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The Best Wedding Guest Dresses of 2024, According to Shopping Editors

From designer dresses to budget-friendly ensembles, these retailers have the best styles, size ranges, shipping, and return policies

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Places to Buy Wedding Guest Dresses
Photo:

People; Meshki; Lulus; Universal Thread; Eloquii

Shopping as a wedding guest can feel a bit daunting, especially with the abundance of online offerings. 

We’ve ordered our fair share of wedding guest dresses, and these are the best ones PEOPLE editors and writers would wear this season. No matter what season, style, or dress code you’re shopping for, read on to discover our favorite online stores for wedding guest dresses.

Lulus

Lulus is one of the most popular wedding style destinations for brides, bridesmaids, and wedding guests — and PEOPLE shopping editors swear by the brand. We love that Lulus has a curated collection of wedding guest dresses, which makes narrowing down options a bit easier. 

Plus, they have a one-day flat-rate shipping option for $25, so you can rush order a dress last-minute without worrying if it will arrive in time.  

Size Range: 2XS-3XL | Return Policy: Return within 30 days of receiving order | Shipping Policy: Free shipping over $50, or one-day flat-rate shipping for $25

Amazon

If you need a wedding guest dress last minute and are a Prime member, Amazon is worth browsing thanks to its free fast shipping. The marketplace features dozens of brands — from budget-friendly to designer — with virtually every dress style imaginable.

Did You Know?

Amazon makes online shopping a little bit easier with its Try Before You Buy initiative that allows you to order and try items before purchase; then, pay for whatever you choose to keep. The service is available exclusively to Prime members.

Size Range: Varies, depending on the brand | Return Policy: Free returns for most Prime members | Shipping Policy: Free Prime Shipping for members

Eloquii

For plus-size wedding guest dresses, we love shopping at Eloquii. The brand is home to some of the most stylish dresses in sizes 14 through 32 that would work well for a variety of wedding dress codes, including some more formal events and casual courthouse weddings, too.

Size Range: 14-32 | Return Policy: Return within 30 days of receipt; $5 return shipping fee | Shipping Policy: Varies, depending on where you live

Anthropologie

Anthropologie is home to one of our favorite wedding collections, BHLDN. Anthropologie features so many fun and stylish dresses, including more formal, black tie-worthy options as well as some more business casual styles that would work really well for a daytime wedding.

Size Range: XXS-4X, petite sizes also available | Return Policy: Return within 30 days of delivery | Shipping Policy: Free shipping over $50

Nordstrom

Nordstrom has one of the best varieties we’ve found: It features some budget-friendly options and has an amazing collection of designer dresses, too. Plus, the shipping is always free, and the return policy is super generous. 

We also love that if you’re shopping with size specifics in mind, such as petite or maternity, Nordstrom makes finding relevant styles easy. 

Size Range: XXS-4XL, plus petite and maternity | Return Policy: Generous case-by-case basis | Shipping Policy: Free shipping, no minimum

Rent the Runway

PEOPLE editors love Rent the Runway, a service which allows you to borrow designer dresses for four to eight days at a time at a fraction of the cost. If you end up loving the dress and don’t want to return it, you can purchase it through the membership portal. 

It’s a great choice for those with lots of weddings on their calendar, as it allows you to shop for wedding guest dresses without paying more than $100. 

Size Range: Varies, depending on brand | Return Policy: Rent garments one month at a time | Shipping Policy: Shipping included in subscription

Nuuly

Nuuly is another clothing rental service we love. Nuuly works wonders for event-packed months, since you can rent six different dresses for $98. While it commonly features more casual options (which are great for laid-back ceremonies), there are also many more formal dresses to choose from.  

Size Range: Varies, depending on brand | Return Policy: Rent garments for 4 or 8 days at a time | Shipping Policy: Shipping included in subscription

Rent the Runway vs. Nuuly

Interested in renting a dress for an upcoming wedding? Our editors have tested both Rent the Runway and Nuuly, and we love both services. However, Rent the Runway offers event rentals in addition to a subscription service, so you can rent a single item (and book it far in advance).

Abercrombie

Abercrombie & Fitch might get a lot of praise for its denim collection, but we think the dress selection is also worth the hype. The brand offers lots of cute and stylish dresses that are perfect for courthouse weddings or more casual daytime dress codes.

