint of blue is a nice nod to your surroundings. Tropical getaways and beach weddings, on the other hand, invite some sequins and shine like Tory Burch or a sunset-colored print by La DoubleJ. You get the idea—let the setting (and the dress code) guide you, wherever your invitation takes you.
Below, we’ve gathered 28 destination wedding guest dresses that are as stunning as the venues themselves.
For the Countryside
Nothing says countryside romance like ruffles. Florals are also a natural choice: Dôen’s Ginette dress is elegant, while Ulla Johnson’s Katy maxi is perfect for a garden party. Just make sure to pair them with shoes that won’t sink into the grass, like wedges or ballet flats, and you’re ready to dance under the stars.
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Save to wishlist
Dôen
Ginette midi dress
$500 NET-A-PORTER
Save to wishlist
Save to wishlist
Ulla Johnson
Katy maxi dress
$890 NET-A-PORTER
$890 REVOLVE
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Save to wishlist
Mercer Collective
metallic ruffle gown
$395 NORDSTROM
Save to wishlist
Save to wishlist
Banana Republic
tiered maxi dress
$248 BANANA REPUBLIC
For City Lights
You probably already know how to dress for an evening in the city, but a city wedding (even a low-key courthouse one) needs a bit of extra flair. Show your most sophisticated urban side with playful prints from Christopher John Rogers, a sleek red dress from Staud, or classic (and affordable) LBDs from Zara and H&M.
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Save to wishlist
Staud
Liliana dress
$450 NET-A-PORTER
Save to wishlist
Save to wishlist
Christopher John Rogers
Louie dress
$1,795 NET-A-PORTER
$1,795 NORDSTROM
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Save to wishlist
H&M
open-back slip dress
$70 H&M
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Save to wishlist
Zara
short dress
$70 ZARA
For the Coastline
Just because you’re invited to a New England wedding doesn’t mean you have to turn into a Kennedy at a clambake. Instead, add a little prep to your look with pops of nautical blue from brands like RIXO, Altuzarra, COS, and SIR—the last one makes a cute mini that’s great for more casual celebrations.
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Save to wishlist
Rixo
Lysandra midi dress
$545 NET-A-PORTER
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Save to wishlist
Altuzarra
Moonlight maxi dress
$2,795 NET-A-PORTER
Save to wishlist
Save to wishlist
Cos
draped pleated dress
$139 COS
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Save to wishlist
Sir
Noria mini dress
$460 NET-A-PORTER
$460 REVOLVE
For a Mountain Retreat
A wedding in the shadow of a towering mountain in Aspen or Jackson Hole is a chance to mix glamour with a touch of Western Americana. To match the mood (and the dramatic landscape), we love the idea of a flowing maxi by Chloé or Farm Rio; minimalists, meanwhile, can choose for earthy tones in luxurious fabrics, like Tove or Erdem.Save to wishlistSave to wishlistToveAmina dress$780 NET-A-PORTER$780 SHOPBOPSave to wishlistSave to wishlistErdemfloral-jacquard gown$3,195 NET-A-PORTERSave to wishlistSave to wishlistChloélayered long dress$7,190 CHLOÉSave to wishlistSave to wishlistFarm RioNatalia maxi dress$320 FARM RIO$320 BLOOMINGDALE’SFor the TropicsThere are plenty of beautiful beach destinations—from Jamaica to Bali to Hawaii—and they all share a relaxed approach to eveningwear. Airy ruffles from Donde Esteban will drift in the sea breeze, while Tory Burch’s paillette-covered shift, Taller Marmo’s fringe-trimmed dress, and La DoubleJ’s bright patterned maxi are perfect for dancing the night away.Save to wishlistSave to wishlistTory Burchmirror embellished dress$1,995 TORY BURCHSave to wishlistSave to wishlistDonde EstebanFlores maxi dress$950 NET-A-PORTERSave to wishlistSave to wishlistLa DoubleJMuumuu dress$1,750 NET-A-PORTERSave to wishlistSave to wishlistTaller MarmoYacare dress$1,015 TALLER MARMOFor Wine CountryWhether you’re in Sonoma or Tuscany, a vineyard estate is both rustic and refined (think neat rows of vines surrounding a château or villa), and that balance calls for a dress with presence. Try romantic florals from Ulla Johnson and Simkhai, cascading ruffles in a sage palette from Aje, or an elevated satin piece from Mango.Save to wishlistSave to wishlistUlla JohnsonAureline dress$1,400 NET-A-PORTER$1,400 NORDSTROM$1,400 REVOLVESave to wishlistSave to wishlistAjeCleo gown$770 NET-A-PORTERSave to wishlistSave to wishlistSimkhaiCerin dress$745 SIMKHAISave to wishlistSave to wishlistMangohalterneck dress$400 MANGOFor a CastleThere’s nothing relaxed about a wedding in a castle; dress accordingly. Whether the venue once belonged to Italian nobility, a Scottish monarch, or a French aristocrat, this is your moment to go all out—and jewel-toned satin gowns from FFORME, Reiss, Tove, and Victoria Beckham fit the theme perfectly.Save to wishlistSave to wishlistFformeNyx dress$1,795 NET-A-PORTERSave to wishlistSave to wishlistReissSabine maxi dress$595 REISSSave to wishlistSave to wishlistToveCoco dress$1,580 NET-A-PORTERSave to wishlistSave to wishlistVictoria BeckhamIsabella dress$1,590 NET-A-PORTER
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs The 28 Best Guest Dresses for Destination Weddings in Any Exotic Location
1 What is a destination wedding guest dress
Its an outfit you wear to a wedding held somewhere other than the couples hometownlike a beach in Bali or a villa in Tuscany It should suit the location climate and dress code
2 Why do I need a special dress for a destination wedding
Regular wedding guest outfits often dont work in heat humidity or on sand Destination dresses are chosen for comfort packability and the setting
3 What makes these 28 dresses the best
They balance style comfort and practicalitybreathable fabrics flattering cuts and colors that suit tropical or exotic backdrops
4 What fabrics work best for hot humid locations
Linen chiffon silk and lightweight cotton Avoid heavy satin velvet and thick polyesterthey trap heat and show sweat
5 What colors should I avoid
Skip white ivory and cream and check if the couple has a specific palette Bright jewel tones and pastels usually work well
6 How do I know what dress code to follow
Check the invitation or wedding website If it says beach formal or tropical cocktail that tells you the formality level When in doubt ask the couple or other guests
7 Whats the difference between cocktail and formal for a destination wedding
Cocktail means knee to midilength dresses with dressy touches Formal means floorlength gowns in elevated fabrics Beach formal is a relaxed mix of both
8 Can I wear a maxi dress to a beach wedding
Yesflowy maxi dresses are a top choice Just make sure the hem doesnt drag in the sand or pick a length that grazes rather than sweeps
9 What shoes should I pair with these dresses
Block heels wedges or dressy sandals for sand and grass Flats or low heels for cobblestones Avoid stilettosthey sink
10 How do I pack a dress without wrinkling it
Roll it in tissue paper use a garment bag or choose wrinkleresistant fabrics like chiffon or jersey Hang it in