20 Dazzling Garden Wedding Attire Ideas

Trees heavy with sprout green buds. Crocuses sprouting after a winter’s sleep. Morning birdsong. What could this mean but spring is in the air, and garden weddings are on the calendar. We’ve compiled a curated edit of outdoor wedding outfit ideas inspired by garden weddings. There’s garden-fresh color, minis that pack a punch, tea-length midis that are outdoor wedding guest dress stunners, and a variety of chic and discerning florals.

Garden weddings incorporate the beauty of nature into the setting and can be held in various locations, from backyards to garden wedding venues, which means garden-themed ceremonies enjoy a much more relaxed feel than traditional indoor venues. Garden wedding attire dress codes are also casual and more relaxed, often ranging from smart casual to semi-formal.

Smart Casual Dress Code

If the invite says smart casual, then an elevated day dress is the perfect garden wedding guest dress for you. Since most weddings begin in the afternoon and carry on into the night, we recommend day dresses that enjoy elements of day elegance, also known as day-to-night styling. Day elegance can be achieved by selecting flowy midis, full-skirted floral-printed dresses, and stretchy silhouettes that are tailored to fit.

Cocktail Attire Dress Code

A cocktail dress can mean many things to different people, but to simplify, it’s a dress that falls at or around the knee. Therefore, it’s a dress to be worn “after day” and into the night. Traditionally, “cocktail hour” is from 4 pm - 6 pm so cocktail attire would be apt from 4 pm onward. To generalize, cocktail attire for a garden wedding is relatively formal clothing, but not too formal. Think elevated minis and knee-length dresses, elegant jumpsuits, and dress shoes.

Semi-Formal Dress Code

If the invitation states semi-formal, look for styles that are more daytime than evening. Cocktail dresses with shimmery accents, casual maxi dresses, bold prints, and stunning jumpsuits are lovely options for a garden wedding.

Dress Code Not Specified

If the invite does not state a dress code, a cocktail dress is always appropriate. Do have fun with your outdoor wedding outfit by tying it into the nature-inspired theme. Think spring colors and prints. Fresh sprout greens and colors that remind you of flowers in bloom. We can also never tire of florals for garden weddings. This season, Tadashi has reinvented florals in new and dynamic ways—and created the perfect garden wedding guest dress.

When shopping for a dress to wear to a garden wedding, consider color (and print), fabric, and cut.

Color

Weddings held in an outdoor setting embrace the colors of nature. Likewise, why not choose colors from a nature-inspired palette? There are the bright purples, pinks, and whites in an overflowing English garden, the dusty hues of a seaside garden, or the bright and bold colors of the tropics. Color inspiration is endless, from Monet gardens to dreamy cottagecore and punchy shades to lots of zest. For a fresh take on color, skip old-fashioned pastels in favor of muted bights and bold hues. Also, we love navy for day elegance in favor of the more-formal black. Attending a garden wedding is also a fantastic opportunity to wear a print. We’re partial to floral prints, whether they are hyper-realistic or painterly. You’ll also find we’ve ruffled, pleated, and draped floral prints this season to create delightfully abstract effects.

Fabric

Do opt for fabrics that are lightweight, sheer, flowy, or have inherent stretch when looking for your look. Fabrics fit for an outdoor garden wedding include textured crepe, lace and embroidered tulle, stretch taffeta, four-way stretch jersey, jacquard knits, crinkle chiffon, and georgette. Georgette and chiffon are often confused with each other. Georgette is a semi-transparent, lightweight fabric, whereas chiffon is more sheer, and while they are both flowy, georgette is slightly heavier than chiffon. On our list of garden wedding dress ideas, you’ll find two stretch taffeta minis. Stretch taffeta is wrinkle-free, which makes it a packable option for out-of-town garden weddings. Textured crepe is a lightweight fabric that accentuates draping wonderfully, is comfortable to wear, and is often wrinkle-resistant. Lastly, the jacquard knit styles that made our list are stretchy and comfortable, and feature textured and tonal patterns that don’t have to be printed.

