What to Wear to a Spring Formal Wedding

Spring is usually the start of the next wedding season and the time of year when you'll start to see the wedding invitations roll in with invitations for April, May, and June weddings. While many spring weddings can be outdoor daytime events and casual garden-style weddings, there are also a fair number of spring weddings this time of year with a formal or black tie wedding dress code. If you've received a formal wedding invitation to an upcoming spring wedding, we've found the perfect spring wedding guest dresses that suit a springtime formal or black tie affair.

What to Wear to a Spring Formal Wedding

Image credits and affiliate shopping sources: 1. Wilder Tiered Maxi Dress from Astr the Label 2. Anais Silk Dress from Reformation 3. Dylan Stretch Satin One-Shoulder Gown from Anthropologie 4. Naya Floral Cut Out Maxi Dress from Astr the Label

As always, we try to make dress code decoding easy for wedding guests, so our editor is here to share her picks for the best wedding guest dresses for spring. We're taking it a step further by finding the best spring wedding guest dresses for those who need to adhere to a formal or black tie-wedding dress code, while still rocking springtime style on your friend's big day.

70 of the Best Spring Formal Wedding Guest Dresses

Here we've found over 70 of the best formal spring wedding guest dresses that show off bold colors for a colorful black tie wedding, and offer that cheerful springtime style while remaining within the formal dress code guidelines.  We hope you find the perfect dress!

These styles are also perfect for those attending any other spring formal event, like proms and other parties where formal spring attire is requested. Any of these dresses is the start of creating the perfect spring wedding outfit for your next spring wedding.

Decoding the Dress Code: Spring Formal Attire vs Spring Black Tie Attire

As you may know, a formal or black-tie wedding dress code usually calls for a floor-length gown or formal gown for women, and formal wear like a dark suit and the option of a tuxedo for men. If the wedding is not black-tie affair, then longer midi dresses and cocktail dresses in formal fabric and style can also be suitable.   If the wedding invitation dictates black tie attire, then the wedding is highly format,l and a floor-length dress is usually a great choice. Generally, formal is a slightly more casual wedding attire than black tie, while black tie denotes a highly formal affair. 

Styling a Spring Formal Wedding Guest Outfit

To complete your perfect formal spring wedding guest outfit, be sure your accessories are also grand. Adding embellished high heels, statement earrings, glamorous jewelry, and chic clutches creates a great look.

Image credits and shopping sources: Dress: Mac Duggal Cutout Waist Floral Gown from Nordstrom Earrings: Four the Money Crystal Drop Earrings from Nordstrom Bracelet: Nadri CZ Cuff Bracelet from Nordstrom Shoes: Donna Slingback Sandals from Nordstrom Clutch: Hotfix Structured Clutch from Nordstrom

Here we've paired this gorgeous floral gown with some neutral crystal and gold accessories.The floral print of the dress features so many colors that could be used to accessorize with. However, in this case, we're letting the beautiful color and pattern of this dress stand out, keeping the accessories sparkling but neutral so that the blue tones of the gown pop, and the formal element comes in through the length of the gown, and the metallic gold accessories.

No matter which dress you choose, these spring formal styles are ready to take you from the wedding ceremony to the wedding reception and dance floor in sweeping spring style. 

Colors and Trends for Spring Wedding Attire

Perhaps what sets these spring formal events apart is that guests are often encouraged to choose attire that reflects the springtime style trend of bright colors, floral prints, and pastel hues. If you'd like to see more pastels and springtime hues, please have a look at some of the pink dresses, green dresses, yellow dresses and light blue dresses we love for weddings.

In our experience, spring weddings have a romantic garden party vibe, which makes floral dresses, maxi dresses, and other styles of flowy dresses, are the perfect thing to wear for a spring wedding guest outfit. 

If floral prints aren't your thing and you prefer to wear solid colors, it's the perfect time of year to select bright and cheerful colors that reflect the cheerful mood of the spring wedding season.  

Dressing for Spring Wedding Weather

Spring is a time of year when the weather can be warm one day and chilly the next, especially for early spring outdoor weddings, so we've included some formal gowns with long sleeves, to take you through this transitional season in style! 

Bringing along a wrap or other chic cover-up is also a great idea because the spring season is known for rapid temperature changes.

More Spring Style Ideas You Might Love

If you're searching for more spring wedding styles, please check out our picks for spring mother-of-the-bride dresses, our picks for the best spring wedding guest dresses for any dress code, and our special picks for what to wear to an April wedding.

Past Dress Features

These are dresses we've picked for past seasons for spring formal events. Some of these dresses may still be available, but a few have already sold out or are from past seasons.