What to wear to wedding (guest)

Can you look up the venue online and get an idea from that? I'd say when in doubt semi formal.

I agree with PP. the venue should give you an idea of how to dress. If you are close to a family member you could always ask them.

I would base it on the venue, day of the week/time of day. For instance, a country club on a Saturday evening will most likely be more formal than a Thursday morning at a VFW.

You can always wear dress pants/slacks with a blouse if you don’t want to buy a dress

Weddings by default are semiformal which means Sunday Best type dresses. You can find lots of options at Ross/Burlington/Macy's. As a guest, don't wear white or cream. When in doubt, always go semiformal. If you aren't comfortable in dresses, wear nice slacks and a dressy blouse similar to what you might wear to work but a step up.


Unless the venue requires a certain look before they allow you into the building, similar to the Oscars, dress code is not something that should be dictated or even mentioned.

Agreed that the venue is a big key in how to dress. Ballroom at a fancy estate = more fancy than an outdoor farm wedding.