Ethical Wedding Guest Outfit Ideas For 2024

Going to a wedding in 2024? Not sure what to wear? We’ve got some gorgeous ethical wedding guest outfit ideas for you!

By Bec Gregory

Yay! You just got a gorgeous wedding invitation. But as soon as you send the RSVP to confirm your attendance, you’re faced with the issue of what to wear.

When choosing a wedding guest outfit, there are many factors to consider. These include:

• the season and location of the wedding
• appropriateness of the outfit
• what makes you feel comfortable
• what’s within budget
• and if you care about people and the planet, the ethics behind the outfit.

So, what do we mean by that, exactly?

Our clothing decisions either help or harm the planet, people, and animals. As most of us know by now, the fashion industry is one of the most polluting industries in the world. But it’s also known for exploiting workers, particularly women and children in developing countries. Additionally, the use of animal products, such as fur and leather, involves cruelty. 

Fashion labels that create ethical outfits prioritise eco-friendly, sustainable production, reducing the industry’s environmental impact. They look after their people at all stages of production, paying fair living wages, providing safe working conditions, and offering training and career development opportunities. Animal welfare is also prioritised by using animal-free materials.

Image credit below here.

What to look for in ethical wedding outfits

The first thing you should do when looking for ethical wedding guest outfit ideas is to check out the websites and socials of the brands that caught your eye. Because when labels are doing good, they will shout about it! 

Below are the kinds of questions we ask to see if a brand is ethical.

What materials are used?

Look for clothing made from sustainable materials with a lower environmental impact. These could include Tencel, organic cotton, linen and hemp, or recycled/upcycled materials.

Who made the outfit?

We’re talking about brands that look after their people. Ethical clothing brands are transparent about their labour practices, pay fair living wages, provide safe working conditions, and offer training and career development. Some certifications and awards to look for include Fair Trade Certified, GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) or WRAP (Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production).

Were any animals harmed or exploited?

Look for ethical wedding guest outfit ideas that have been created without harming or exploiting animals. Opt for clothing made from vegan and cruelty-free materials. 

Does the brand support small-scale, artisanal production?

Supporting local artisans preserves age-old techniques, and supports handmade one-of-a-kind pieces. Plus, it helps to move away from homogenised mass production. Look for clothing produced on a smaller scale that reduces the environmental impact and supports local economies and region-specific crafting techniques. 

Ready to check out some of the best ethical wedding guest outfits for 2023? Read on!

Image below: Gaala

10 Ethical Wedding Guest Dress Ideas We Love

1. The Sadey Dress

Kicking off our ethical wedding guest outfit ideas, the ‘Ziggy’ dress by Reformation is sexy-yet-chic. It perfectly balances comfort and style. Flattering and elongating to the leg, the side slit also lets you show off statement shoes. And it gets better; Reformation has teamed up with Hemster to offer a free hemming service that ensures a flawless, tailored fit. 

Price: Around $248

It’s An Ethical Wedding Guest Outfit Because: This dress is sustainably made in Los Angeles using lightweight linen.

2. Serenity Wrap Dress 

This dress by Gaala is super cute! Crafted from pure silk, its wraparound style offers a flattering fit for all body types. The belt at the waist creates a beautiful shape with every movement. And those ruffled sleeves? Simply adorable!

Price: Around $200

It’s An Ethical Wedding Guest Outfit Because: This dress was sustainably made under fair wages and safe working conditions in Belarus. Sustainable production methods result in zero waste. It’s packaged and delivered in 100% recycled materials. 

3. Rose Garden Painted Sleeveless Black Gown 

The rose has been a symbol of love for millennia, making it the perfect flower to feature on a wedding guest outfit. This stunning jewel neck sleeveless ball gown by Tiny Ink offers a contemporary twist on a classic look. It’s adorned with a large rose design hand-painted directly onto the dress by a professional artist for a striking, feminine look. And the best part? If you can’t find a size that totally fits your body, you can get it made to measure. 

Price: $825

It’s An Ethical Wedding Guest Outfit Because: Tiny Ink offers one-of-a-kind pieces that are responsibly made by female artisans in Vietnam. Each item is masterfully created and painted by hand. The brand pays fair wages and gives safe working conditions. Plus, they provide employees with skills training and job development. Finally, everything is packaged and delivered in eco-friendly materials. 

4. The Bianca Suit

So, you’re off to a summer wedding and you want to wear something light. And white. But you obviously don’t want to clash with the bride. Amani Saab has the perfect solution: the Bianca Suit!

Its slit linen sleeves and trouser hems ensure you’ll be cool no matter how hot it gets, and the shimmering metallic shine of the fabric adds a hint of glamour.

