35 best wedding guest dresses for year-round nuptials

Searching for the best wedding guest dresses is a stressful ordeal, no matter the time of year, because while it may be someone else's ‘big day’ that you're attending, you still want a few compliments yourself – right?

Finding the right frock(s) can sometimes feel like a never ending and overwhelming task, but, in order to gain that ‘best dressed’ title, it's a necessary one. So what is there to consider? First; you need to nail the wedding dress code. Is it black tie? Casual? A garden-type affair? Next; is the dress in question too short? Is it versatile enough for you to want to wear it again? Is it too bold?

Luckily, there is very little in the way of a wedding guest dress rule book – other than no white, obvs – but what type of dress is best for a wedding guest? Our top tips are; don't outshine the bride or bridesmaids and try not to opt for something you'd wear on a night out (i.e. anything too revealing) – grandparents will likely be present, remember.

SKIP TO: How we chose the best wedding guest dresses | Shop the best wedding guest dresses.

The best wedding guest dresses according to GLAMOUR editors:

1. Best floral wedding guest dress: Watercolor Floral Blue Slip Dress, WAS £225 NOW £157.50, Farm Rio
2. Best pink wedding guest dress: RENTAL AJE Capucine Puff Sleeve Midi Dress, from £74.17, HURR
3. Best bright wedding guest dress: Bow-Detail One-Shoulder Dress, £44.99, H&M

Watercolor Floral Blue Slip Dress

£225 £157.50 at Farm Rio

Neamh RandallROMINA INTROINI

Image Courtesy of Karina Marriott

RENTAL: AJE Capucine Puff Sleeve Midi Dress

£74.17 at HURR

Bow-Detail One-Shoulder Dress

£44.99 at H&M

Ali PantonyROMINA INTROINI

It's always wise to consider the season, too. There's nothing worse than donning a long-sleeve wedding guest dress in the summer and feeling too hot for it, and a spring wedding guest dress in the winter and freezing to death.

If you're worried about budget, there are also plenty of affordable wedding guest dresses on the high street that look endlessly more expensive than they actually are, so you needn't spend a fortune, and you should always shop your own wardrobe first. Don't stress about buying a wedding guest outfit on top of a wedding gift and hen party look when you probably already own exactly what you're looking for. That said, there's plenty of inspo below if you really can't find a thing…

We attend at least two weddings a year at GLAMOUR, and there's around 30 of us, so, although our expert status is self-proclaimed, you could argue it's totally justified. We know exactly what's trending because we're looking for it ourselves, and we know that budget is as important as style. You can read more about how we test here, and get our full verdict on which frocks to shop ahead.

For more from GLAMOUR UK's Senior Commerce Writer Georgia Trodd, follow her on Instagram @georgiatrodd.