What to Wear to a Semi-Formal Fall Wedding

To us, semi-formal generally is a little more conservative and is edging toward more formal evening wear.  Cocktail attire is more of a party dress code.

Usually, semi-formal attire is most appropriate for late afternoon and evening weddings, with a late afternoon ceremony and a reception that begins between 4 and 6 p.m.

Semi-formal fall attire, just means it's time to bring out some fantastic fall colors and to choose warmer fabrics and perhaps longer sleeves!

More Semi-Formal Dress Code Details

For those of you who want more specifics - we like to be specific here -- generally, the semi-formal designation means women should wear a festive cocktail-length dress in a dressy fabric with some sparkly accessories; or a dressy top and dressy skirt in a special occasion fabric; or a dressy maxi dress (i.e., not a sundress like cotton or cotton jersey), with slightly more relaxed accessories.

Ideally, semi-formal strikes a more formal than dressy casual and less formal than black tie. For female guests, knee-length or midi dresses are ideal for the semi-formal style. There's also the option of a dressy jumpsuit, so if you want to wear that, then please do!  

If one selects a long maxi dress and very formal accessories, the style can be more formal to almost black tie. You may want to evaluate if a long gown is too formal for your event, but usually, it's fine and much better to be overdressed than under-dressed.

For male guests, we recommend a darker suit (dark blue, navy, and charcoal are good choices), a nice shirt, and a tie. If you feel the wedding may be more casual than semi-formal, then you may be in good company if you wear a sports coat, suit, dress pants, and tie for men. And don't forget nice shoes for everybody, of course!

What Should One Consider When Choosing What to Wear to a Fall Wedding?

The location of the wedding, type of venue, weather, time of day, your own personal style, the formality of the couple, and the overall style of the wedding are certainly factors in what kind of semi-formal attire you choose to wear.  Semi-formal is usually the middle of the road and a safe standard to assume for any wedding where a dress code hasn't been indicated. We see a lot of hotel and inside wedding receptions, and church wedding ceremonies that usually call for semi-formal fall attire.

Style Considerations and Accessories for Fall Weddings

Fall dressing, in general, can be tricky: some days day it's eighty degrees, and others it's fifty.  If you have a wedding in early fall in a climate that is still warm,  feel free to wear a summer-weight dress, but perhaps one in a more fall-ish or transitional color palette.  

As you head throughout the fall season you'll likely want warmer, more substantial fabrics like satin, lace, jacquard, and maybe even some tasteful sequins and beading.

Outdoor Semi-Formal Fall Weddings

We love long-sleeved dresses in a semi-formal style for outdoor weddings in the autumn season. If it's extra chilly, you can always bring a cover-up or wrap, dressy sweater, or jacket to wear. Footwear is important too. For a semi-formal wedding usually high heels are the standard for most women.

If the wedding is outside, and you want to wear heels, you may want to get either some block heels (we love the Yaro by Steve Madden or Katie + Kelly Hailee at DSW) or some Solemates High Heelers. They allow you to wear your regular high heels walk walk on grass on them. They give a little stability and traction on the dance floor, too.

More Ideas for Autumn Wedding Guests

We hope this has given you some dress ideas to take you in style to weddings from September into November. And if you're planning a semi-formal fall wedding, and want to give your guests the hint that this is the sort of thing you'd like them to wear, link to this page on your wedding website as an example, and they'll show up looking lovely!

What to Wear to a Formal Autumn Wedding

What to Wear to a Dressy Casual Fall Wedding

Fall Maxi Dresses for Wedding Guests

or get ready for the next season and shop Winter Wedding Guest Dresses 

Past Features

This collage was part of our original 2014 article, and all of the dresses are now out of stock. We keep this graphic and the shopping sources here for the continuity of these product details.

Shopping sources use affiliate links.

Top row: 1.One shoulder lace dress in Berryby Tadashi Shoji at Nordstrom 2. Green lace 3/4 sleeve dress Estella dress by Tracey Reese  3. Sun Goddess Sheath by Vera Wang at Rent the Runway  4. Navy lace fit and flare with V neck by Marina at Nordstrom

Bottom Row: 1.  Black and Yellow Dotted Illusion Dress  by Eliza J at Nordstrom  2. Lace Metallic Dress by Tadashi Shoji at Nordstrom 3. Black and Berry Dress by Aidan Mattox at Saks 4. Never Let You Go Sheath by ML Monique Lhuillier at Rent the Runway