Price: Around $1100

It’s An Ethical Wedding Guest Outfit Because: All Amani Saab’s collections are released on a pre-order basis, ensuring that every garment is crafted with purpose. In addition, the brand repurposes deadstock fabrics sourced from world-renowned designer brands and incorporate low-impact, recycled and recyclable fabrics of exceptional quality.

5. Birch Dress 

The ‘Birch’ is a chic maxi dress with a fitted bodice and super attractive side split. The simple yet visually exciting design elements work together to create a beautiful, ethereal look. We love the pretty green print! It’s soft and subtle, yet still vibrant and eye-catching. This would look stunning with gold sandals and jewellery, don’t you think? Got an evening wedding coming up? They do this dress in pure black, too.

Price: Around $338

It’s An Ethical Wedding Guest Outfit Because: It’s pure silk. And the sustainable production methods used to make this dress saved 7 lbs of carbon dioxide and 32 gallons of water. 

6. Lisa Linen Midi Dress 

You can feel the loving energy woven through every stitch in this striking handmade midi dress by Nich Linen! It’s both comfortable and chic. The ruched waistband gives the illusion of a smaller waist and adds interesting texture, whilst the ruched cuff on the ¾ sleeves elongates the arms. The A-line skirt skims over the hips and flows into a gentle flare, creating a sophisticated, feminine silhouette. The vibrant electric blue hue is a universally flattering colour that looks great on all skin tones. Linen fabric is lightweight and breathable, making it a perfect choice if you’re looking for ethical wedding guest outfit ideas for outdoor ceremonies. 

Price: $219

It’s An Ethical Wedding Guest Outfit Because: Nich Linen is a female-founded and operated Ukrainian brand that handmakes high-quality, ethical linen clothes. Local female artisans ethically and expertly handcraft all Nich Linen garments. 

7. The Bergen Dress 

This dress by Christy Dawn is a carefully crafted long-sleeved maxi dress with a wrap closure. A delicate array of earth-tone leaves and flowers dance across a soft white backdrop giving the look a free-spirited feel. The beautiful, full-length balloon sleeves add a touch of romance whilst providing extra coverage. We love how the V-shaped neck helps to create the illusion of a longer, leaner torso. In addition, it’s bra-friendly (whew!), flattering on all body types, and a joy to wear! 

Price: Around $350

It’s An Ethical Wedding Guest Outfit Because: This dress was crafted from deadstock rayon, naturally dyed using flowers and berries. But that’s not all! Christy Dawn does much more than treat her people ‘fairly’. She says she has formed loving, lasting relationships and brought financial growth to her community of workers.

8. The Evelyn Dress

The Evelyn is a one shoulder, maxi dress with a fitted bodice and asymmetrical neckline. It features a side slit and an invisible side zipper. Its slinky cut is perfect for evening weddings, but its flowery pattern also makes it suitable for daytime ceremonies. PS: Did you know Reformation makes wedding dresses, too?

Price: Around $325

It’s An Ethical Wedding Guest Outfit Because: Reformation made this dress from fabric based on wood pulp. All their forest-based products come from sustainably managed forests. Plus, they work with the non-profit group Canopy to help drive positive change.

9.  Laurel Frill Dress 

The ‘Laurel’ dress by Zimmermann is simply stunning! Designed to add shape and definition to the waistline, the dress is gently gathered across the bodice and cut out at the back. 

The combination of the floral print and the multiple frills make this a super feminine choice, ultra-summery choice of dress.

Price: Around $1150

It’s An Ethical Wedding Guest Outfit Because: Zimmermann is driven by their mission “to make beautiful clothes in a beautiful way”. They use eco-friendly fabrics and donate leftover fabric to smaller labels. In addition, they digitally print their designs onto fabric, which uses around 60% less water than screen printing. Finally, Zimmermann also engages in collaborative projects to advance sustainability in the industry.

10. River Classing Dress

And now for something completely different! This River cutout dress is by Johanna Ortiz. Her unique designs are made in Cali, Colombia which is her home town. She only uses teams of female artisans to craft her garments. This ‘River Classing’ dress features jacquard flowers woven throughout and a plunging V-neckline framed by a subtle cutout and voluminous kimono-style sleeves. Perfect for summer weddings! To keep this looking elegant (as opposed to too ‘beachy’), add some elegant jewellery and gorgeous heeled sandals.

Price: Around $870

It’s An Ethical Wedding Guest Outfit Because: As mentioned above, Oritiz is all about giving back where she grew up. She employs nearly 500 female artisans to produce her line. Each women is paid fairly and well supported by her company.

We’ll leave you for now with one more sustainable fashion tip. Increase the sustainability of your ethical wedding guest outfit by wearing it to more than one wedding!  

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