So you’ve been invited to a wedding — fun! We love any occasion to get all dolled up, especially after the past few years of hunkering down in our house. There’s a catch, though: you’re pregnant, and you’ve been spending the last trimester lounging around in maternity sweats and your partner’s oversized hoodie. You need the perfect formal maternity dress, stat. What’s a mama-to-be to do?
Lucky for you, the days of frumpy maternity dresses are long gone: You’ve got options, babe! Whether you need a designer dress to match the black tie dress code or something casual for a summer wedding, we’ve got you covered. Keep reading for everything you need to know about finding the dream-worthy maternity wedding guest dress.
Start With the Dress Code (and Location)
We can recommend elegant winter maternity gowns until we’re blue in the face, but that means nothing if the wedding destination is in Honolulu. So before you begin shopping, spend some time thinking about what you’re specifically looking for in this dress.
First, think about the destination and weather. Is it going to be winter in Chicago? Or winter in Miami? Same season, two very different types of attire are needed. You might find the strapless mini maternity dress of your dreams, but if the ceremony is outside, the wind chill will prove unkind.
Then, consider the dress code, which could range from casual to white-tie formal. Dress codes can be tricky even when you are a true Ms. Congeniality, which is why we’ve put together the following primer to help you figure it out:
White Tie, Black Tie, and Optional
- White tie: This is an ultra-formal dress code, which is usually saved for ceremonial events such as galas. White tie for women means floor-length gowns and gloves.
- Black tie: While black tie is certainly still formal, you’ll have a little more flexibility. Look for gowns knee-length to floor-length. (No need for gloves!)
- Black tie optional: With a black tie optional dress code, you can opt for a traditional black tie look — AKA a gown — or you may don an elegant cocktail dress.
Cocktail Attire
Cocktail attire is somewhere between a sundress and gown; picture your favorite little black dress or a dress you might wear to your office’s holiday party. In general, stay away from dresses with more of a clubby, night-out feel to them.
Dressy Casual/Smart Casual
One of the most relaxed dress codes you’re likely to find on a wedding invite, dressy casual calls for something comfortable but still stylish. Think blouses and button-downs instead of T-shirts and wedge heels or sandals instead of sneakers. A dressy casual event would be the ideal place to break out your favorite sweater dress, for example.
Of course, it’s possible the wedding invite or save-the-date will have no information about the dress code whatsoever. In this case, we’d recommend shooting for cocktail attire — an elegant knit dress would be well-suited for a winter wedding or try a simple, formal maternity gown for warmer weather. (And if you’re at a loss, don’t be afraid to ask the bride what she expects!)
Review Maternity Sizing
So you’ve got the dress code nailed down. Next order of business: How does one begin shopping for maternity dresses?
Deciphering maternity clothing sizes is a lot easier than you’d think. Your size in maternity clothes will be the same as your size pre-pregnancy. So if you were a size 8 to 10 before you got preggo, you’ll most likely also be a size 8 to 10 in maternity clothes.
That’s because maternity clothing designers take into account all of the unique ways your body changes during pregnancy and adjust clothing sizes proportionally. Just because your belly is growing to the size of a watermelon doesn’t mean the rest of you is growing at the same rate. Clothing designers know this and take it into account when designing maternity clothes, including gowns. Convenient, huh?
Find the Right Look For You
The final key to finding the ultimate maternity wedding guest dress is to consider your own personal style.
It might be hard to pin down your specific style, but one trick we’ve found is to think about what dresses are already in your closet. What are your go-to silhouettes? What type of dress do you find yourself buying again and again? Chances are the dresses you already wear frequently will clue you into which colors, styles, and fabrics you feel the best in.
For example, maybe your closet is full of knit fabrics and oversized items — clearly, you enjoy being comfy and cozy. That doesn’t mean you can’t be totally chic. Your go-to collection is Maternity Knitwear.
Take The Rib Knit Skylar Dress in a shape-hugging silhouette. The sustainable wool mixture is soft as your fav sweater. The midi length and three-quarter sleeves help with temperature regulation when the pregnancy hot flashes come into play.
Speaking of heat, look hot in the lightweight Riviera Dress in navy. The black-tie, silky number with shorter sleeves and removable sash moves with you — not against you. For all trimesters and postpartum, it’s a slip you can slip into with no stress.
Maybe the Best Dress Isn’t a Dress at All
Of course, a dress isn’t your only option. Depending on the dress code, you could opt for something different entirely, such as a jumpsuit, trousers, blouse, or a romper. Our jumpsuit options make it easy to switch out a gown for something a bit more creative.
Plus, you can always dress up the jumpsuit or pants-and-blouse look with some elegant heels and fine jewelry. There’s no need to wear something you’re going to be uncomfortable in all night when plenty of other options are out there, waiting for you to find them.
And these days, being a bit more creative with your wedding look is totally cool. So if dresses aren’t catching your eye, don’t be afraid to take your look in a different direction. Jumpsuits are hotter than ever, according to leading fashion experts.
Bump Up Your Confidence
The most important thing about choosing your wedding guest outfit is not to rush and consider all of these factors before making your final purchase. Just because you’re expecting doesn’t mean you should expect to look frumpy for fun occasions. Weddings might be all about the bride, but you still deserve to look and feel your best, and pregnancy certainly shouldn’t get in the way of that!
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