9 Sustainable Wedding Guest Dresses You Can Consciously Cut Loose In
Weddings are all about celebrating love.
Along with celebrating the happy couple, we can show our love for people and the planet with ethical and sustainable wedding guest dresses that don’t just look good but do good, too.
The fashion industry as a whole has a lot to answer for. Carbon emissions, water pollution, and clothing waste piling up faster than a shotgun-wedding.
Enter: eco-friendly wedding guest dresses that consider ethics as well as aesthetics.
So you’ve just been invited to your cousin’s wedding or maybe you’re preparing a speech for your BFF’s reception, we’ll help make sure you’re sustainably kitted out for the special occasion.
Kick off your sustainable heels (or sustainable flats) and dance the night away in an ethical wedding guest dress from one of these brands.
If you’re the bride-to-be, congrats! Have a look at our sustainable wedding dresses article for a better Big Day.
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Ethical Wedding Guest Dresses We’d Wear to Any Reception
Amour Vert keeps wedding guest attire green, with dresses made from sustainable viscose fabrics produced using a closed-loop system.
Fair Labor Association member Reformation is reforming fashion by ensuring their stunning ethical formal dresses are made by people who are paid a fair wage.
Linen Handmade Studio helps us get ready for the summer wedding season with OEKO-TEX-certified linen dresses lovingly handmade in their small Lithuanian studio.
Dance your way down to the end of the article to find out how we found the best fair trade frocks and sustainable dresses wedding guests can be proud to wear.
The Full List Of Sustainable Wedding Guest Dress Brands
- Amour Vert | Visit Store
- Reformation | Visit Store
- Rose Corps | Visit Store
- Linen Handmade Studio | Visit Store
- MagicLinen | Visit Store
- Passion Lilie | Visit Store
- Rent the Runway | Visit Store
- Whimsey + Row | Visit Store
- Christy Dawn | Visit Store
1. Amour Vert
About Amour Vert
Price Range: $102-$298
There’s a lot to love about Amour Vert—which fittingly means “green love” in French.
From washable silk maxi dresses to above-the-knee floral prints, the brand has plenty of sustainable dresses for weddings and any other occasion.
Their Olive Midi Dress is an occasion-ready sustainable wardrobe staple. Available in a choice of fabrics (silky cupro, floaty TENCEL™, and washable silk), it features a classic v-neck and comes in a sleeveless or 3/4 length sleeve version for summer and winter weddings alike.
Amour Vert’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
With a silk dress, wedding guests might be worried about spillage (champagne flutes and all…), Amour Vert’s washable silk fabric changes all that. It’s fully traceable and sourced from bluesign® approved factories in China and dyed using OEKO-TEX® certified dyes.
Vegan materials include organic cotton, cupro fabric from repurposed cotton waste, FSC-certified sustainable wood TENCEL™, and FSC-certified ECOVERO™ viscose.
The Dream Knit and Dream Rib fabrics are made in the USA from TENCEL™ modal fiber.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Most of Amour Vert’s collection (97%) is made in one of six Californian factories.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
ReAmour is the brand’s pre-loved marketplace, helping keep clothing in circulation for longer.
All orders are shipped in recycled and compostable packaging.
Inclusivity:
Each eco-friendly wedding guest dress is available in sizes XS–XL.
Community & charitable giving:
Amour Vert’s Tee for Trees initiative plants a tree for every t-shirt purchased via a partnership with American Forests.
2. Reformation
About Reformation
Price Range: $98-$748
We can all agree that the fashion industry needs some major reformation, and Reformation, one of our favorite fast fashion alternatives, is here to do just that.
They’re also one of the best places to find sustainable fashion wedding guest dresses.
From floaty floral-printed maxis to silky strappy numbers and one-shoulder midis, there’s an impressive line of styles, fabrics, and prints to choose from.
Get summer wedding ready with their Tagliatelle Linen Dress. This midi-length dress features a corset bodice and scalloped neckline. You can select one of two floral prints, or a neutral check, black, and white—obviously avoid the latter for a wedding, unless you’re the bride!
Reformations’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
The majority of Reformation’s sustainable guest dresses are made from 100% silk or viscose fabric, but you’ll also find a few made from linen, organically grown cotton (usually blended with a small amount of spandex), and TENCEL™ Lyocell.
