The right wedding guest dress follows the dress code on the invitation, avoids white, and lets you sit, dance and eat comfortably all day. How you get it here depends on time: the Evening Couture Collection made to your measurements in four to six weeks, or a bespoke gown from $3,500 when it is a family wedding and you have six to twelve months. If the wedding is sooner than four to six weeks away, call the atelier on +61 2 9922 4193 to talk through your timing.
On this page
What should I wear to a wedding as a guest?
- Read the invitation. Black tie means a floor-length gown. Formal or cocktail allows midi and knee lengths. Garden or daytime weddings suit lighter fabrics.
- Avoid white, ivory and anything that could read as bridal. Pale cream and champagne are risky too.
- Check with the couple if unsure. Some ask guests to avoid the bridesmaids’ colour, or to wear black.
- Think about the venue. A church may call for covered shoulders, a beach or lawn for block heels, an evening reception for something warmer.
- Choose comfort for a long day. Weddings often run from afternoon ceremony to late-night dancing.
Our full wedding guest dress code guide covers every dress code and the questions people ask most.
How much time do you have before the wedding?
| Time before the wedding | Your option at our atelier | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Less than four to six weeks | Talk to the atelier | Call +61 2 9922 4193 to talk through your timing. |
| Six weeks or more | Evening Couture Collection | Four looks from New York Fashion Week 2026, made to your measurements in four to six weeks. Quoted at your consultation. |
| Six to twelve months | Bespoke | Designed from scratch with Catherine, from $3,500, three to five fittings. Timing confirmed at your consultation. |
If the invitation arrived late
If the wedding is less than four to six weeks away, call the atelier on +61 2 9922 4193 to talk through your timing.
The collection in four to six weeks
The four evening looks suit different weddings. Silver organza (a silver corset with a sheer organza skirt and painterly gold hem) for an evening reception, Scarlet velvet for a winter or black tie wedding, the Gold and amethyst mini for a cocktail dress code, and the black Chantilly finale where black is welcome. Order with a margin of time before the wedding.
Should I have a dress made for a family wedding?
When it is your sister, your best friend or your son or daughter getting married, you will be in the photos for years, and many guests choose bespoke. Catherine designs the gown with you from a blank page, and you can choose a colour that sits well beside the bridal party without matching it. Bespoke evening gowns start from $3,500 and take six to twelve months, with three to five fittings.
Mothers of the bride and groom have their own page: see our mother of the bride dresses. In Anna F’s words, as mother of the groom: “She listened to my vision and went above and beyond to create a spectacular gown for my son’s wedding.”
If you are also a bridesmaid, we design bridesmaid and flower girl dresses too.
A wedding guest dress checklist
- Dress code, venue and season noted from the invitation.
- No white, ivory or bridal-looking colours.
- Time counted back from the wedding: the collection or bespoke.
- Shoes chosen before the final fitting, so the length is right.
- Sit, raise your arms and walk in it. If you can dance in it, it will last the night.
- A wrap or jacket for the evening, if the venue is outdoors.
Visit the atelier
Appointments are at 422 New Canterbury Road, Dulwich Hill, in Sydney’s Inner West: Tuesday to Friday 10am to 5pm, and Saturday 10am to 3pm. Call +61 2 9922 4193, text +61 417 681 217 or email info@catherinecolubriale.com.au.
Bring the invitation along and book a consultation.
