Earlier this month I attended the wedding of a friend I went to University with and her long-term partner. The wedding was a beautiful, weekend-long affair, and took place in Istanbul! To celebrate their union, we were treated to a range of festivities, each requiring a different outfit. As such, I went out and invested in a few sustainable wedding guest dresses – and I want to tell you about my favourites here!
If you’re looking for a sustainably-made dress to wear to an upcoming wedding, this guide is for you…
How To Find The Perfect Wedding Guest Outfit
Last year I shared my list of sustainable wedding ideas, in the run up to my sister’s beautiful wedding. That time round, I was able to avoid the search for the perfect guest outfit, because I was blessed to be her Maid of Honour! This time, I had to search for not one, not two, but three wedding guest dresses. And you know me – I’ll only ever buy from sustainable brands, or second-hand. That makes the search somewhat more complicated, but I really felt so happy in the dresses I chose.
Here’s a list of questions to ask yourself when you’re trying to find your perfect wedding guest outfit (or three!):
- What is the dress code? This has to be the starting point; it’s non-negotiable. Black tie calls for a floor-length gown; daytime events typically see lighter colours. Work out what would be most appropriate and go from here.
- What’s in my wardrobe? Do you have an outfit that’s suitable? How about a friend? Borrowing a special occasion outfit is better – and cheaper – than buying.
- What’s available to rent? Also cheaper than buying is renting. If it’s not too much of a hassle – and you’re happy to rent a wedding guest outfit rather than buy – check out my guide to fashion rental sites.
- If you’re looking to buy – what can I wear again? Imagine an outfit that’s not too trend-led, or even better, matches your style. You’re much more likely to wear it again if your outfit makes you feel confident, and won’t fall out of fashion.
- Can you buy ethically? Check out my shortlist of sustainable brands making wedding guest outfits below.
- Can you buy second-hand? Equally, could you source your outfit second-hand? Look for quality – I’m talking pieces that hold their form, and use sustainable fabrics.
- Finally – can you accessorise it? An outfit that you can accessorise with existing items – like a shawl, bag and shoes – means you’re much more likely to wear it again for another function.
My Sustainable Wedding Guest Dress Collection
The Floral Daytime Dress
The first event of my friend’s Turkish wedding was the Henna Party. This is a colourful affair, and so I wanted to wear a colourful daytime dress. I actually don’t wear a lot of colour, so the Carey Dress by Raishma* (gifted) felt like a lovely in-between, pairing floral pinks and greens with a cream base and beautiful detailing. I especially like the frill collar, which can be left done up to make the dress feel more formal, or undone to relax its style.
Raishma specialises in occasion-wear, employing responsible practices and quality craftsmanship. They work principally with viscose crepe, a soft breathable fabric that held up well with all the festivities!
The Vintage Floral Silk Dress
My next dress comes to me from someone else’s wardrobe – and I’m so pleased they listed it on Thrift+!
This vintage Karen Millen dress is 100% silk, and is properly made, with a detachable slip dress in the same print hidden underneath. It’s clearly from a time before Karen Millen was bought out by Boohoo – the quality is so good! I really felt like I was in a Nora Ephron movie when wearing it!
I paired the dress with my Marie June Jewellery earrings, Ecotorie Margaux Bag in Oatmeal, and my second-hand LK Bennett sling-backs. More on those below!
The Dusk Rose Evening Gown
For the evening wedding ceremony, I wore the dusk rose Dahlia dress by Celestine & Mae. This dress was just perfect – floor length, to match the black tie dress code – while also being comfortable enough to enjoy a three-course meal in! I love the style and colour of the dress even more in person, and especially with the purple Istanbul sunset behind us.
Celestine & Mae make their pieces in the UK, and work with deadstock and locally-sourced fabrics, this one being a polyester stretch drape jersey that holds in all the right places.
A Moment for The Accessories
I love a good bag or shoe as much as I love a dress. The star of the show has to be the Ecotorie Margaux Bag (gifted), which I wore strapless. This bag is made from repurposed leather, and is so beautifully made. It’s also the perfect size for a destination wedding – I could pack everything I needed in this bag and leave it sat upright at the table!
For this wedding weekend, I also wanted a pair of comfortable yet pretty shoes that would work for all my outfits. I opted for an LK Bennett kitten-heel sling-back, bought on Vinted. I know I’m safe in a kitten heel, but from experience, second-hand sling-backs need a little TLC. Just like my pair of Vetements sling-backs, these needed some ‘strappy strips‘ which I glued in. And voilà! These shoes were so easy and comfortable to walk in the entire weekend.
11 of the Best Sustainable Wedding Guest Dress Brands in the UK
Here’s where I spent time looking for my own wedding guest dresses, both first-hand and second-hand options. For rentals, check out my guide to fashion rental sites for the full list!
Akyn*: Designer Amy Powney’s new venture, with elevated party wear.
Celestine & Mae: Beautiful drape maxi dresses, made in the UK.
Fabrique*: Designer dresses and evening outfits, made in small batches. Read my full review →
GANNI*: Cool girl grown-up evening dresses, made ‘not’ sustainably.
I was a Sari*: Elegant dresses, bags, and scarves made from rescued saris.
Oxfam*: For a wedding guest hat, Oxfam Online has beautiful millinery to choose from.
Raishma*: Intricate occasion-wear for formal daytime and evening events.
Reliked*: Second-hand evening dresses and co-ords from influencers’ wardrobes.
Sukkha Citta*: Luxury dresses made with natural fibres, from a B-Corp certified brand.
Thrift+: Second-hand high-street and designer clothes, shoes, and accessories.
Wolf & Badger*: Iconic designs made by independent designers. My earrings are from W&B!
Next, check out my guides to sustainable shoes and bags!
