Whether you’re attending a beach wedding or a black tie affair, I’ve got you covered with beautiful dresses to wear to weddings in the fall, all under $150. My goal is always to find wedding guest dresses that are timeless (so you won’t wear them just once!) and don’t break the bank. I hope this post helps you find something you love.
I’m including a mix of formal and cocktail-style dresses below for a wide range of wedding dress codes, and you can read about all the different wedding attires and when to wear what in my What to Wear to a Wedding blog post. Almost every dress below could be worn to multiple styles of weddings. The only exceptions are the blue Lulu’s dress, which I shared first (that’s definitely more formal/black tie than cocktail) and the navy gown from Amazon.
I have a second blog post with my favorite wedding guest dresses from Nordstrom linked here. I love shopping at Nordstrom because of the free shipping and amazing return policy, and if you feel the same, you’ll love that post.
I ordered this blue one-shoulder maxi dress for this post because I wanted to see if it was truly formal enough for a black tie. I think it’s perfect! The color is gorgeous, especially in person, and the material has a dressy sheen that I love for a formal event. The one-shoulder look is very popular this year, and I appreciate that this option has such a nice side slit that makes walking (and dancing!) easy. It’s under $100 too, which is hard to beat. I styled this dress three different ways below: black shoes + and a black clutch (linked a similar option, as mine is sold out), gold platforms + gold clutch, and nude heels + a matching clutch (mine is sold out so I linked a similar option).
Next on the list is this Chocolate One Shoulder Maxi Dress that’s exclusive to Tuckernuck. The color is ideal for a fall wedding, and so is the sheen of the fabric. It’s a blend of Lyocell and Polyester, which gives it a sort of shiny, but not too shiny, look that is great for a dressy event. I love the one-shoulder style for fall since it works perfectly for the slightly cooler weather and still feels sexy with one arm showing. The cutout on the side is tasteful but fun, and the length is great for a cocktail attire wedding.
I would style this dress with either nude, gold, platinum, or brown heels and a matching clutch. I own these heels in black, and they’re wildly comfortable. Since the asymmetrical top is a moment on its own, stay away from necklaces and opt for gold earrings instead.
I bought this Chelsea28 Ruffle Sleeve Midi Dress during this year’s Nordstrom Anniversary sale since I have two weddings coming up this fall. It fits so well and looks SO good in person. The length is great for any wedding attire: cocktail, formal, and even black tie with close-toed shoes. The colors are easy to wear during the fall, and the fit is great. I have a size small, and I recommend sizing up if you have muscular glutes. I usually wear an XS, but I sized up in this.
I styled this dress with nude pumps linked here.
Like I said, this off-the-shoulder look is very popular this year. I saw another influencer share this navy floor-length Amazon dress in a video, which prompted me to put it in my cart. It looked gorgeous on her – the top has a swooping look that feels very elevated and looks much more expensive than it is, and the fit looked amazing on her, too. It seems to be a great choice, too, judging by the 5,719 positive ratings. Since this is a true “gown”, it would be great for black tie.
I love that this dress comes in so many colors and ships quickly. And if it doesn’t work, it’s easy to return!
Since this dress is floor length, I’d stick to comfortable heeled sandals that show your toes rather than pumps.
Here’s another great Tuckernuck wedding guest dress option: this Brown Long Sleeve Maxi Dress by Moon River. When I saw this, I immediately imagined a wedding in the city with cocktail attire, but it could also work for a more casual afternoon wedding in the fall. The metallic sheen of the fabric and the sexy slip-style underneath are playful yet simple at the same time. It would be perfect with a pair of strappy gold heels and gold jewelry. You could easily wear this into the holidays for dinner parties or events, as well.
This Emerald Green Astrid Dress would be such a great option for a wedding with more casual or cocktail attire. The green is muted, which definitely lends itself to a wedding later in the fall, but I love that it could also be worn throughout the holidays. The dramatic puff sleeves are eye-catching, while the rest of the dress is simple and classic. I’d wear this dress with chunky platform heels, put my hair up so that the sleeves don’t compete, and pair it with a gold or silver clutch to match whichever shoes you pick. Or, if you want to color out of the lines a bit, a contrasting color clutch – think yellow or pink; could be really fun and playful.
