What is a cocktail dress?

Cocktail attire is a delicate balance between formal and casual, as well as elegant and comfortable. For ladies, that typically equates to a midi or mini-length dress and heels.

What is an appropriate dress length for a cocktail dress?

Knee-length is great, though it can vary. As a general rule, try to avoid wearing anything that's too short, tight, or low cut. While cocktail attire offers more freedom to play with colors, prints, materials, and length, it's still nice to find something classy and elegant for a formal wedding. You can even wear a maxi, but in this case, it’s best to opt for a more casual fabric.

Can I wear a cocktail dress to a black-tie wedding?

A black-tie dress code tends to be more formal than cocktail attire, and therefore typically requires floor-length gowns.

The 17 Best Cocktail Dresses for Wedding Guests of 2023

Brides / Chloe Jeong

If cocktail attire was the requested dress code for an upcoming wedding, that could leave a lot of room for interpretation as a wedding guest. According to wedding experts, cocktail attire falls between formal and casual and often translates to midi and knee-length dresses. Yet depending on the venue, season, and even time of day of the wedding, you can get by with different lengths and fabrics.

A midi dress that hits at the knee is a popular choice for cocktail wedding guest attire.

To help you find an outfit you love and feel confident showing up in, we researched the best cocktail dresses available online. We ensured our list covers all wedding destinations, seasons, and themes. We also looked for styles in wide size ranges, various fabrics, and silhouettes. Most importantly, we looked for versatile designs you can — and will want to — wear again.

Our Top Picks

Best Budget:

Lulus Off-the-Shoulder Maxi Dress at Lulus

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Best Wrap Dress:

Zimmermann Silk-Charmeuse Wrap Mini Dress at Revolve

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Best Bodycon:

Norma Kamali Diana Gown at Nordstrom

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Best Plus-Size:

ASOS Design Ruched Front Midi Dress at Asos

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Best Floral:

Reformation Kourtney Dress at Reformation

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Most Daring:

Camila Coelho Deep-V Dress at Revolve

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Best Two-Tone:

Hutch Bow Tie Dress at Anthropologie

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Best for Petites:

Bronx & Banco Megan Mini Dress at Revolve

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Most Comfortable:

Staud Dolce Dress at Matchesfashion.com

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Best Jumpsuit:

Lulus Strapless Jumpsuit at Lulus

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Lulus Floral Print Off-the-Shoulder Maxi Dress

Amazon

View On Lulus

Size Range: XS-XL | Materials: Polyester | Colors: Black Floral, Blue Floral

This floor-sweeping dress in a rich berry hue is striking for an early fall, evening wedding, complete with a tiered hemline and frilled detailing along the neckline and sleeves. Tonal accessories in red and tan will help maintain an autumnal feel.

Price at time of publish: $79

Zimmermann Silk-Charmeuse Wrap Mini Dress

Amazon

View On Revolve View On Net-a-Porter

Size Range: XS-L | Materials: Silk | Colors: 6

For a late spring or early fall wedding, we love this copper-colored mini dress with a flouncy hemline. The color of the dress is practically made for transition seasons, and you’re guaranteed to make an impression in this on the dance floor. The shorter length and draping details make it a perfect cocktail dress. It's also available in five other colors.

Price at time of publish: $625

Amazon

View On Nordstrom View On Revolve View On Neiman Marcus

Size Range: XXS-XL | Materials: Polyester, Spandex | Colors: 8

Despite being form-fitting, this dress is not too revealing thanks to expertly placed ruching. It is also designed to hit below the knee, making it an appropriate length for all kinds of ceremonies. Coming in a range of colors, there's a shade for all weddings year round.

Price at time of publish: $215

ASOS

View On Asos

Size Range: 12-26 | Materials: Polyester, Elastane | Colors: Black

Channel your inner Princess Diana in this black, body-hugging dress. Even though it has an off-the-shoulder neckline, you still get the support of two straps. Plus, the ruched skirt creates a flawless silhouette. With its black shade and timeless design, you can certainly wear it more than once.

Price at time of publish: $58

Reformation

View On Reformation

Size Range: 0-12 | Materials: Viscose | Colors: 5

We love the romantic feel of this floral print. The thin straps and leg-baring slit make this dress feel sweet yet bold for any wedding guest. Plus, its cornflower blue hue is equally appropriate for spring, summer, and fall weddings.

Price at time of publish: $248

Revolve

View On Revolve

Size Range: XXS-XL | Materials: Polyester, Elastane | Colors: Periwinkle Blue, Yellow

For the daring minimalist, this sleek and sexy dress is a lovely choice for an evening summer wedding. Style the skin-baring design and pastel hue with strappy metallic sandals and minimal jewels to make it an especially great look for a beach or destination wedding.

Price at time of publish: $180

Anthropologie

View On Anthropologie

Size Range: 00-26, petite | Materials: Cotton, Spandex | Colors: Blue, Rust

For the fashion-forward wedding guest, this two-tone dress is gorgeous for a city wedding. With unique design details, we suggest clean and simple accessories so the dress can remain the focal point. Although it's a maxi, the cotton and spandex blend makes it casual enough for a daytime or evening ceremony.

Price at time of publish: $218

Revolve

View On Revolve

Size Range: XS-XL | Materials: Polyester | Colors: Rose

The perfect dress for a spring or summer wedding, this ultra-feminine mini style is complete with a pretty floral print, flounced hemline, and tunic silhouette. It's an excellent option for petite sizes, thanks to its plunging neckline and short hemline, which creates the illusion of longer legs. Overall, you can't go wrong with such a whimsical style that hits above the knee for any cocktail event.

