What to Wear to a Winter Wedding

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Ask a lot of couples, and they believe a winter wedding is enchanting and a most unique time of year to say “I do.”

You don’t need a blanket of freshly fallen snow to create a gorgeous backdrop. Even here in sunny Las Vegas, the winter season generally features bright skies, a chill to the air, dry days and often a breeze to cap it all off.

As a wedding guest, you want to feel comfy and look almost as lovely as the bride.

Here’s how to become the Best-Dressed Guest at a Vegas Winter Wedding:

Velvet Visions

The amazing things about an outdoor desert wedding in Las Vegas are the unique textures and rustic natural beauty scattered about the region. Wintertime here features majestic rock formations, stately Joshua trees and various sculptural cacti. As a guest, velvet is one of those sumptuous fabrics that is cozy and timeless and very appropriate to wear both indoors and outdoors.

Velvet shoes are another elegant option during the cooler months. Consider a sexy pair of pointed toe pumps or those with a modern stacked heel.

Accessories like a velvet clutch are the perfect touch as you attend a winter wedding in Las Vegas.

Jewel Tones

Winter is the season for showing off all the dark and rich-toned shades that might seem “heavy” for the hot spring and summer months. Burgundy is always a favorite color trending for wintertime nuptials, and it’s a fabulous choice for wearing as a guest.

Emerald, eggplant, midnight blue and ruby are other exquisite jewel tones that stand out at a wedding in the cooler December, January and February months.

Long Sleeves

The chilly, dry desert air during the season also means that an outfit with long sleeves is a comfortable garment to reach for. Whether your choice is a dress, pantsuit or jumpsuit, this is a classic, chic look and always proper for a guest at the nuptials.

The cold shoulder style is another glamorous look for long sleeve fashion that remains a popular trend. The cut-out design is sexy and shows just a peekaboo of skin that won’t have you freezing in the cool desert air.

Maxi Length

If you can’t get enough of flowing, silky dresses that flirt with your ankles, the winter months here are calling your name. A maxi length dress in a variety of fabrics makes for a head-turning wedding guest dress.

Maybe lace is your thing or satin. The sky’s the limit for your special frock; use your imagination and play up maxi dresses with patterns like pretty polka dots or floral prints.

Lovely Layers

The chilly, dry and sunny winter days in Las Vegas are excellent for adding layers to your wedding guest ensemble. A colorfully embroidered shawl makes a stylish addition to drape around your shoulders.

Faux fur is another trending piece to add rich texture and high-fashion glamour to any nuptials. Faux fur goes with every garment on the planet, and these days, these shrugs and shawls come in beautiful colors to select from. It symbolizes both vintage and modern appeal.

A cute bolero jacket is another wonderful layer to ward off the chill, especially in the early evening. The bolero design is timeless and never goes out of style and looks amazing on all shapes.

Luxe Leather

If you decide as a guest to attend in a slinky gown or mini dress, then packing along a heavier garment should keep you toasty and stylish should the winds blow in. The weather in the desert is changeable, and sometimes, it’s warm enough to lose the layers.

However, a leather jacket always looks right and is another incredible styling option to add to your look when the sun begins to set. Leather gives off a swanky vibe and looks modern draped over delicate to plush fabrics.

Tantalizing Texture

Garments that feature extra details are always welcome during the winter months. A wedding guest who decides on wearing metallics, sequins, embroidery, fringe, trims of tulle, ruffles or pleating is choosing flattering ideas for the special event.

A dress, unique top or pants does not have to break your budget when attending a winter wedding. Ensembles that feature these eye-catching details are all elegant for these affairs.

Wintertime in the Las Vegas desert gives wedding guests a variety of both contemporary and vintage fashion to consider, and with a little imagination, you can strike the ideal balance between cozy warmth and great style.

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McKenzi Taylor

McKenzi Taylor

McKenzi Taylor is America's go-to elopement and micro wedding expert, often featured in small and major media outlets, such as the New York Times. With over 15 years of wedding photography experience, it was after planning her own Las Vegas elopement in 2016 that McKenzi felt her purpose shift into elopement coordination. She started Cactus Collective Weddings soon after in 2017. Since then, she's become a WIPA board member, currently serving as President, and has helped thousands of couples from around the world get hitched in style around Las Vegas, San Diego and Black Hills.