I’m at that special age in a girl’s life when there’s only one thing on my mind. Boys? No. Torture—specifically in the form of what body-constricting, sans-pocket, wear-it-once frock I’ll be wearing to the multitude of weddings I have lined up on my plate for spring.
Now that I’m solidly entering my early-to-mid-20s, some of my best friends from high school and college are getting married to their better halves. While I’m a big sucker for a wedding (cue the waterworks!), one of the most stressful things about celebrating the love of those dearest in my life is what to wear. Picking out the perfect gift and writing the best card comes easily to me, but figuring out what dress goes best with my friends’ unique venues, celebrations, and, frankly, vibes proves to be a challenge if you’re half as fashion-obsessed as I am. Throw being above a size 12 into a mix, and the whole ordeal can be straight from a horror film in my eyes.
Shopping for formal dresses in a landscape that isn’t designed with plus-size people in mind elicits a fight-or-flight response I’ve spent years undoing while working in the fashion industry. While the options are seemingly endless for straight-size shoppers, plugging in my size at some of my favorite retailers only to see the options available above a large max out at 20 is disheartening, to say the least. There’s nothing worse than finding a dress I fall in love with, only to read the reviews and learn that it runs smaller than average—a frightening thought in an industry that, just a few short years ago, celebrated plus-size models and shoppers in order to hit inclusion points on social media. Even though it’s a hard pill to swallow for some brands, plus-size shoppers are still a massively underestimated market when it comes to buying power. Take it from me: There’s nothing I love more than shopping.
Ahead of wedding season, I challenged myself to spend hours combing through reviews, listings, and online testimonies in search of the best plus-size wedding guest dresses to wear on my friends’ special days. While I wasn’t quite optimistic at first, I walked away with more than a handful of options to try on from a variety of retailers, price points, and on-trend aesthetics, all of which I can wear over and over again beyond the spring and summer. Now that I’ve found the perfect plus-size wedding guest dresses to wear this year, I just had to share them with the world. Long gone are the days of ordering a stiff, black, A-line gown with thick straps that hide my body just because I’m not a size 2. Everyone deserves the chance to feel good about themselves.
Trendy Plus-Size Wedding Guest Dresses
If you're looking for something fun, chic, and butter yellow to wear to your best friend's nuptials this season, I've got you.
Size Range: 14 to 32
Material: 100% polyester
Customer review: "Elegant! The material is light and flowy. It fits nicely around the girls, mine are large and this does not make them look bigger. The peplum falls perfectly."
This seamless silk scarf style dress is perfect to capture that effortless Euro summer vibe if you're heading to a destination wedding this summer or fall.
Size Range: 14 to 32
Material: 100% polyester
Reformation dresses have always been the fashion crowd's go-to for a classic wedding guest look.
Size Range: 14 to 24
Material: 100% silk
Lace-trimmed slip skirts are a major obsession this spring, so why not take it all the way and opt for a lace-trimmed slip dress?
Size Range: 1X to 3X
Material: Vicose
Customer review: "This dress is truly something special—the fit is amazing and the black lace is sooo timeless. Perfect for date night!"
Black-Tie Plus-Size Wedding Guest Dresses
Another pretty scarf dress that, thanks to it's midnight blue color, makes it even more elevated for a black-tie affair.
Size Range: 1X to 3X
Material: 100% silk
This halter style is so timeless.
Size Range: 14 to 24
Material: 100% Silk
This dress will definitely bring the drama to cocktail hour.
Size Range: 14 to 32
Material: 100% polyester
Customer review: "This dress has made me feel more beautiful than I have in a long time. I wore it for my first solo poetry showcase, and got so many compliments."
A black dress doesn't have to be boring. This number with a sweet bow in the back is playful yet still chic enough to pass for a black-tie affair.
Size Range: 14 to 32
Material: 100% polyester
Cocktail Attire Plus-Size Wedding Guest Dresses
The color on this one is simply divine.
Size Range: 14 to 32
Material: 100% polyester
Customer review: "Beautiful dress. Lots of compliments."
If you're looking for something with a bit more personality, this 3D floral dress is calling your name.
Size Range: 1X to 3X
Material: Rayon and linen
Customer review: "Great dress for a special occasion (wore for my birthday) or dress it down with flats for a more casual wear. The asymmetrical look and flowers are a standout."
This dress has dozens of glowing reviews calling out how elevated and elegant this minidress is.
Size Range: 1X to 3X
Material: 100% polyester
Customer review: "This dress is absolutely gorgeous! The floral print is vibrant and eye-catching, making it perfect for spring & summer outings. The fabric feels soft & comfortable, providing a flattering fit without feeling too restrictive. Effortlessly elegant!"
Simply adorable.
Size Range: 1X to 3X
Material: 100% polyester
Customer review: "I wore this to the rehearsal dinner for my wedding and I LOVED IT SO MUCH! This dress fit me perfectly - although it was 2 sizes smaller than I typically wear. I'm typically an 18-20 and I ordered a 16 after checking the size chart against my measurements and it was perfect. Definitely use your measurements and check the chart! The only thing I would say is that I wish the ends of the bow were tacked down so the bow didn't flop around quite as much. I just added a quick stitch which did the trick."
Coming in at just $20, this dress is by far the most affordable on this list.
Size Range: 12 to 20
Material: 100% polyester
Customer review: "So pretty just like the picture! I wore this to a wedding and nobody believed it was SHEIN."
Casual Plus-Size Wedding Guest Dresses
Florals for a casual backyard garden wedding are incredibly chic and on-theme.
Size Range: 14 to 24
Material: 53% viscose and 47% Lenzing Ecovero Viscose
This subtle Basque waist is simply divine. Plus, a linen fabrication means you won't be sweating buckets during an outdoor ceremony and reception.
Size Range: 14 to 24
Material: 100% linen
If you're looking for a plus-size wedding guest dress that doubles as a bridesmaid dress, look no further than this timeless option.
Size Range: 14 to 24
Material: 100% polyester
The romantic ruffling is a sign that love is in the air.
Size Range: 14 to 26
Material: 100% polyester
I'll end things off with this pretty find from Eloquii.
Size Range: 14 to 32
Material: 100% polyester
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