Cut

Both classic and modern silhouettes are suitable for garden wedding guest attire. A-lines, tea-length hems, and flowy silhouettes work exceptionally well. We also love a sleeve on a guest dress. Sleeves are ageless and timeless. A Tadashi Shoji sleeve is not about concealing or hiding. On the contrary, sleeves can evoke playful glamour or create captivating allure. Sleeves are often designed as an extension of the neckline, which is always designed to flatter.

Complete The Look

Remember to accessorize. More is more, we love to say, and a garden wedding should inspire accessories that are in full bloom. Consider flower and heart-motif jewelry that has surged in popularity this season. Or borrow from the Spring runways, and style your garden wedding guest dress with shoulder-grazing look-at-me earrings or a bold cuff worn at the wrist or higher up on the arm. Pearls are layered or mixed with sparkle, and emeralds and green stones, which are right at home with spring’s verdant color palette, are enjoying their time in the spotlight.

Outdoor settings can be chilly, especially at night. We were once given this advice and adore it so much that we must share it with you: Always make sure your coat or outerwear choice looks stunning with your outfit because the photographer could snap a photo at any time, and you don’t want to be remembered for wearing something you’d rather not have memorialized in a wedding photo. Trench coats, leather jackets, faux fur, and long coats in statement colors all work well as items to wear to a wedding when the temperature drops. Lastly, a camel coat is classic. It’s a wardrobe staple that pairs with many colors.

Designed for garden weddings big and small, our styles will have you ready for a brilliant time. From flowy floral prints to cheerful colors, discover our irresistible list.

20 Garden Wedding Guest Dress Ideas

1. The Emilia Floral Print Dress enjoys a v-neckline and cap sleeves paired with a below-the-knee flowy A-line to create a versatile fit that flatters all body types. Plus, the dress is cut in a floral-printed georgette that boasts realistic flowers like a garden in full bloom.

2. The Adi Printed Crepe Dress is a tailored cocktail number that enjoys an all-over floral print reminiscent of a spring garden in full bloom. The refinement of the silhouette—a shoulder-grazing v-neckline, elbow-length tailored sleeves, and figure-skimming draped skirt—makes it a chic choice for outdoor wedding guest attire.

3. The Dona Pleated Tulle Midi Dress, available in a dahlia pink, is a gorgeous spring hue reminiscent to Pantone's Color of the Year, Viva Magenta, a color that “vibrates with vim and vigor. It is a shade rooted in nature descending from the red family and expressive of a new signal of strength.”

4. If you’re a devoted wearer of LBDs, step out of your comfort zone and try the Maribel Draped V-Neck Dress. It’s a ivory-accented black cocktail number that boasts graphic appeal and is a delightful spring update to LBD occasion dressing.

5. The one-shoulder Elena Flutter Cape Sleeve Dress is cut in a floral-printed crinkle chiffon. The neckline-to-knee angled draping distorts the print, presenting florals for spring in a new and novel way, and making this a must-include style in our What to Wear to a Garden Wedding: Guest Dress Ideas.

6. Our V-neck sheath with its crisscross bodice is a best-selling style that got a fresh look with banded crinkle chiffon texture and ombré color. The Rosen Banded Crinkle Chiffon Dress is crafted from bias-cut strips layered to make a wispy blush hue and sewn onto a featherweight crinkle chiffon backing. This might be the lightest and airiest banded dress ever created.

7. The Fatiha Floral Lace & Chiffon Dress, available in a verdant spring green, is a flowy silhouette with a calf-sweeping hem and enchanting puff sleeves. This garden wedding guest outfit, crafted from cord embroidered tulle and micro-pleated crinkle chiffon, is suitable for cocktail and semi-formal dress codes.

