What should you wear if you want to look your best on someone else’s wedding day? The key to being a well-dressed wedding guest is to choose something that is comfortable but elegant. You don’t want to steal attention from the bride, but you do want to turn heads for all the right reasons.

Not sure where to start? Here’s everything you need to know about finding the perfect wedding guest dresses:

1. Never Wear White

Only the bride should be wearing white on her wedding day. It doesn’t matter whether your favourite white dress doesn’t look particularly bridal, or if you’ve fallen in love with a white pant suit. There is a whole rainbow of colours for you to choose from: wearing white is the bride’s prerogative.

Not a fan of colour? Why not experiment with warm neutrals and nude tones instead. They look great on every skin tone and can be elevated with bright accent colours and accessories.

2. Don’t Be Afraid to Sparkle

Sequin dresses aren’t just for Christmas parties: they are also a great way to inject glamour and elegance into your wedding guest wardrobe. If you opt for a full sequin gown then pair it with a neutral hat or fascinator and matching shoes to create a consistent and coordinated look.

Not a fan of head to toe sequins? You can inject subtle sparkle into your outfit by wearing an oversized necklace, or even adding a jewelled brooch to your suit jacket. Sparkles are a great way to increase the formality of your outfit, so don’t shy away from them.

3. Everything in Moderation

A wedding is not the time to experiment with super low cut styles or skirts cut up to the thigh. Instead look for a dress that fits your body and suits your shape but is relatively modest. That doesn’t mean that you can’t opt for a dress with a plunging neckline, if you like to show off your décolletage. But look for one that plunges to just above your bra line, not down to your navel!

A great rule of thumb is to pick just one body part to showcase, and then keep the rest of your body covered. A high neck mini dress, for example, is a great choice if you want to showcase long, lean, legs.

4. Have Fun with Accessories

Accessories are the most fun and exciting part of any wedding guests outfit: after all, it’s not every day that you get to wear a hat that matches your dress! Most weddings won’t demand that you wear a hat as part of the dress code, but they’re so fun to wear, why not experiment? Hats, fascinators and headbands all look great at weddings, and are a great way to add extra detail and texture to your outfit.

Other accessories to consider are a handbag (clutches, pouches and mini bags are all great choices) and coordinating shoes. Don’t like wearing heels? Don’t worry! There are a huge range of glamorous flats on the market right now, so you don’t have to suffer in heels if you don’t want to!

Top photo: Black culotte frill jumpsuit