Wedding guest

What colours to wear
to a wedding.

As a wedding guest, avoid three things: white, ivory or cream (reserved for the couple), all-over black at a daytime or celebratory wedding, and anything that outshines the wedding party. Beyond that, the most flattering choice is a colour from your own palette — a shade matched to your undertone so photos catch you looking your best. Jewel tones, soft florals, warm earth tones and muted pastels all work; which ones suit you depends on your colour season. Here’s how to choose by season, dress code and setting.

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The etiquette colours to skip

White family: white, ivory, cream, champagne and very pale blush can read as bridal in photos — skip them unless the invitation explicitly invites them. All black: fine for black-tie evening weddings, but can feel sombre at a daytime or garden celebration; break it with colour or save it for the dress code that calls for it. Overly flashy red or sequins can pull focus — wear your version with a little restraint.

What to wear by season

Spring seasons shine in warm, clear colour — coral, peach, warm periwinkle, clear green. Summer seasons are made for weddings: soft rose, lavender, powder blue, dusty berry. Autumn seasons glow in terracotta, sage, warm plum, marigold and rich earth tones — especially at autumn or rustic weddings. Winter seasons own the jewel tones: emerald, sapphire, cool berry, true red and — for evening — elegant black. Not sure which you are? The season guide walks you through it.

By dress code & setting

Daytime / garden: lighter, softer versions of your palette — florals and pastels photograph beautifully in daylight. Cocktail: a saturated accent from your palette in a midi dress or jumpsuit. Black-tie / evening: your deepest statement colour, or the one dark neutral that flatters you (Winters can wear black; warmer seasons look richer in navy, forest or aubergine). Match your metal — gold for warm seasons, silver for cool — to pull the look together.

See your season's wedding-ready colours

Light SpringWarm SpringClear SpringLight SummerCool SummerSoft SummerSoft AutumnWarm AutumnDeep AutumnDeep WinterCool WinterClear Winter

What should you wear to the wedding?

Find your colour season in 90 seconds and get the flattering, camera-ready shades that suit you — no more guessing in the fitting room.

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Frequently asked

What colours should you not wear to a wedding?+

Avoid white, ivory, cream and champagne (reserved for the couple), and reconsider all-over black at daytime or celebratory weddings. Also skip anything so flashy it competes with the wedding party.

Can you wear black to a wedding?+

Yes for black-tie or evening weddings, where it's elegant and appropriate. At a daytime or garden wedding it can feel sombre — break it up with colour, or choose a flattering dark neutral like navy or aubergine instead.

What's the most flattering wedding-guest colour for me?+

A colour from your own palette, matched to your undertone. Spring seasons suit warm clear tones, Summers soft cool tones, Autumns rich earth tones, Winters jewel tones. Take the quiz to find yours.

Can you wear red to a wedding?+

Usually yes, as long as it's not so bold it pulls focus from the couple. Choose the red that matches your undertone — a warm brick-red for warm seasons, a cool blue-red for cool seasons.