What to Wear to a Wedding Abroad

Destination weddings can be absolutely dreamy - what’s not to love, a destination wedding is a holiday and a wedding all-in-one. Destination weddings can be a way for the bride and groom to share a special place in the world with their guests, and they’re especially appealing to travel-loving couples.

If you’ve been invited to a wedding abroad, it might be daunting to try and bring everything you’ll need for the occasion in just one small suitcase. It’s important that you pick the right dress to wear for the wedding and that you feel confident in your wedding attire. When figuring out what to wear for a luxurious wedding, it’s important to consider how many outfits you’ll need and the formality of the wedding.

Throughout this guide we’ll cover all the aspects you’ll need to think about before setting off on a trip of a lifetime.

What are some packing tips for a wedding abroad?

Climate and Weather

Make sure that you read up on the average climate for the region that you’re travelling to and that you’re prepared for all possible variations of the weather. If it suddenly turns cold and you haven’t brought a jacket, you’ll be left feeling uncomfortable rather than enjoying the weather.

Conversely, if you’re jet setting off to a destination that’s known for its humidity, yet you only bring long dresses made out of impermeable materials, then you’re going to struggle to keep your cool.

Cultural Dress Customs and Expectations

No matter where the wedding is, you should make sure that your wedding guest outfits fit cultural expectations. In many churches and cathedrals throughout the world, visitors are expected to cover their hair and shoulders, while in many countries throughout the Middle East, women are expected to be dressed modestly.

Cultural dress customs and expectations should be checked before you begin packing your wedding guest dress. If you’re unsure, you can ask the bride and groom if there are any cultural expectations you should be aware of.

The Formality of the Wedding

The wedding’s formality will differ as much as weddings at home. From relaxed beach weddings to traditional cathedral weddings, destination weddings can be as informal or as formal as the bride and groom want.

For informal weddings, floral dresses and sandals might be a great choice, while for something more formal, we’d recommend picking a maxi length gown or a cocktail dress for a wedding.

The Trip’s Itinerary

When packing for a destination wedding, remember to consider some other events you might be going to as well. Maybe there will be dinner or relaxed drinks before the wedding, or perhaps the bride and groom have planned some group activities - like a spa day or snorkelling.

If you need clarification on the trip’s itinerary, it’s wise to ask the bride and groom. This will help you plan your own free time as well, and you’ll know exactly what kind of clothes to pack for your stay.

How should you pack for the trip?

How to avoid overpacking

Before packing for a wedding abroad, you should write down a list of what you need to bring. This will include outfits, toiletries, necessary documentation and gifts for the bride and groom.

A list will make it easy to keep track of what you’ve already packed, and with a packing list you’re a lot less likely to forget anything essential.

To avoid overpacking, we’d recommend planning the outfits that you’re going to wear throughout the event and avoid taking large, bulky items such as towels or hairdryers - these items are usually available at the hotel.

How to minimise wrinkles and creases in clothing

There’s no way that you’d want to turn up to a wedding with massive wrinkles on your midi wedding guest dress. Although many hotels will have irons and steamers available for their guests to use, there are some tips to follow to ensure that your clothing won’t be that creased when you arrive at your destination.

We’d recommend choosing wedding outfits out of materials that won’t or can’t crease, and rolling your clothes when packing. You can also consider folding your wedding clothes up with tissue paper to prevent creasing.

Pack versatile items

It’s a good idea to pack items which can be easily transformed into different outfits for different days of the trip. For example, our multi-wear co-ords can be easily dressed up or down.

One of our co-ord jaspre skirts can be worn casually with a t-shirt for a relaxed spa day and then dressed up at dinner with the matching co-ord blouse, heels and gold jewellery.

The more versatile items you can pack, the more easily you can change up your outfits when you get there.

What should you wear for the ceremony?

It can be challenging to figure out what works best for a destination wedding depending on how formal the wedding is.

For more relaxed weddings, we’d recommend pairing brightly coloured skirts and blouses together with your favourite accessories. If the wedding is more formal, we’d recommend long maxi dresses in block colours or experimenting with a wedding guest dress with sleeves.

If you’re unsure about what to wear or you’re not sure about the wedding’s theme, it’s always wise to double check with the bride and groom before wearing something that doesn’t quite fit the dress code.

What should you pair your outfit with?

Pair your look with statement earrings and a cool clutch bag for your lipstick, phone and tissues.

If you want to stay comfortable throughout the ceremony, we’d suggest bringing either a jacket or a light pashmina, to protect you both from the sun and any slight chill.

What should you wear for the reception?

You can continue wearing your outfit you wore to the ceremony to the reception, but if you want to change, you can opt for a bold look throughout the reception. Rather than choosing traditional dresses, you can wear a jumpsuit or a matching co-ord set to change up your look.

We’d recommend wearing shoes that will let you dance the night away, pain free. If you want to further glam up your look for the reception, we’d recommend adding some more statement jewellery to your look.

However, if it’s an evening reception, be mindful that it might suddenly go chilly - even in tropical climes. Pack a jacket for the reception, and you should be set to celebrate long into the night.

Conclusion

A destination wedding is an exciting event to be invited to, and with our tips, you’ll be sure to enjoy every moment of the wedding abroad. It’s key to do your research into where you’re headed and to make sure that you know what the wedding’s dress code is.

A wedding abroad is so much more than just a dress code, and you’ll have the trip of a lifetime celebrating the love and marriage of the bride and groom. Enjoy the trip and make memories that will last a lifetime!