Supply chain & labor practices:
In addition to its own LA factory which crafts the majority of their line, Reformation works with several manufacturing partners in the USA, China, Turkey, Pakistan, India, and Mexico.
Their Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers are third-party audited to ensure fair and safe working conditions.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Reformation is Climate Neutral Certified and is working to be Climate Positive by 2025 by reducing scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 42% by 2030.
You can read more about their climate goals and progress in their annual sustainability report.
They’re also 100% water neutral, recycle 75% of their waste (and working to increase this), and use compostable and recycled LDPE packaging.
Inclusivity:
One of our favorite plus-size clothing brands, Reformation’s extended size collection runs 14–24. Regular sizing is 0–12.
Community & charitable giving:
Reformation gives back via numerous charity donations, paid volunteer days, planting a tree on staff birthdays, and the Reformation Relief Fund, which supports employees facing financial hardship.
3. Rose Corps
About Rose Corps
Price Range: £240–£295
Romance is in the air with luxury sustainable fashion brand Rose Corps.
This UK brand offers stunning, fairytale-esque organic and fair trade wedding guest dresses that are handmade from start to finish—fabric dying, printing, and embroidery included.
For a dress to (sustainably) impress, the Willow is made from organically grown cotton and hand-dyed a deep teal. It features full tiers to the skirt, and a silkscreen print detail.
Rose Corps’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
These sustainable wedding guest dresses UK are mostly made with Fairtrade Foundation and GOTS-certified cotton. A couple designs instead feature bamboo fabric.
All dresses are dyed and printed in-house using OEKO-TEX-certified sustainable dyes and inks.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Small is beautiful—and Rose Corps is as small-scale as they come.
All garments are individually handcrafted by Noemi, the brand’s founder and designer.
The sustainable materials are sourced from one small supplier specializing in fair trade, organic, and raw fabrics.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Being made-to-order by hand, these ethical wedding guest dresses are not only unique, but gentle on the planet, too. Artisan techniques make for lower emissions and less waste.
The brand uses thoughtfully chosen 100% recyclable packaging.
Inclusivity:
The inclusive size range runs XS-3XL. You can also order a tailor-made dress for the perfect fit.
4. Linen Handmade Studio
About Linen Handmade Studio
Price Range: $90–$177
Beach wedding to attend?
Let a linen dress from Linen Handmade Studio be your plus one.
This women-owned Lithuanian brand turns its love of linen into beautiful beach-ready attire for your next holiday in the sun (or warmer months at home).
If you’re looking for a sustainable wedding guest wrap dress, this brand has several to choose from, including JOSEPHINE, a summer-ready halter-neck dress available in 30(!) different colors.
If you’re more of a two-piece toast-to-the-happy-couple kind of gal, they also offer sustainable wedding guest tops and matching pants and skirts.
Linen Handmade Studio’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
100% European linen that’s OEKO-TEX-certified is what you’ll find from this 100% linen clothing brand.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Each sustainable garment is handmade in a Lithuanian studio by a small team of seamstresses.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Small-scale production keeps their carbon footprint small, aided by Etsy’s 100% carbon offset shipping and renewable energy powered website.
Inclusivity:
This plus-size linen clothing brand offers sizes 2-18.
5. MagicLinen
About MagicLinen
Price Range: $84–$119
Breathable, elegant, eco-friendly wedding guest dresses made from sustainable materials?
MagicLinen knows how to put the pixie dust into your special day.
Flowy gowns like the Long Linen Dress Boracay are perfect for their stunning fit, and ties (which we found to be super functional) to ensure a that can be strung at the front, back, or wrapped around.
It usually comes in white, clay pink, teal blue, and black, but you can select from 17 custom colors to suit your wedding theme.
MagicLinen’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
MagicLinen utilizes high-quality, OEKO-TEX-certified European-grown linen for all its products, whether they’re organic curtains, bedding, or evening gowns.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Each of MagicLinen’s garments is designed and handcrafted in a small family-run facility in Vilnius, Lithuania.
A small supply chain and pre-shipping of products to nearby warehouses help minimize the environmental impact of transportation.
