Emilia Wickstead Winter Wedding Guest Dresses: What to Wear

Emilia Wickstead is one of the London labels most associated with wedding guest dressing, and the Autumn Winter 2026 collection has plenty for a winter ceremony. These are the dresses I would choose, by type of wedding, with what to wear over them.

Quick answer

• Daytime church and registry weddings: a full midi in printed mikado, such as the Jannie and the Rain.
• Evening reception: a long dress in velvet, such as the Nodin.
• Black tie: the Malinda in gold jacquard, with the Regina in silver cloque as the alternative.
• Avoid: ivory and anything that could read as bridal.

Eight dresses for a winter wedding

1. Jannie Dress in Red & Black Breezy Poppy Mikado

Slim straps, a draped bodice and a full pleated midi skirt in red and black poppy mikado. Add a cropped jacket for the church.

2. Celeste Dress in Mustard & Blue Breezy Poppy Mikado

Long sleeves and a pointed collar, so no cover up is needed. Mustard and blue is cheerful in winter light.

3. Rain Dress in Chocolate & Lilac Breezy Poppy Mikado

A sleeveless collared midi in lilac poppies on chocolate. Wear it with a long camel coat.

4. Mara Dress in Red Floral Cloque

The signature full skirted Mara in red cloque. Red is a good guest colour in December.

5. Cyralisse Dress in Chocolate & Lilac Breezy Poppy Mikado

A folded off the shoulder neckline and a full midi skirt, for an afternoon reception.

6. Quinley Dress in Chocolate & Black Woven Cloque

High neck and three quarter sleeves in chocolate woven cloque. Covered, warm and very elegant.

7. Eagle Dress in Green Cotton Velvet

A green velvet midi with a belted waist and pockets, for a winter afternoon wedding.

8. Nodin Dress in Green Velvet

Floor length green velvet with an open back for an evening reception.

What to wear over it

A structured dress needs a coat that does not crush it. Choose a long, straight wool coat worn open at the front. A cropped jacket also works, such as the Chapel Jacket. A pashmina is fine for the church, then off for the reception.

Shoes, bags and hats

• A covered court shoe in suede is warmer and safer than a sandal on wet ground.
• A small top handle bag suits the ladylike line of the dresses.
• For a formal wedding, a headpiece in the same tone as your coat ties the look together.

See also Luxury Shoes ’s winter wedding guest dresses across designers and the wedding guest dresses category.

Sizing

Emilia Wickstead cuts ready to wear in UK 4 to UK 18. On the house chart a UK 10 is a US 6, an Italian 42 and a French 38, and the knitwear runs XS to XL. See the Emilia Wickstead size guide for bust, waist and hip measurements.

Dress codes, decoded

• Morning dress and formal day: a covered midi with sleeves, such as the Celeste and the Quinley, plus a hat.
• Lounge suits: any of the full skirted midis, a jacket over the shoulders, no hat needed.
• Black tie: floor length. The Nodin, Malinda and Regina all qualify.
• Cocktail: the Einna mini in red satin, with tights.

For more on evening codes read our black tie dress code guide.

Keeping warm without hiding the dress

Choose a coat a little longer than your dress so the hem does not peek out. A cropped jacket in a matching tone, a fine knit cardigan such as the Reno Knit worn over the shoulders and sheer tights all keep the line. Save the faux fur stole for the evening.

Colours to wear, and to avoid

Red, deep green, chocolate and printed florals are the winter guest colours. Black is acceptable at most modern weddings, especially in the evening. White, ivory and pale champagne belong to the bride.

If you like Emilia Wickstead, Luxury Handbags also carries Erdem for romantic prints, Alessandra Rich for polished occasion dresses, Oscar de la Renta for American ladylike glamour and ME+EM for British workwear. See our full list of brands like Emilia Wickstead.

Emilia Wickstead at a glance

Frequently asked questions

Is Emilia Wickstead good for wedding guests?

Yes. Emilia Wickstead is known for structured, ladylike dresses that suit daytime and evening weddings, and the house is a favourite for formal British occasions.

What colour should I wear to a winter wedding?

Rich colours such as red, green, chocolate and printed florals work well in winter. Avoid white and ivory, which can compete with the bride.

Can I wear velvet to a wedding?

Yes, especially for a winter wedding and for evening receptions. A velvet midi suits a day ceremony, and a floor length velvet dress suits an evening reception.

Read next: Emilia Wickstead velvet dresses, Emilia Wickstead and the Princess of Wales, Emilia Wickstead dresses.