8. Who says florals can’t be sexy? The Rumi Floral Illusion Dress, cut from open mesh with painterly flowers, is a curve-skimming number that boasts an illusion neckline and sheer long sleeves. This is our choice for garden weddings that begin at sunset and continue late into the evening.

9. The Nyssa Bishop Sleeve Dress is available in tiffany blue, a fresh and bright hue—a flawless color for garden attire wedding. This airy georgette dress features lace detailing and delicate pleats. It’s a romantic look that exudes day elegance.

10. There may not be a more perfect opportunity to wear an amethyst cocktail dress with butterfly sleeves no less than to a garden wedding. The Heizer Butterfly Sleeve Dress is cut from floral embroidered tulle with a wonderfully soft hand. If you’ve never worn a purple cocktail dress, this is your chance.

11. The Adriane Floral Embroidered Tea-Length Dress is a full-skirted, feminine silhouette that is at once flattering. Its blue stone hue, off-the-shoulder cap sleeves, and tea-length hem make it garden party picture perfect. Depending on the dress code and your preference, style it up with heels or pair it with flats for a more casual feel.

12. The Cobie Draped Cold Shoulder Dress is for the garden wedding guest who loves her monochromatic black and white wardrobe. This flowy, hourglass-defining dress is crafted from an ivory and black floral print. Its day elegance styling will easily take you from day weddings to nighttime celebrations.

13. The Luka High-Low Knit Mini Dress is in fact, a mini—and a mini is a brilliant choice to wear when attending a garden wedding. Stretchy, curve-loving, and super comfy, this mini is casual enough for a garden wedding and comfortably chic enough for the post-reception after-party. Dress it down with flats for day elegance, or pair it with heels for an irresistible wedding guest look.

14. The Sofie Puff Sleeve Mini Dress, with its off-the-shoulder puff sleeves and close-to-body draping, is chic, fun, and sexy. This is a garden wedding guest dress that is styled to perfection.

15. Be the guest that brings the heat to garden attire wedding outfits. The Hugo Belted Cocktail Dress is a rose red curve-skimming cocktail number that seduces with its unassuming glamour.

16. The Ausra Floral Print Dress makes our list of garden wedding dresses for guests because it boasts a versatile fit that flatters all body types. The flowy silhouette pairs a V-neckline and draped cap sleeves with a twist-drape bodice to create a full-skirted silhouette straight out of a dream.

17. For the romantic at heart, you can’t go wrong with our best-selling Camilla Tea-Length Dress. A sheer illusion sweetheart neckline, exquisite lace emphasized by a contrast lining, and a tea-length tiered skirt make it a must-include on our list for outdoor wedding dresses for guests.

18. The Aydar Handkerchief Hem Embroidered Dress is a garden wedding guest dress is a gorgeous piece that will steal the spotlight on the dancefloor. The embroidered tulle style, available in a fresh dahlia pink, features a statement illusion neckline and a sheer handkerchief hem that moves with ease.

19. The Navin Shoulder Cut-Out Dress blurs the boundaries between daytime styling and cocktail dressing. It makes our list of gorgeous outdoor wedding attire for guests because of its shoulder cut-outs, minimalist cascading ruffle draping, and sophisticated color that falls between lilac and periwinkle.

20. Be the guest that would undeniably make the best-dressed list with this statement garden wedding guest mini. The Iggy Puff Sleeve Dress, which boasts rosette puff sleeves and a close-fitting cut, is all about irresistible fun and dazzling impact.

We hope you enjoyed our dress ideas about what to wear to a garden wedding. If you have questions about a particular style, are looking for a specific color, or are wondering about a wedding guest dress code, don’t hesitate to email our customer care team at Tadashi Shoji. We’re more than happy to assist. If you see a dress that you love, we recommend purchasing it as soon as possible. While we offer a broad selection of garden wedding dresses for guests, we produce limited size runs. Therefore, if you fall in love with a style, purchasing it before it sells out is always best. Find your garden wedding guest dress now at tadashishoji.com.