With the snow not yet thawed, and the mercury barely still teetering in the single digits, it seems frivolous to be mentioning Spring just yet, let alone talking about exposed skin, light materials and shades.
We’re shivering just thinking about stepping out without several layers, a hat and gloves but rest assured, spring is just around the corner, ready to be sprung, blossomed and bloomed.
It’s certainly not the easiest season to plan for wardrobe-wise. It doesn’t guarantee sunshine (not that summer does either) but it certainly doesn’t promise rain either. A little forward thinking and flexibility are the watchwords, then. With this in mind, here is our IDEAL guide on dressing for a spring wedding.
What’s Trending?
This spring’s trends have a mass appeal, unisex feel, and are applicable to both the dudes and dudettes. Inclusivity is in, and you’ll mostly be pairing it with these…
- Coral colours — Expect to see this warm, pastel hue cropping up in fashion and wedding trends throughout the year. It’s certainly going to see its moment during the springtime, with its blossom-evoking undertones. Think coral-coloured ties to add a splash of colour, or coral shawls to cover-up against the (likely) cold.
- Viva Magenta – Pantone’s Colour Of 2023 is viva magenta, and whilst we’re loathe to place too much emphasis on a marketing gimmick, there’s no denying it is a great shade just ripe for embellishing your spring wedding outfit.
- Minimalism — After years of celebrating dresses of high camp and frippery, wedding trends are set to cool down to a more sleek, minimal look thanks, primarily, due to the ongoing power of the Meghan Markle effect. Guests can take note of this too, and embrace a ‘less is more’ mentality for their outfits.
- Eco-friendly themes — Sure, the idea of florals for spring brings the cutting tone of Meryl Streep’s Miranda Priestly to mind, but florals actually fit the eco-friendly theme set to take hold of weddings across the country rather well. Couple this with some eco-friendly accessories and the stick to fashion’s current penchant for the minimalist and you’ll have a crisp, unfussy look without fiddly synthetic embellishments.
- More is more – Yes, we know that we just said that minimal looks are in. However, here at IDEAL we are huge fans of dopamine dressing and wearing clothes that make you feel good. So whether it’s a bright colour that boosts your mood, vibrant prints or frills, frills and more frills wear what makes you feel good.
For The Females
Keeping spring and the freshness it blossoms it brings with it in mind, female wedding attire this season should involve florals; a tried-and-true essential for spring. You can opt for large or small floral prints; both are absolutely on-trend, it’s just down to personal preference which you go for. Add in a little pastel pizzazz too to keep it interesting.
Opt for floral prints that use a shade close to that ‘viva magenta’ shade to make an effortless nod to the current trend. You can use this for wedding dresses, skirts, shirts, or even as an accent with a coral-coloured accessory, like a thick bangle or coral-gemstone earrings.
Don’t Sacrifice Comfort
Keep yourself comfortable though. If you’re not a fan of dresses, an elegant jumpsuit can look so sophisticated, and it’s set to be a big trend at weddings throughout 2023. Wedding Wire is calling it a ‘fashion-forward style’ for guests, and the best part is that they can be dressed up or down to adapt to pretty much any dress code (or point in the evening).
When picking a jumpsuit, keep the shape simple and avoid too many embellishments for a really streamlined look. There’s also the catwalk-hot trend of coloured tailoring — that is, two-pieces sticking to one colour, in loose and light materials ready for spring. Aim a nod in the direction of Pantone’s Colour of the Year (sorry to keep banging on) with a dark pink-hued two-piece and you have yourself the perfect spring wedding outfit.
Put Your Best Foot Forward
Footwear-wise, social media has been loving square-toed shoes lately. In particular, square-toed satin flats are having their moment on the catwalk and on the high street, and they’d make a great addition to your springtime wedding outfit.
Finishing Finesse
Finally, we’re at the finishing touches. A top tip to make any outfit look effortlessly but elegantly put together is to consider a matching bag and court shoe combo. Pick a colour, material, pattern or all of the above and work them between your pair of women’s court shoes and bag for a graceful vibe.
Read: Wedding guests: 7 tips for being a great guest
For The Fellas
The last few years have seen male wedding outfits dressing down and going more casual. But according to Brides Magazine, this is set to take a sharp U-Turn back to the classical, dressed up look of old. That means a much more tailored look, and absolutely no to jeans and t-shirts, even if it’s a ‘casual’ dress code.
Of course, as a guest, you don’t need to match the groom’s three-piece suit (that would, in all honesty, be a bit of a faux pas). Spring can be a tricky one to predict, and a three-piece suit will let you add or remove layers as needed without compromising your look.
Investing in a set of quality white men’s shirts is a great idea for any gentleman’s wardrobe, and especially for weddings. Avoid a white jacket though, as you don’t want to be seen as trying to outshine the groom (the inevitable spillages are going to embarrass you too). Instead, opt for a light blue jacket to bring out that spring lightness.
If you want to make sure your outfit is catwalk-approved, pick a double-breasted jacket — it’s set to be all the rage in spring this year, with the likes of Louis Vuitton and Burberry both showcasing their versions on the runways recently.
Alternatively, consider a floral suit with magenta flowers. Because why not?
Men’s Footwear
No matter how blessed the spring day might be with sunshine, no sandals are allowed. Ever. Instead, pick a pair of black Derby shoes; they go with pretty much any outfit and are light enough to be comfortable if it’s sunny, and sturdy enough if the raingods decide to take a leak.
Like with the women’s outfits, a final flourish can bring the whole look together. A pastel-coral tie or pocket square can bring the required pop of colour, and if you’re attending with a partner, having an accessory of matching colour can be a cute way to match up without looking cheesy.
The Bottom Line
With spring just around the corner, wedding season is shortly to be in bloom. Dress with your own unique spin on seasonality in mind, and you won’t go wrong!
