Every couple has a vision for their wedding day. Whether it’s a summery beachside or whimsical vineyard wedding that you’ve been dreaming of, there are so many details that can help take your special day to the next level and create a cohesive look and feel. But, what if you’ve been envisioning that cohesive look and color palette also extend to your guests, too? How do you ensure everyone is on the same page when it comes to the fashion choices for your wedding? The answer is wedding guest fashion mood boards!
Similar to Pinterest boards, a carefully curated wedding mood board helps guide your guests to dress for the vibe of your wedding and makes the packing process for your guests so much easier. Today, many couples are using fashion mood boards to create a wedding guest dress code that sets the tone for their entire weekend. From your maid of honor to each wedding guest, a mood board is a great way to ensure every guest’s attire complements your wedding aesthetic!
If creating a cohesive event that looks like it belongs in a wedding fashion magazine interests you, then you’ve come to the right place! We have some ideas on how to create a mood board that will turn your wedding into a runway-worthy event for both you and your wedding guests.
Benefits of Wedding Guest Fashion Mood Boards
For destination weddings and multi-day events, the success of your weekend often hinges on taking care of your guests and making sure they have detailed information about each event, such as where to go, the timing of each event, transportation, and, of course, what to wear! Although creating a dress code for wedding guests may feel over-the-top, you may be surprised to find that many of your guests will find it helpful. Oftentimes, guests will reach out to me as a planner (or to the bride and groom) with questions about how to dress for the wedding day.
1. It provides guidance for the wedding guest dress code.
No one wants to show up underdressed or overdressed for a wedding — and no one wants to look out of place, either! A wedding guest fashion mood board eliminates the guesswork on what to wear.
According to Samantha Levis, owner of The Bold and Bridal, “I like to think of the guests as playing a supporting role to the bride and groom, who are, of course, the stars of the day. We want guests’ outfits to complement the wedding theme, enhancing the atmosphere. The goal is for their attire to feel in harmony with the wedding’s vibe, contributing to the overall aesthetic, especially since they’ll be part of the photographs and video, too.”
2. It helps ensure guests will feel comfortable.
Whether you’re having a stateside or destination wedding, a mood board can be a great way to help your guests prepare their attire based on the vibe of the wedding and expected weather conditions.
“Seasonality is important, and selecting attire that is appropriate for the season will also make your guests feel comfortable. You wouldn’t want to wear velvet or tweed in Lake Como in the middle of summer, for example,” says Julie Sabatino, Founder of The Stylish Bride.
3. It can be a great way to introduce cultural traditions.
If you’re planning to incorporate any sort of cultural traditions into your wedding aesthetic, a mood board can also be a great way to introduce this to your guests!
Campbell Weiss, owner of Style Me Bridal, says, “We recently attended a Santa Fe, New Mexico wedding that asked guests to incorporate a turquoise element into their looks. This allowed flexibility for guests but still created a cohesive string that honored the local history. There were necklaces, bolo ties, blue dresses, turquoise brooches, you name it!”
Some couples might even choose to kick it up a notch and create a mood board for all of their wedding weekend festivities. From the rehearsal dinner to the farewell brunch, your guests will love to know how to dress!
Ideas for Fashion Mood Boards
No matter what your theme is, there are so many fun ways to coordinate textures and colors to provide inspo for wedding guest attire! Here are some ideas on how to create a fashion mood board based on a few of our favorite wedding themes!
South of France
Imagine you and your wedding guests sipping rosé in the vineyards of South France! Consider incorporating pastels like soft blush, lavender, and peach for a romantic wedding vibe. Some of the key pieces you will want to include are soft pastel dresses, strappy sandals, straw hats, and flowing scarves.
Jungle Vibes
Jungle vibes are perfect for a tropical or garden wedding! Some of the colors you might incorporate are emerald green, earthy tones, and vibrant orange. Don’t be afraid to include patterns like floral or palm print! You might choose to incorporate linen or cotton dresses and woven accessories onto your wedding guest dress code board! Woven or neutral sandals or wedges can add to your whole vibe.
Beachy Whites
For a coastal wedding, there’s nothing more elegant than beachy whites! When designing your wedding fashion mood board, be sure to include crisp whites and soft neutrals. Think flowy maxi dresses or elegant jumpsuits. Be sure to play with fun textures for your beachy white wedding board! Everything from lace and crochet to cotton and chiffon can make for a fun dress code for wedding guests! Don’t forget to include some cute strappy sandals or wedges that you can easily kick off in the sand.
Western Vibes
Western weddings are so trendy right now, and there are so many great ways to incorporate this theme into your fashion mood board! You might consider rustic shades like teal and copper — and don’t forget about ways to accessorize!
“We are currently planning a wedding at a Southern California ranch where we will likely include an equestrian inspiration, which can be taken in many different directions,” Campbell Weiss says. “Guests could add a fun belt buckle to a dress, alligator boots with their tuxes, or hats for sun protection during the outdoor ceremony.”