MagicLinen is committed to transparency, ensuring workers are treated fairly through third-party auditing agencies.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Most of the sustainable dresses are shipped in 100% compostable cornstarch and PBAT (bio-based polymer) packaging. Other items are delivered in handcrafted, reusable linen bags.
MagicLinen has careful oversight over the design and manufacturing process, allowing them to repurpose textile waste into totes and seasonal goods.
Inclusivity:
MagicLinen provides women’s wedding guest dresses in sizes XS-XL.
Community & charitable giving:
MagicLinen contributes to various local community projects by donating goods or volunteering their time.
6. Passion Lillie
About Passion Lillie
Price Range: $75–$120
Bring some eco-passion to the special occasion with one of Passion Lillie’s fair trade wedding guest dresses.
A wrap-style dress makes for a versatile wardrobe essential, and Passion Lillie has an extensive collection of cuts, prints, and colors to choose from.
The striking hand block-printed Verdell Organic Wrap Dress is ready to impress at spring or summer weddings. Featuring florals and a flattering, curve-friendly design the organic jersey cotton fabric keeps it consciously cool.
It’s also perfect for those looking for turquoise dresses for wedding guests.
Passion Lillie’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
You’ll find eco-friendly fabrics in the form of 100% GOTS-certified cotton, a linen/cotton blend, and GOTS-certified organic modal.
Only non-toxic dyes are used.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Based in New Orleans, this Fair Trade Federation member partners with Indian artisans who hand-make the garments in small batches.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Small batch production utilizing heritage techniques makes for some of the best sustainable formal dresses.
Other sustainable practices include local material sourcing and purchasing carbon offsets.
Inclusivity:
Sizing runs XS-XXL.
Community & charitable giving:
By partnering with small-scale artisans, Passion Lilie keeps traditional craft techniques such as Ikat dyeing and hand block printing alive.
They also empower female tailors with free job training.
7. Rent the Runway
About Rent the Runway
Price Range: $149–$2,190 (buy) or $35–$325 (rent)
You’ll feel runway ready in a sustainable wedding guest dress from Rent the Runway.
And what’s more sustainable than a dress that supports the circular fashion economy via an online clothing and dress rental service and pre-loved purchasing?
Filter your search by formality, weather, color, occasion, designer, and more to find your perfect eco-fit for the event.
With hundreds of designers to choose from, it’s also one of the best ways to find affordable dresses for wedding guests.
Rent one time or choose a subscription plan that suits.
8. Whimsey + Row
About Whimsey + Row
Price Range: $218–$278
With a dedicated wedding collection, Whimsey + Row is an ideal place to find sustainable wedding dresses, bridesmaid dresses, and guest dresses.
For vegan silk dresses AKA TENCEL™ and cupro fabric, their collection is hard to beat.
Bring some ethical elegance to the special day with the Fiona Dress. This classically cut mid-length slip dress is available in 7 colors and features adjustable straps and a cowl back.
Whimsey + Row ’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Eco-friendly materials are a top priority for Whimsey + Row.
For sustainable wedding guest dresses, they use either a 51% TENCEL™/49% Cupro blend or a 50% ECOVERA™ viscose/50% viscose LENZING™ blend.
Both the ECOVERA™ and LENZING™ are made from sustainably-sourced certified wood. The fabric is biodegradable and bears OEKO-TEX certification.
Supply chain & labor practices:
All garments are made in LA, a short distance from their office. They drop by the facility regularly to ensure fair labor practices.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Whimsey + Row are carbon-neutral. A small supply chain = fewer transport emissions, and the brand offsets its emissions via Carbonfund.org
Limited runs mean less waste and any scrap fabric is turned into accessories.
Wear It Again Whimsey is the brand’s resale platform, helping to keep clothing out of landfills.
Inclusivity:
Dress sizing runs 0-12, or XXS–XL.
Community & charitable giving:
No need to fight over the bouquet with this brand, because Whimsey + Row shares the love equally to numerous social justice and environmental organizations like Reclaim the Block and Black Visions.
9. Christy Dawn
About Christy Dawn
Price Range: $198–$498
If you’re looking for a vintage wedding guest dress without the strict definition of “vintage”, Christy Dawn’s deadstock dresses are RSVP-ready.
