Velvet Dresses for Weddings and Parties

The rich, plush feel of velvet is one of the best parts of cold-weather holiday dressing. We've collected the prettiest velvet special occasion dresses that we could find to help you get dressed for holiday parties and winter weddings. Velvet wedding guest dresses bring rich textures and deep color to fall weddings and winter celebrations, and they look just as good at a holiday party as they do at a church wedding ceremony.

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Velvet Dresses to Wear to Weddings, Parties and Special Events

Image credits and shopping sources: 1. High Neck Navy Blue Velvet Dress from Club L London 2. Asymmetrical Teal Green Velvet Midi Dress from Lulus 3. Strapless Burgundy Floral Velvet Midi Dress from Lulus 4. Lace High Neck Velvet Maxi Dress from Anthropologie

Velvet Wedding Guest Dresses

Many of our favorite retailers and sponsors are offering gorgeous velvet wedding guest dresses this season. Here are a few of our favorite velvet dresses to wear to your next autumn or winter wedding as a guest, or if you're not heading to a wedding, wear these to a party!

Velvet dresses for wedding guests come in every length and shape, from a velvet midi with a sweetheart neckline to a flowing maxi skirt with long sleeves, so there's a velvet style for nearly every dress code and venue.

Can You Wear Velvet as a Wedding Guest?

Can you wear velvet as a wedding guest? Yes, absolutely! Velvet dresses for wedding guests are a great option, especially as the holidays grow near and the days and nights get colder. Just make sure the silhouette of the velvet dress you choose matches the event's dress code. Velvet is the perfect special occasion fabric for both late fall and winter weddings in cold-weather climates.

Start with the wedding invitation, which will usually spell out the wedding dress code, and then think about the season, the venue, and the time of day. Velvet fabrics have some weight, so they're best saved for the colder months.

In the cooler months of fall and winter, plush velvet adds a festive feel that suits holiday weddings and evening celebrations.

For a summer wedding, lighter fabrics like chiffon and crepe are the better choice, so skip velvet during the warm summer weather and save it for fall. Here's some more guidance below on where and how to wear a velvet dress.

Choosing a Color Palette for Your Velvet Looks

Jewel tones are a natural color palette for velvet. Emerald, ruby, amethyst, and sapphire all show off the depth of the fabric, and a rich blue color looks especially good in candlelit rooms.

A black velvet dress is a classic for formal events, and it works with every accessory you own. We also love the rich look of topaz or brown velvet dresses, especially for fall.

However, we also love seeing velvet in a lighter, more unexpected color. We've seen a few blush, teal, mustard yellow, olive, and mint green velvet styles that we think are a unique look.

Gold jewelry and metallic heels add shine to deep jewel tones without competing with the texture of the dress, and the right shoes pull the whole look together.

Velvet Dress for Casual Event

If it's an informal event, you can still wear velvet, but you may want to select a casual wrap dress with short sleeves or a maxi dress style. This is also a great style to wear for holiday family photos. A relaxed-fit velvet maxi dress also works for a casual holiday party or a rehearsal dinner.

Velvet Semi-Formal Dress

For semi-formal events, choose a velvet cocktail dress or midi dress. These are great for winter semi-formals, winter weddings, holiday cocktail parties, or a winter date night. A midi length keeps the look dressy and is easy to move in on the dance floor. If you want more coverage for the colder months, look for long sleeves or a high neckline. A strapless velvet dress with an A-line skirt is another good semi-formal option, and a wrap or shawl keeps you warm between the car and the venue.

Formal Gown in Velvet

For formal events like a black-tie wedding, military ball, or winter gala, choose a formal full-length velvet gown and some heels and sparkling accessories. Black-tie weddings call for long dresses, and a velvet gown with a flowing maxi skirt in a deep color fits the dress code perfectly. If your wedding invitation says black tie, go with a floor-length gown and save the shorter styles for another event. If you love this style, here are a few more velvet dresses we love this season!

More Velvet Dresses for Special Occasions

Velvet Dress Under $100

Just because velvet is a luxe fabric doesn't mean you can't afford a velvet dress. Lulus and Lady Black Tie have several velvet dresses under $100, and Club L London offers lots of formal velvet gowns that are ideal winter formal dresses under $200, with many under $150.

Spaghetti Strap Velvet Burnout

This little midi shows how fun and textured velvet can be with the floral pattern in a burnout fabric. The burnout pattern adds dimension to plush velvet and keeps the look from feeling heavy. This midi is a great choice for a holiday party or to wear to fall and winter semi-formal weddings.

Long-Sleeved Green Velvet Party Dress

This long-sleeve green dress is a great example of a classic velvet look. The long sleeves, high neck, and gorgeous color make this one perfect for holiday family photos, a winter wedding, or your holiday semi-formal event.

Off-the-Shoulder Velvet Gown

This stunning gown can work for bridesmaids' dresses, a mother-of-the-bride gown, or a black-tie formal event. It comes in a range of colors and sizes, but we think this blue is special! See more of the velvet bridesmaid dresses we love.

Past Dress Features

These are velvet dresses we've showcased in the past, but they are no longer available. We keep these images so we can credit the source if you reach this page from these images on Pinterest.