Surprise, surprise, another Tuckernuck wedding guest dress idea. And it’s also from Moon River. Moon River is priced really well, which is why you’ll see a handful of their dresses included in this roundup. This Exclusive Olive Tiered Maxi Dress is the perfect option for an early fall wedding. The thin straps and cotton fabric are best for warmer weather, but the olive green feels appropriate for a late September or early October wedding. I’d wear this dress for a cocktail attire wedding – the fabric doesn’t feel dressy enough for a black tie or black tie-optional wedding.
Style this dress with strappy nude heels and a nude clutch.
This stunning Abercrombie Strapless Slim Maxi Dress is black tie-approved! It can be worn strapless or with the removable straps that come with it. The shiny silky fabric makes it dressy, and the ruching details along the bodice make it super flattering. The reviews say this dress runs long, so keep that in mind if you’re short like me – you’ll either need really tall heels or you’ll want to have it hemmed.
Another great Abercrombie find. This Draped Skirt Maxi Dress would be perfect for a cocktail attire wedding. The high neckline is different from anything I’ve ever worn to a wedding, which I love. And the gathered skirt at the start of the slit would be great for disguising anything you’d want to hide in your midsection. I’d do the black colorway with gold accessories. Big, fun earrings are a must.
Hello gorgeous. This deep pink Silky Open-Back Maxi Dress from Banana Republic Factory is calling my name. This color is stunning and so flattering on everyone. While this could be dressed up with the right shoes and worn to a black-tie wedding, I might err on the side of caution and save it for a cocktail attire or formal wedding. The open back with cowl drape is incredibly sexy and balances well with the mock-neck in the front. And it’s under $100! So hard to beat.
These strappy heels would be fabulous with it.
How fun is this Achanti Print Pleated Maxi Dress? The colors are happy and playful, and they’re perfect for a southern fall wedding where it’s still warm through October. It’s flowy and feminine with a structured bodice and smocked back. If you’re in the early stages of pregnancy where you’re trying to hide a bump, this would be the perfect dress. The pattern is distracting, and the A-line fit will give you room and comfort. This is under $100 and sold at Nordstrom, so you get free shipping and returns.
I ordered this beautiful purple dress in hopes that I wouldn’t like it because it was quite expensive (not under $150, but I couldn’t help myself). Unfortunately, I love it, ha! This Kika Vargas strapless babydoll dress is by far one of the most beautiful dresses I’ve ever owned. I ordered my true size, and it fit perfectly, even with a growing baby bump last fall. It’s currently on final sale and only available in one size, but I wanted to include it just in case one of you can wear it this fall.
Good question. I spent a few hours scouring the internet to find the best wedding guest dresses, and I had the most success at these places:
The kind of dress you’d wear to a September wedding fully depends on where the wedding is. If it’s outdoors at the beach in North Carolina, you can get away with a much more summery look than if you were attending a wedding in Colorado or Chicago in September. The attire of the wedding is also a deciding factor. If the wedding is formal or black tie, I would wear a floor-length gown and choose the color based on the location. In the mountains, I might wear an emerald green or darker blue, and on the coast, I would opt for a more muted pink or light blue. The location and attire of the wedding you’re attending will be the deciding factors.
In general, however, I would opt for something that feels more summery than fall for September (and probably stay away from long sleeves since it may still be hot). Since summer doesn’t officially end until the very end of September, brighter hues and lighter fabrics are totally acceptable.
Again, this depends on where your wedding is! But as a rule of thumb, darker hues, such as emerald green, navy, cobalt blue, black, red, purple, and brown are all great options. Think darker, bolder, and more “cool” tones versus bright, light, and warm.
Absolutely. Black is totally appropriate for a fall wedding and a very popular choice (especially for formal or black-tie weddings).
Of course. One of my favorite picks from this blog post is the navy floral dress (very top of the post) that I’d wear to a wedding in a heartbeat.
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