Size Range: XXS-3XL | Return Policy: Return within 30 days of purchase for a refund | Shipping Policy: Free shipping over $99

Showpo

We love Showpo’s variety of fun silhouettes and playful colors that will keep you on-trend at your next wedding. Whether you’re shopping for cut-outs, corset bodices, or classic silhouettes, there are many options to choose from.

Size Range: 0–16 | Return Policy: Return within 7 days of delivery for a refund | Shipping Policy: Free shipping over $100

Reformation

We love Reformation because the designs all feel effortlessly cool, are sustainably made, and feature high-quality construction. Dresses from Reformation are a worth-while investment, since you’ll be rewearing them for years to come without ever going out of style.

Size Range: XS-3XL | Return Policy: Return within 30 days of delivery date | Shipping Policy: Free shipping on everything

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Can I wear a wedding guest dress more than once?

    You can absolutely wear a wedding guest dress more than once. In fact, it’s encouraged to minimize waste and get more use out of garments (especially if your dress was a bit of an investment). 


    “If the dress matches the occasion and you feel comfortable and confident in it, rewear it,” says stylist Abby Young. To switch things up a bit, she recommends refreshing the look with different jewelry pieces, shoes, purses, and hairstyles so that you can get more versatility from one garment.

  • What colors should you wear to a wedding?

    When choosing a wedding guest dress color, bridal stylist Lesley Brickman recommends taking into account the season, weather, venue, and overall vibe of the wedding. “Be respectful of the attire code called for on the invitation and don’t wear white or light colors unless specifically called for,” she explains.

    To determine the best wedding guest dress color for you, Young says to first consider your best colors. “Everyone’s skin has a mix of warm and cool undertones, but one will be more prominent than the other so choose colors that highlight your skin’s natural glow,” she explains. If you’re truly stuck, opting for seasonal colors, such as warm tones found on fall wedding guest dresses, can not only help you narrow down your search, but they also go well with the occasion.

  • What is acceptable wedding guest attire?

    “Appropriateness in dress for a wedding guest is subjective but a good rule of thumb is to play it safe,” says Brickman. “This doesn’t mean boring or unstylish, it means following the dress code (if given) and erring on the side of conservative versus outlandish or costumey.” If you're looking for a dress for a beach wedding, a stylish breezy linen dress can be suitable, for instance.

    While dresses are usually a go-to, Brickman notes that two-piece sets such as a midi skirt and top or even a gorgeously tailored pantsuit are also chic options for wedding guest attire. “A more upscale jumpsuit can also work — just make sure it’s not overly casual in the details if the wedding calls for formality,” she adds.

Why Trust PEOPLE?

Jessie Quinn is a contributing commerce writer for PEOPLE and has written for publications such as Byrdie, InStyle, The Spruce, NYLON, and more.

When researching the best places the buy wedding guest dresses, Jessie looked at dozens of online retailers and brands with dress offerings to find the ones with the best style variety, garment quality, and additional features like easy-to-shop categories, specific wedding guest dress sections, and more. She also carefully considered the shipping and return policies offered.

Additionally, Jessie connected with wedding style experts to learn more about what to consider when shopping for a wedding guest dress and ask some of our most pressing questions.

Shopping writer Genevieve Cepeda most recently updated this article to include the best brands and styles of 2024. She consulted the PEOPLE shopping team to discover the most beloved retailers among PEOPLE editors and writers, bringing you a list of PEOPLE Tested retailers that we buy from, too.

Our Expert Panel

  • Abby Young is a personal, commercial, and editorial fashion stylist based in Silicon Valley.
  • Lesley Brickman is a stylist and founder of The One Gown, a concierge styling service for brides and mother of the brides.

What is PEOPLE Tested?

We created the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval to help you find the very best products for your life. We use our unique methodology to test products in three labs across the country and with our network of home testers to determine their effectiveness, durability, ease of use, and so much more. Based on the results, we rate and recommend products so you can find the right one for your needs.

But we don’t stop there: We also regularly re-review the categories in which we’ve awarded the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval — because the best product of today might not be the best of tomorrow. And by the way, companies can never buy our recommendation: Their products must earn it, fair and square.

In short, PEOPLE Tested provides recommendations you can trust — every day, every purchase.

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