Florals
Florals are all the rage right now when it comes to wedding guest attire. Julie Sabatino says, “For ladies, we are seeing more florals for a black-tie wedding — especially for destinations like Italy in the summer.” Samantha Levis is also seeing a lot of florals right now, especially with garden parties.
Whether you choose soft pastels for a romantic garden wedding, vibrant pops of floral color for a beach wedding, or autumnal hues for a rustic countryside wedding, there are plenty of great ways to incorporate florals into your wedding guest dress code. From floral print dresses to accessories, floral weddings can be stunning!
How to Create a Wedding Guest Fashion Mood Board
Once you’ve come up with some ideas for the wedding of your dreams, it’s time to get to work by creating the perfect mood board!
1. Choose a Color Palette
Start with selecting a wedding color palette. Some of the places you might draw inspiration from include the ambiance of your wedding venue, the delicate hues of your florals, and the natural beauty of the season. When choosing a color palette, you’ll want to consider everything from the bridal party attire and table centerpieces to the small details, like your wedding cake and stationery.
When choosing a color palette, Julie Sabatino recommends being considerate of your guests. “Whereas your guests might have something in their wardrobe appropriate for a ‘white party’, they may not have attire that is all gold if you wanted to go with a ‘Midas Touch’ theme,” she says. “It’s not realistic to expect guests to wear one color, so providing a variety is respectful.”
2. Decide on a Vibe
It’s important to settle on a vibe for your wedding mood board. Are you picturing an elegant, dressy affair or something more relaxed and casual? Whether you picture a black tie event with chandeliers and fine dining or a laid-back celebration with rustic charm and earthy tones, the vibe will determine your wedding guest dress code — and set the entire tone for your wedding!
Another factor to take into consideration is whether you have a specific wedding theme in mind. Do you want to incorporate the free-spiritedness of the Wild West, the whimsy of a beach theme, the glamour of La Dolce Vita, or something else entirely? Do you want a specific color scheme, like Prairie, Pucci, or Slim Arons inspired? Now is the time to decide!
3. Start Collecting Images
Once you’ve done some brainstorming for your fashion mood board, it’s time to start collecting images! Some places where you can look for inspiration include Pinterest, Instagram, TikTok, and fashion magazines. You might also look to favorite movies or shows, such as The White Lotus, for ideas.
When selecting images, remember that the goal is to inspire your wedding guests. “When we are asking an entire wedding guest list to draw from your inspiration, we want to be sure that we have many elements and senses represented to evoke inspiration for each guest,” Campbell Weiss says. “Maybe one guest is reminded of a gorgeous floral print gown they own in a similar colorway to the table linens, whereas another guest may be inspired by the signature lavender champagne coupe cocktail that reminds them of a dress they wore in Europe last summer.”
It can be easy to get caught up in women’s wedding guest attire. But when creating a dress code for wedding guests, it’s important to remember to include attire ideas for the guys, too!
4. Create Your Collage
Once you’ve found all the images you want to include on your fashion mood board, you’ll want to create your collage. You can do this on Canva, PhotoShop, or PowerPoint.
5. Post to Your Wedding Website
Once you’ve created a wedding guest fashion mood board you’re in love with, it’s time to share it on your wedding website! In addition to displaying the mood board itself, you’ll also want to provide other details pertaining to your wedding guest dress code — such as guidelines for colors, themes, or styles (e.g., “Evening gowns and tuxedos” or “cocktail attire”). The more details you provide, the better your guests will be able to align with your wedding aesthetic.
Choosing Wedding Guest Attire Based on a Mood Board
If you’re a wedding guest who has recently received an invite to a wedding with a fashion mood board, you might be feeling overwhelmed — but you needn’t worry. Just be yourself! Samantha Levis says, “The goal isn’t to dictate what guests should wear or impose a specific style, but rather to offer guidance on how they can seamlessly incorporate their own style while aligning with the couple’s vision for the day.”
“One of the most common mistakes is being underdressed for the dress code. We always recommend erring on the side of overdressing rather than underdressing,” Levis adds. “Another mistake is going too thematic or costumey, which can take away from the overall vibe of the event.”
Campbell Weiss agrees that “Guests need to ensure that they are not taking mood board inspiration to the ‘next level’ (i.e., a Cabo Nights rehearsal dinner mood board does not mean bring out the sombreros). Guests should try to remain within the normal boundaries of wedding attire with a slight flare inspired by the event’s design. For Cabo Nights, a woman might opt for her red tiered dress over a garden party floral dress, for example.”
Sometimes, you might also need to ignore your personal beliefs on what wedding guest attire should look like. Wedding etiquette dictates that women should never wear white to a wedding. But as Campbell Weiss points out, “The wedding couple will often intentionally lead guests toward a colorway opposite or complementary of theirs, so it’s important to be respectful of their request. If they are having a white party, be sure to show up in white!”
Creating a wedding dress guest code is a great way to set the tone of your wedding and ensure your photos look flawless! If you would like some guidance in other ways to set the vibe and aesthetic for your special day, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at HauteFetes!