EVELYSS / Guides / Travel & Everyday

What to Wear to a New Year's Eve Wedding as a Guest (Dress Codes and Midnight)

“This is the one wedding where a guest can shine a little without stealing the moment. Add sparkle where the date allows it, stay away from anything bridal, and save some of your energy for midnight.”Her take

How dressy should you go for a New Year's Eve wedding?

Usually dressier than a summer Saturday. The evening timing and the date invite more polish, but the couple's wording comes first. Check the invitation and any wedding website, and if the invitation only says festive, ask a member of the wedding party what they have in mind.

Here's how the most common wording translates.

• Black tie: a floor-length dress or a very elegant midi in satin, velvet or crepe, or a beautifully cut evening trouser suit.
• Black tie optional: a long dress or a polished midi, with heels and evening jewellery.
• Cocktail or lounge suits: a knee-to-midi dress or a smart jumpsuit, dressed up with metallic accessories.
• Festive: think rich colours and a little sparkle, with a clear wedding polish.
• No dress code: treat it as cocktail, unless the setting is unusually casual.

Can you wear sequins or sparkle to a New Year's Eve wedding?

Yes, and this is the one wedding where it feels entirely natural. Use your judgement on how much. A fine shimmer, sequin detailing or a metallic knit looks considered, whereas a very short, all-over party dress can feel more like the club than the ceremony.

Keep away from white, ivory and champagne shades that could look bridal in photos, particularly if they sparkle under low lighting. If you love silver, choose a darker gunmetal rather than a pale, bright silver, or pair it with a colour that's clearly not bridal.

Can you wear black to a New Year's Eve wedding?

Often, yes, especially for black tie and an evening setting. A black velvet dress with lovely jewellery looks entirely right, and some couples will welcome it. Still, a few people feel strongly about guests wearing black to weddings, so check for any preference if the invitation is unclear.

If you want a safer alternative, midnight navy, deep green, plum, chocolate and burgundy all read as just as elegant in candlelight. Add metallic earrings or a metallic bag, and the outfit will feel right for the occasion without trying too hard.

What should you wear over your dress at midnight?

Find out if there are outdoor fireworks, sparklers or a walk between venues. Any of these can take you outside around the countdown, and a pretty wrap won't help you for long in late December. Take a long, smart coat that works with the length of your dress, or wear a faux fur or velvet jacket over a warm base layer.

A pashmina is useful indoors or for the short walk to the car, but it isn't enough for outdoor fireworks. Hide thermal shorts or a fine vest under a looser dress, and wear gloves that you can pop into a coat pocket. Keep your coat somewhere you can get to quickly before the countdown.

Which shoes and hair will last until midnight?

It's a long day. If the ceremony is in the afternoon and the celebrations run past midnight, you could be up and about for around 10 hours. A block heel or a low slingback is often more sensible than a stiletto, especially on a frosty path or a gravel drive. If you do wear high heels, pack a flat metallic shoe for dancing.

Choose hair and make-up that are comfortable for the full day, too. A low bun or pinned waves will survive photos, dancing and a damp midnight better than loose curls. Pack lipstick, blotting sheets and a few spare grips for the moment before the countdown.

What should you pack for the day and the night after?

If you're staying over, you'll want a plan for New Year's Day. Pack warm comfortable clothes, flat shoes and cleansing wipes, and leave the bulky items in the car or hotel. Check the checkout time when you book, so you aren't packing in a rush on the first morning of the year.

Your evening bag only needs the essentials, but a tote in the cloakroom or car can hold flats, a warmer layer, tights and a phone charger. Check travel plans before the day too, because taxis and trains can be limited on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.

Questions people ask

The takeaway

Follow the invitation, then add a little sparkle in anything but bridal shades, take a real coat for the countdown and choose shoes you can last in until the new year.

Read next