Is A Jumpsuit Appropriate For Wedding Guests?

With a boost in weddings following the thousands of nuptials that had to be postponed during the quarantine period of the COVID-19 pandemic, finding outfits to wear as a wedding guest may very well be on your to-do list. In fact, bridal fashion has become bolder throughout the years, with iconic looks, such as the white bridal bike shorts set worn by Zoe Kravitz in 2019. However, the attire for wedding guests has steadfastly focused on solid-colored suits for men and floral dresses for women, with an array of playful twists thrown into the mix.

As the decade has embraced fashion outside of gender binaries, there's been an increase in the creativity of wedding guests and partygoers when it comes to dressing for the event. With jumpsuits becoming increasingly popular with choices that range from casual to formal and short to long, with trains, skirts, and long ribbons with bows in tow, the question is whether or not jumpsuits are appropriate for wedding guests to wear. L'Officiel reports that jumpsuits are quickly becoming a staple in wardrobes across the world, a throwback to the disco era, and the versatility in options is allowing for jumpsuits to be acceptable choices for lounging around the house, having brunch with your friends, and attending formal events. Here's what you should know if your interest is piqued when it comes to the coupling of jumpsuits and weddings.

The good news is that in many instances, jumpsuits can be worn as acceptable attire for wedding guests. In fact, jumpsuits have even appeared at multiple royal weddings, including the navy jumpsuit worn by wedding guest Claudia Bradby at the nuptials of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2018 and the light blue jumpsuit worn by Lady Melissa Percy at Princess Eugenie's 2019 wedding to Jack Brooksbank, per MamaMia. If jumpsuits are classy enough to be worn by guests at royal weddings, then you're in good company. The one thing you'll want to keep in mind at any wedding, regardless of whether you choose to wear a jumpsuit or other piece of apparel, is that you should always stick to the dress code set by the betrothed couple. Take into consideration the location of the wedding you'll be attending, the size of the gathering, and any specific instructions laid out on the invitations. There's a big difference between a small afternoon wedding on the beach where everyone is expected to be barefoot and a large black-tie affair held after dark.

According to The Knot, there are several common types of wedding settings for which you'll likely need different attire. From most to least formal, these include white-tie, black-tie, black-tie optional, formal, cocktail, beach formal, semi-formal, dressy casual, daytime casual, and simply casual. You won't want to wear a loose-fitting cotton jumpsuit to a white-tie affair, or vice versa, so always adhere to the dress code.

Just like how you'll want to stick with a wedding's respective dress code, there are some general etiquette rules that should be followed to stay in good form during the event. Though wedding traditions have begun to modernize and bridal attire is taking edgier leaps, it's always best to dress in a manner you know won't overshadow the couple on their big day. It's fun to play with fashion, especially the plethora of stylish jumpsuits in vogue, but remember that the soon-to-be married couple should take center stage no matter what. For instance, it's a well-known rule of thumb that wedding guests should never wear white or any color of a light shade that could be misconstrued as bridal, such as champagne, silver, light gold, and taupe. This rule applies to jumpsuits worn by wedding guests, too. Even though it might seem like wearing a jumpsuit will automatically indicate that you're a guest, there are many brides now wearing white or crystal-covered jumpsuits in place of traditional wedding gowns.

Similarly, wedding dresses of varying colors are picking up steam, very much in the iconic spirit of Blair Waldorf's light blue sequined dress and Serena van der Woodsen's gold ball gown in "Gossip Girl." When in doubt, it's always a smart move to ask the couple about their color choices so you don't end up matching the newlyweds or blending in with the bridal party by adorning a jumpsuit in the same shade as the bridesmaids' dresses.

Jumpsuits have been praised for their epochal inclusiveness of gender-fluid and non-binary fashion, including options for all ages. With weddings that invite children, putting your child in a jumpsuit can be a quick way to get them dressed for the event and still have enough time to get ready yourself. The versatility of jumpsuits is arguably one of the most appealing aspects of the style, with options varying from loose-fitting jumpsuits made from cotton or sweatshirt material that is perfect for lounging at home to high-end tailored jumpsuits that have been making their runway debut by some of the world's most renowned designers. You don't have to spend runway prices to be able to wear jumpsuits made from satin, lace, silk, chiffon, and other formal fabrics, but you should try to veer towards these styles when choosing a jumpsuit to wear as a wedding guest, rather than showing up to a fancy affair in a casual jumpsuit. The same goes for children's styles, though they usually have more leeway since they're kids. Though, it's probably best to let your little one know that their favorite Spiderman onesie isn't an appropriate wedding guest jumpsuit style.

Similar to not going too casual, you'll want to avoid other etiquette faux pas when choosing an appropriate jumpsuit. Don't opt for a jumpsuit with shorts, even if the wedding is outside, suggests Love to Know. Refrain from sheer fabrics and overly-revealing silhouettes, and opt for conservative styles when in doubt.

Part of the fun of adorning jumpsuits is being able to accessorize and style the apparel with your flare. Yet again, wearing a jumpsuit as a wedding guest comes with traditional guidelines that are polite to follow. For example, when picking out accessories to go with a chosen jumpsuit for an upcoming wedding, avoid items that may be noisy or cause distractions, especially during the ceremony (via Oh So Perfect Proposal). This will not only allow the newlyweds to enjoy their wedding, but it will also spare you a significant amount of embarrassment. If you aren't certain whether your jewelry, bag, belt, hairpiece, or other accessories will cause potential disruptions, try wearing them around your house for several hours and take note of how noisy they seem. You can also ask for the opinions of friends, roommates, or family members while trying on your outfit before the day of the wedding. Remember that going sans accessories can let a classy jumpsuit speak for itself.

The same premise goes for shoes, which you should try to break in and wear before the actual event. When it comes to footwear, avoid overly clunky and loud choices to protect your feet from blisters should the shoes not fit correctly or have yet to be broken in. Since many weddings include dancing, you'll want to be 100% certain that you can comfortably take to the dance floor without spending the next week nursing sore and injured feet.