Shopping Guide: What to Wear to a Winter Wedding as a Guest

The snow may fall beautifully, the sky may be a bright white and clear day, but the last piece to the puzzle of a perfect day is the dress. What do you wear as a guest to a winter wedding? This can confuse people, because many formal and semi-formal dresses are sleeveless or just look, well, cold to wear.

So what's a woman to do? My first piece of advice: wear tights or pantyhose. This will keep your legs warm while you're going into the venue, but not make you sweat your life out on the dance floor. You can also opt for fleece-lined opaque tights, which will be a life-saver if you need to be outside for elongated periods of time at a winter wedding.

Here is a link to my favorite fleece-lined tights:

• What to wear to a wedding in December - Attending a wedding in December is the perfect time to explore more festive and fun attire. You have the social acceptance of wearing clothes that are "Christmas-y" in nature, whether it be a green velvety dress, fancy tartan, or you may even get away with a cherry red dress (usually an outdated faux pas at weddings).

• What to wear to a wedding in January - One word. Or I guess one onomatopoeia: "brrrrrrrr!". If you're attending a wedding in January, you're going to need to take into account not only the dress, but what coat/jacket/shrug you'll need to keep you from shivering. If your event is more formal, you can never go wrong with a fake fur coat! It's a timeless classy look and will certainly keep you warm.

• What to wear to a wedding in February - Dressing for a wedding in February is quite similar to January. However, in the northern regions of the US, February is the snowiest of all the months, so keep that in mind when choosing footwear or outerwear. You don't want to trudge through a snow bank in suede stilettos.

Can you wear boots to a winter wedding?

YES! However, it may only be appropriate if the dress code is casual....you can do it at a semi-formal winter wedding, but you'll want to do it carefully. When choosing a boot to wear to a winter wedding, it's not just any boot to choose, but you'll want to wear non-scuffed well-cared for boots that are more polished than your regular everyday boots. Sometimes stiletto boots or boots that hug tight to your calve (however tall or short) are the best options. Here are a few that I've found that could be appropriate for a winter wedding:

Or these rhinestone sparkly boots that give a perfect icy feel for a winter wedding!

Or if you want to go a little more wild, choose a sophisticated boot silhouette, but buy it in a bright color.

Best Colors to Wear to a Winter Wedding

The best colors to wear to a wedding in the winter:

• Deep emerald green - Nothing screams more winter than a gorgeous emerald green. It gives a "holiday" feel without being too Christmas-y.

• Ice blue - Keep warm while having a chilly look. Wearing an icy blue will look gorgeous in photos and the winter landscape.

• Copper - Choosing a less-common metallic is a fun change for winter. Copper is a warmer shine, which can be a fun contrast from the cool colors of winter.

• Burgundy - A purple/maroon type of color looks gorgeous with most skin tones and is flattering to most body types as well.

affordable winter wedding guest dresses and outfits

What to wear to a casual winter wedding as a guest

Casual does not mean wearing Ugg boots and a frumpy, loose sweater dress. Make sure to still dress it up! If you do go for a sweater dress when attending a winter wedding, choose one that is tight either around the bust or the hips to keep it looking chic.

Here is where you can buy these items to wear as a winter wedding guest:

Another great idea, and mixing in some sophisticated winter boots to the mix!

Here's were you can find this winter wedding guest outfit:

What to wear to a semi-formal winter wedding as a guest

Try to choose a closed-toe heel to keep your feet warm while you wear a shorter dress to the winter wedding reception. Choosing a closed toe is more appropriate for the season and you will thank yourself once all the rest of the wedding guests have frozen toes!

Here is where you can buy these items to wear as a winter wedding guest:

For semi-formal winter weddings, you can also drift into the longer dresses without looking overdressed for the event. Keep the glitz and glamor at a minimum if you're going for a longer dress to your loved one's winter wedding. This wedding guest outfit involves the gorgeous copper look that fits well with a cozy winter feel, and adds in a fabric floral closed-toed pump that dresses it up AND down at the same time. It's the perfect pair!

What to wear to a formal winter wedding as a guest

When you need to dress formally for a wedding in the winter, then IT'S TIME FOR VELVET! Velvet will never go out of style, and it always looks 100% chic. Try to opt for more traditional velvet rather than crushed velvet, to keep it sleek, and choose deep, rich jewel tones.

Here is where you can buy these items to wear as a winter wedding guest:

Here is another idea for what to wear to a formal wedding in the winter. The icy blue and long sleeves help keep this suitable for a winter wedding, but the sleeve cutouts and the floral appliqué allows it to look forward into the upcoming spring months.

Here is where you can find these items:

What to wear to a black tie winter wedding as a guest

The best time to choose a heavy shiny fabric as a wedding guest is for a winter wedding! This dress will keep you warm underneath. Here is a pro tip for wearing a gown to a winter wedding: you can get away with wearing some warm tights or leggings underneath if you don't have a slit in the dress! You will stay warm and cozy while still looking fully dressed up.

Here is where you can buy these items to wear as a winter wedding guest:

Black tie winter weddings are the perfect opportunity to reach maximum capacity glamor, because the winter season allows for extra glitz and sparkles because the snow and cold embodies that as well! Wearing a gorgeous emerald green gown to a winter wedding would be an amazing wedding guest outfit -- just make sure that's not the wedding party's color!

What to wear to a destination winter wedding as a guest

Winter destination weddings can vary from ski resorts to mountaintop receptions. This allows you to be a little more adventurous in your winter wedding guest outfit. Choose more luxurious prints, textures, and visuals.

If you do choose a loud print, try to pair it with a solid, more neutral color, so as to not stand out too much. You'll never want to upstage the bride! But for a destination winter wedding, wearing something a little more out there is more acceptable.

Here is where you can buy these items to wear as a winter wedding guest:

Simple winter wedding guest guide:

When choosing what to wear to a winter wedding, keep this quick guide on hand when shopping for an outfit.

Winter can be one of the most gorgeous times to attend a wedding, you just need to be smart and choose items that are acceptable for the season AND keep you warm. Enjoy being a guest at a winter wedding this season!