A Toast to the 42 Best Wedding Guest Cocktail Dresses 

The 42 Wedding Guest Cocktail Dresses to Raise a Glass to This Spring

We may earn a commission if you buy something from any affiliate links on our site.

Raise a glass to the start of wedding season! It’s time to celebrate love and connect with friends and family, but it’s also time to find another wedding guest cocktail dress. But this is not just another frock to borrow or buy; it’s a dress that’s meant to enhance the occasion. 

Like pieces of the wedding’s scenery, cocktail dresses will frame the setting, bringing the bride’s vision to fruition. A floral Carolina Herrera flanking the aisle, an LBD by Totême on stage singing ‘Come on Eileen’ with the live band, or a sparkling Des Phemmes sipping Champagne in the corner, these dresses create the celebration that unfolds. It’s not just for the photos; the dresses add color, texture, and personality to the room, making each wedding fashionably unique. 

Celebrate with a silhouette that suits you, a style that makes the party just a little more festive, and a dress that reflects the love in the air. From Sau Lee’s classic black halterneck to New Arrivals’ sequin column, there is a cocktail dress for everyone and every type of wedding. A floral festivity? No problem. Midi-length only? We’ve got you (and your calves) covered. Beach destination wedding? Say hello to Johanna Ortiz’s fringed maxi. Whatever the wedding, these cocktail dresses will be your new season staples for this year and the years to come. For once, love is truly just a click away. 

So here’s to the happy couple for giving us all an excuse to shop these 42 wedding guest cocktail dresses.

Perfect Midi Dresses 

Perhaps there is still a little chill in the air, and you aren’t ready to bare full thigh for an event yet; the midi dress is an idyllic option for contemporary coverage. Pair Giambattista’s printed fit-and-flare with a stunning pair of stilettos and twirl the night away.

Giambattista Valli printed midi dress

Gabriela Hearst Estrela maxi dress

Altuzarra Kandoro midi dress

ZIMMERMANN Tiggy bow midi dress

A.L.C. Hollie dress

Khaite Rumer midi dress

A Mini Moment

Don’t underestimate the power of a mini dress. If you find an elevated one—say a sleek halter from Alexis or a crystal bow adorned style from Mach & Mach—the dress enters a whole other realm of elegance.

Staud Landscape dress

LaDouble J TGIF Dress

Oscar de la Renta embroidered mini dress

Alexis Sasha halterneck mini dress

Mach & Mach crystal bow and cutout mini dress

Cinq à Sept Lizzy draped mini dress

Sequined and Embellished Stunners

Second to the bride, your entrance in shimmering sequins will claim the spotlight. A Des Phemmes embroidered tulle mini gives off subtle glamor, while a draped metallic Coperni glitters as it moves.

Des Phemmes embroidered mini dress

New Arrivals Phoenix dress

Coperni asymmetric metallic dress

Zara sequin midi dress

Simon Miller Zazzle maxi dress

Akris two-tone sheath dress

Modern Floral Frocks

Not just for flower girls, a floral frock is for the guest that embraces the blossoming of love. From an Oscar de la Renta pleated print to an Emilia Wickstead strapless midi, these floral cocktail dresses can be also worn to your next garden party. 

Oscar de la Renta pleated floral midi dress

Dries Van Noten layered midi dress

Carolina Herrera floral-printed midi dress

Emilia Wickstead Keeley strapless dress

AllSaints Isa Lilly dress

Kika Vargas Lynn ruffle midi dress

Classic LBDs

Tried and true, a black cocktail dress is the demure answer for a guest that is after understated sophistication. When faced with an abundance of options, you can never go wrong with a sleek black ensemble.

Taller Marmo Piccolo Ubud feather-trimmed mini dress

Sau Lee Penny halter mini dress

Proenza Schouler mixed media bustier dress

Jacquemus Saudade asymmetric mini dress

Isabel Marant Étoile Giana ruched maxi dress

Totême strapless midi dress

Beachy Romance

For the destination wedding, a white-sand beach is a flawless backdrop for these flowy numbers. Kick your heels off, dip your toes into the crystal-blue waters, and let your cutout Significant Other maxi ebb with the tide. 

Johanna Ortiz Kuba Kingdom tiered-fringe maxi dress

Significant Other Ana floral-print maxi dress

Dries Van Noten Deban maxi dress

Rixo Freya floral midi dress

Agua by Agua Bendita Otono floral-print dress

Silvia Tcherassi Shannon maxi dress

The Signature Slip

Always a classic, slip dresses epitomize the ease of elegance. They are never a show-stealer, letting the bride be the center of attention in true class. A slip dress is for the guest that is happy to go unnoticed, as long as they look chic while doing so. And in case you didn’t know, some slips even have lacey inlays.

Norma Kamali Maria satin midi dress

L’Agence Jodie slip dress

Alejandra Alonso Rojas Dark to Light bustier slip dress

Rodarte lace-trimmed maxi dress

SIR. Aries gown

KES the Juno slip dress