Wedding Guest Outfit Ideas for 2021 and Beyond

I'm no Mystic Meg, but I've always prided myself in never being surprised by any of the trends we end up wearing. Part of my job is understanding how we'll dress in the weeks, months, and years to come. But dear reader, 2020 is no ordinary year, and 2021 is likely to be much of the same. We didn't know, for example, at the start of the year that our top priorities for fashion would be face masks, knitwear, and leggings. So forgive me when I say it's a little difficult to predict wedding guest outfit trends for 2021. 

Usually when analysing what people will want to wear for big events such as weddings, we look to the runways, street style trends, and, most recently, Instagram. However, with a reduced amount of designers showcasing their latest collections, a lack of street style, and fewer events for fashion influencers to attend, we've got less of an indication of how everyone will want to dress. So how do you work out exactly what kind of trends we'll be hoping to wear come the 2021 nuptial season? 

For me, it comes down to being laser-focused on the trends that I know people will want to wear and ignoring anything too "silly" or over the top. I'll also consider the brands and designers that really made an impact in the fashion world and what people have been talking about online—not to mention, what team Who What Wear loves and how our readers have reacted to the stories we've created over the year. For example, we found that the Vampire's Wife x H&M collab story did incredibly well with readers who mostly wanted to shop the sparkly cape. This is surprising, considering there will be fewer festive parties to attend this year. 

With all of the above in mind, I've managed to narrow down seven key wedding guest outfit trends that will work for nuptials across 2021, whenever they'll be able to take place again. While it might be tempting to go completely low-key, I do think there are plenty of people desperate to dress up for celebrating, which is why you'll find some bold styles mixed in with some more pared-back looks. Keep scrolling for your guide.

Next up, The biggest autumn/winter 2020 fashion trends to know.