With ultra classy and Bohemian styles that look like something from a bygone era, Christy Dawn combines “something old” and “something new” into one gorgeous gown ready for a summer garden wedding.
Channel your inner flower girl in the Bergen Dress. Its high-low hem and bell sleeves not only look magical, but will feel magical all night when you’re showing off your moves at the reception.
If florals and prints aren’t your thing, you can opt for one of their many solid color options, instead.
Christy Dawn’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
When shopping for these green wedding guest dresses, notice the material badge in the corner of each featured product photo.
You’ll see either organic regenerative cotton or deadstock fabric (which can mean a little bit of anything depending on recycled materials available, but usually includes rayon fabric, cotton, and silk).
Supply chain & labor practices:
All of Christy Dawn’s sustainable dresses for wedding guests are USA-made in LA in factories that pay 3x higher than average wages. This is also where the bulk of their deadstock fabrics are sourced.
All organic cotton comes from India, through a regenerative agriculture partnership with the Oshadi Collective.
Green business practices:
Christy Dawn is a Farm-to-Closet company and they invite customers to get more involved beyond simply purchasing to support their mission.
You can actually buy a regenerative cotton plot to support the movement AND receive the value of its annual yields in store credit.
Inclusivity:
All dresses range XS–XL.
Due to flowy styles and workable necklines, they’re also perfect for those seeking a postpartum wedding guest dress.
Community & charitable giving:
Christy Dawn supports their local LA community by supporting grassroots ventures on food access, environmentalism, and more.
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How We Found These Sustainable Wedding Guest Dresses
What makes wedding guest dresses sustainable?
Whether we’re talking formal wear (like sustainable suits) or post-party compost (a la sustainable loungewear), we used our sustainable and ethical fashion criteria when searching for planet-friendly frocks.
Materials:
Eco-friendly fabrics are key for reducing a garment’s environmental impact.
When buying new clothes, natural, renewable, plant-based fabrics like organic cotton and linen dresses are top of our list.
You’ll also find plenty of formal wear and cocktail dresses made out of silk fabric. However, unless it’s peace silk, there are ethical reasons to avoid this animal-derived fabric and opt for vegan alternatives like cupro fabric instead.
Sustainably-produced semi-synthetics like ECOVERA™ and TENCEL lyocell are increasingly popular choices for sustainable brands.
Avoid synthetic fabrics like regular viscose unless you’re buying pre-loved or from a sustainable brand like tonlé that sources deadstock material.
The most sustainable fabrics are those which avoid toxic chemicals at all stages of production. Don’t forget to look for garments colored using non-toxic dyes.
- Certifications: bluesign®, Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), OEKO-TEX, Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
Supply chain & labor practices:
The most ethical dresses are those made by people who receive fair wages and benefit from a healthy and safe working environment.
Regular audits and third-party manufacturing certifications are crucial to ensuring ethical manufacturing (and avoiding greenwashing).
- Certifications: Fair trade, World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO)
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Beyond eco-friendly fabrics, there’s a whole wedding party full of sustainable practices that brands can say “I do”, too.
Using renewable energy, localized supply chains, utilizing carbon offset programs, minimizing waste, using recycled materials or plastic-free packaging, and resale programs to name just a few.
Inclusivity:
We want to see fair trade frocks and ethical ensembles for bodies of all shapes and sizes.
Community & charitable giving:
Big-hearted brands put the icing on the (wedding) cake via charitable donations, volunteer events, and employee training and support.
Final Thoughts On Eco-friendly Guest Dresses For Special Occasions
We’ve fallen head over heels for green wedding guest dresses (much like these linen wedding guest dresses) that help us to dress up without bringing the planet down.
Remember, the most sustainable dresses are the ones you already own, followed by second-hand scores from your local thrift shop (or one of the many thrift shops online). And when you’ve outworn it consider what to do with your old wedding dress (or guest dress).
If you can’t find something quite right for the very special upcoming occasion or need a wardrobe refresh, then supporting the makers of these sustainable wedding guest dresses keeps the fashion industry moving in the right direction.
Know someone with a wedding coming up?
Help them ethically dress to impress by sharing this article. Let’s spread the word about the best sustainable brands for stunning dresses.
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