Price at time of publish: $396

Staud

View On Matchesfashion.com View On Staud.clothing

Size Range: XS-XL | Materials: Viscose, Nylon | Colors: Black, Navy, Coral

If comfort is key, look no further than this black and white cutout dress. We love it for an afternoon wedding in the summer as it's casual enough for a daytime affair and has cutouts to help keep you cool. It looks beautiful on any body type, making it a universal winner. Accessorize with bright colors like neons or pastels for added oomph.

Price at time of publish: $275

Lulus

View On Lulus

Size Range: XXS-XL | Materials: Polyester, Spandex | Colors: 7

For those that really want to get down on the dance floor, a jumpsuit is ideal. Though this style is quite simple, it's the fluttering bodice and plunging neckline that elevate it enough for a wedding. A high fitted waist and wide legs also elongate your legs. From classic black to bold magenta, Lulus has all the shades to suit your mood.

Price at time of publish: $68

View On Anthropologie

Size Range: 00-26 | Materials: Polyester | Colors: 14

You can't go wrong with a slip dress, especially when it comes in 14 colors to suit different seasons and locations. Not to mention, the dreamy satin fabric and body-skimming fit are ultra-flattering. Dress up this minimalist slip with a fun pair of shoes or a statement clutch.

Price at time of publish: $168

Amazon

View On Nordstrom View On Neiman Marcus View On Bloomingdales

Size Range: XXS-XL | Materials: Cotton | Colors: Blue

Make a splash at a summer wedding in this vibrant midi dress by Brazilian brand FARM Rio. The print is playful and fresh on its own and made even better with colorful accessories. It also has a casual feel that's perfect day or night. As a bonus, 100 percent cotton helps keep you cool during a sweltering evening spent on the dance floor.

Price at time of publish: $220

REVOLVE

View On Revolve View On Bloomingdales View On Fwrd.com

Size Range: XXS-XXL | Materials: Viscose | Colors: 4

This sequin dress is how you do sequins when the dress code calls for cocktail attire. We recommend this look for an evening wedding with minimal accessories. We love how the blouson sleeves and tie-waist balance the shorter hem.

Price at time of publish: $675

View On Fameandpartners.com

Size Range: Custom | Materials: Matte Satin | Colors: 11

The great thing about Fame and Partners is that you can customize their dresses, from the color to the length. We love this sophisticated look for the draping detail, tulip skirt, and blouson sleeves. The rich jewel tone makes it ideal for a late fall or winter wedding.

Price at time of publish: $268

Revolve

View On Revolve View On Revolve

Size Range: XXS-XL | Materials: Polyester, Elastane | Colors: Black

Take your classic little black dress to the next level with this head-turning feathered number. We recommend this look for an evening wedding with minimal accessories to let the dress do all the talking!

Price at time of publish: $158

Amazon

View On Loveshackfancy.com View On Shopbop.com

Size Range: 00-14 | Materials: Silk | Colors: Yellow

With ethereal patchwork printed fabric, this maxi dress is nothing short of showstopping. The light billowing ruffles and high-low hemline make it ideal attire for a seaside wedding or a daytime spring ceremony where you'll be walking through sand or grass.

Price at time of publish: $695

View On Showmeyourmumu.com

Size Range: XS-XXL | Materials: Polyester | Colors: Pink Floral

With a stretchy smocked bodice, this dress is perfect for those expecting. The adjustable straps offer a better fit for all chest sizes. Even those who aren't pregnant can't resist this vibrant floral design.

Price at time of publish: $228

What to Look for in Cocktail Attire

Season

Cocktail attire is usually worn to semi-formal and formal weddings, so you’ll want to consider a few things. First, what season is the wedding? If it’s in the spring or summer, bright colors, playful prints, and pastel shades are idyllic. Not only does Farm Rio Midi Sundress come in a vivid print, but the cotton fabric will keep you cool during a summer wedding. For the fall and winter, you can gravitate towards heavier fabrics and jewel tones, like Fame & Partners Satin Shay Dress.

Venue

Next, consider what type of venue it is. For an outdoor wedding, you can easily get away with light, floaty fabrics like cotton, eyelet lace, jersey, or chiffon. If the wedding is in a banquet hall or a historic building, elegant fabrics like satin, velvet, and taffeta are perfectly polished. A classic slip dress, like this one from BHLDN, is ideal for these indoor weddings. Beading and sequins in a shorter length, like this sparkly dress from Retrofete, can also work well for a classy cocktail look.

Time of Day

Lastly, think about the time of day the ceremony will be held. In the morning or early afternoon, a slightly more casual dress is entirely appropriate. We can totally see guests wearing this loose maxi design from LoveShackFancy for a garden or beach wedding during the daytime. For an evening ceremony, you can step up your light black dress with feathered accents like in LPA Aurora Dress.

FAQ

What is a cocktail dress?

Cocktail attire is a delicate balance between formal and casual, as well as elegant and comfortable. For ladies, that typically equates to a midi or mini-length dress and heels.
What is an appropriate dress length for a cocktail dress?

Knee-length is great, though it can vary. As a general rule, try to avoid wearing anything that's too short, tight, or low cut. While cocktail attire offers more freedom to play with colors, prints, materials, and length, it's still nice to find something classy and elegant for a formal wedding. You can even wear a maxi, but in this case, it’s best to opt for a more casual fabric.
Can I wear a cocktail dress to a black-tie wedding?

A black-tie dress code tends to be more formal than cocktail attire, and therefore typically requires floor-length gowns.

Why Trust Brides

Contributing writer Laura Lajiness covers fashion, accessories, and fine jewelry. Her work can be seen across various outlets, including ELLE, InStyle, Glamour, Refinery 29, The Zoe Report, Popsugar, Well+Good, and Barneys New York, among other titles and brands. She was the senior fashion editor at The Zoe Report and Popsugar with additional experience as a copywriter and fashion publicist.

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