Tips on what to wear to a New Year’s Eve or January wedding. Includes winter wedding guest dress suggestions and what not to wear to a winter wedding.

January is a great month to get married – compared to the summer months, venues are relatively easy to book, and a celebration is a great way to alleviate the boredom of January’s dull, cold days. However, January remains the least popular month for weddings by far, according to the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics. Consequently, many guests may be left wondering what to wear to a January wedding – what’s appropriate, and what’s not? What are some January wedding colors? Deciding what to wear to a New Year’s Eve wedding can also prove challenging.

Weddings can be a great place for singles to meet potential matches, and they also offer a venue for old friends to reconnect in a festive environment. For these reasons, and to please the bride, many women can spend considerable time choosing a flattering and seasonally appropriate wedding guest outfit. Whatever your reason for wanting to dress your best, the following tips will help every woman choose an appropriate dress to wear to a January wedding.

What Not To Wear To a Wedding in Winter as a Guest

Glamour magazine’s article on what not to wear to a wedding lists 5 things that guests should never wear, whether it’s a New Year’s Eve wedding or a July wedding. They are:

  • Jeans
  • A white dress
  • A dress that is so fancy it may upstage the bride
  • Skimpy, tight clothing
  • A too-conservative suit

While there is little risk that guests in the Northern Hemisphere will wear skimpy mini-dresses to a January or New Year’s Eve wedding, there are other potential faux pas, including:

  • Canvas parkas or other utilitarian forms of outerwear that are better suited to an Arctic expedition than a wedding. If you don’t own a stylish winter coat, and don’t wish to invest in one, consider borrowing a wool trench or lined peacoat from a friend.
  • Too much “sparkle.” For winter wedding guest dresses, some sparkle is appropriate, but you should avoid outfits that make you look like a Christmas tree or New Year’s Eve firecracker.
  • Summer dresses.
  • Garishly bright or patterned leggings/tights.
  • Casual boots.
  • All black. It may be a winter color, but black tends to signify mourning, not celebration. If you plan on wearing a black dress, pair it with a colorful accessory or two.
  • Summer or spring colors. January wedding colors and themes do not usually include light pink or yellow.

In addition, fur coats or accessories can create awkwardness if the bride is a vehement animal rights activist (or a number of the guests are). If you suspect that your genuine leopard fur coat may arouse bad feelings, it’s probably best left at home.

What To Wear to a January Wedding

When deciding what to wear to a January wedding, consider what the month signifies: new resolutions and new starts. This, of course, is particularly applicable to New Year’s Eve weddings. To get into the spirit of the season, consider wearing something you never have before, such as a deep green dress or elegant faux fur wrap. Consider the following colors schemes for your January wedding outfit:

  • Red and gold (New Year’s Eve fireworks; Chinese New Year)
  • Red, purple, and amber (commonly associated with garnet, January’s birth stone)
  • Dark green, white, and brown (the colors of the January landscape)
  • Grey and jewel-blue or purple (grey, a winter color, is a good contrast to brighter, festive hues)

In terms your outfit, plan on wearing layers to keep warm and match the seasonal theme of the wedding. Consider adding an elegant hat (cloche hats have made a comeback in recent years), dress gloves, a scarf or two, bolero, shawl, and/or tailored cardigan to a below-the-knee dress. Longer styles and heavier fabrics are more suitable for January weddings, though guests can get away with dresses designed for warmer weather if they are layered appropriately.

Wondering what to wear to a New Year’s Eve wedding? Some guests may be tempted to choose a sparkly dress and accessories for a wedding on New Year’s, but unless the invitation says so, this type of wedding is no different than any other winter or January wedding. Sparkly shoes, a glittery shawl or a beaded clutch are good ways to get into the New Year’s Eve spirit without overdoing it. For a New Year’s Eve wedding, you will likely be up very late, so comfort is key: wear flats or kitten heels and make sure you bring a sweater or cardigan.

These tips on what to wear to a New Year’s Eve or January wedding will help you choose a wedding guest outfit that is both flattering and appropriate. The key points to remember are to dress in layers, add some sparkle to your outfit, and have fun.

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