What to Wear to a Spring Wedding: 6 Chic Dress Styles That Come Fashion-Editor Approved

These days, spring weddings can mean many things. It can involve jetting off to a sophisticated European destination, or spending a weekend in the countryside, or heading to a town hall before celebrating the nuptials in a pub garden. Whatever the event specifics may be, the combination of the change of season and toasting to new chapters makes spring weddings feel especially celebratory. And what better way to mark the occasion than with a new dress?

Finding a new dress to toast to the happy couple may be exciting, but it can also prove to be pretty daunting. That's why I've done the work for you and pulled together some of the very best.

Here's my thinking. Given the season, I'm picturing gorgeous colours and joyful prints, from spring-ready pastels to a thoroughly modern take on the classic floral design. This year, the coquettish aesthetic continues to stay on trend, meaning that you could also fully embrace the romance of the moment with a dress adorned with bows and frills.

But I'm also a firm believer that while a wedding is the perfect excuse to play dress up, you still want to stay true to your personal style. So if you're more of an understated minimalist who typically veers away from colours, don't feel like you have to go ultra-feminine just for the occasion. Forget the old rules—black is officially wedding appropriate, and you can still wear dark hues even on a spring day.

Plus, we know what British weather is like—temperamental, to say the least—so when it comes to silhouette and fabrics, you're not bound to one in particular. That being said, my recommendation is to go for a more summer-appropriate dress that you can use for later weddings, and layer with a great jacket for cooler spring affairs.

Whatever the invite, whatever your personal aesthetic, I'm confident one of these on-trend-yet-timeless styles will serve you well.

1. Modern Slip

Style Notes: A slip is a wedding guest go-to, and for good reason. Incredibly versatile and undeniably chic, a slip can be styled with so many different accessories to create a fresh, gorgeous look.

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2. Fresh Florals

Style Notes: Florals for spring really can be groundbreaking if you embrace the modern look. From OTT graphic prints to vintage-inspired designs, these dresses do all the work for you.

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3. Pastel Hues

Style Notes: If ever there's a time to wear pastel tones, it's spring. These soft colours are appealing even for the typically colour-phobic (myself included). Keep things light by pairing with white or nude accessories, or go a bit edgier with black statement pieces.

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4. Coquette

Style Notes: Where a few years ago everyone was embracing cottage-core, this year is all about the coquette aesthetic. Bows, frills and vintage-inspired floral and lace details are all the touches that nod to the look. Go all-out coquette by styling with ballet flats or block heeled sandals.

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5. Dark Romance

Style Notes: Yes, you really can wear black to a wedding—even a spring wedding. Keep it wedding and spring weather-appropriate by opting for elegant silhouettes and romantic touches. If you can't get on board with black, there are other deep tones you can embrace, from plum purple to rich browns.

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6. Black-Tie Gowns

Style Notes: When the dress code is black tie, you can really flex your fashion muscle. Slinky or structured, soft shades or electric hues, the options are endless.

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