When you're thinking about what wedding guest dress to snap up for the season, maybe that's where you're going wrong because you don't have to wear a dress at all - you could wear a trouser suit.
Trust us: the trouser suit has moves that a dress can only dream of. And just imagine how well it will stand out in a sea of wispy florals. It's subtly sexy (you could, depending on how high it buttons up, even wear nothing underneath) while being a sensible choice considering that you're going to have to eat in it and dance around in it all day and possibly all night.
Spring's most pleasing options come in the form of either pastels or bold primary colours, with linen-blend fabrications edging out the competition now that it's so almost summer. And if you don't want to spend a fortune, the good news is that high street tailoring has never looked better (seriously, most of the styles below are sourced from the good old high street, coming in at less than £500 for a matching suit, aka a ready-made outfit). Also, unlike some wedding guest dresses, a trouser suit can definitely be worn outside the context of a wedding, meaning that you'll get plenty of bang for your buck.
The best news, of course, is that in trousers, you can easily outrun the competition when it comes to the bouquet toss.
SHOP: The Best Trouser Suits For Wedding Season
www.reiss.com
Reiss is one of your best ports of call for suiting on the high street - and this viscose-linen two-piece, available in powder blue or white, couldn't be a sharper choice for spring nuptials.
www.reiss.com
With a relaxed wide-leg silhouette that's easier to style than anything tapered or straight, Reiss' viscose-linen trousers will be a dream to wear.
www.arket.com
If you want a trouser suit that you can wear to work as well as on the wedding circuit, Arket's beige tailoring can easily be dressed up with a red corsage on the lapel and glamorously oversized shades.
www.arket.com
With a relatively slim fit and flared leg, Arket's suit trousers just need a slight heel to make your legs look super long.
www.cos.com
The Parma Violet shade of this linen-blend trouser suit makes it the perfect choice for warm-weather nuptials.
www.cos.com
With its relaxed fit that's roomier than your average suit, COS' wide-leg trousers will be so comfortable to wear.
www.boden.co.uk
Available in seven shades, including this exuberant grass green, Boden's linen blazer is, miraculously, machine washable.
www.boden.co.uk
High-waisted for a fit that's super flattering, Boden's linen trousers will become a staple of your summer wardrobe post-wedding.
uk.sandro-paris.com
The creamy butter shade of this suit jacket will mean you bring the sun to proceedings (no matter the weather forecast).
uk.sandro-paris.com
With a slim fit at the thigh and a looser fit towards the end of the leg, Sandro's high-waisted trousers are the ray of sunshine you deserve.
www.whistles.com
If you're not a fan of pastels but don't want to wear your usual neutrals, why not try lipstick red? Bright and bold, Whistles' two-piece will turn heads for all the right reasons.
www.whistles.com
High-waisted and wide-legged, you can also buy these trousers in petite.
www.baumundpferdgarten.com
Made of corduroy, this suit's soft green shade, and slightly crushed fabrication, makes it look a little bit like fresh leaves - perfect for a spring wedding.
www.baumundpferdgarten.com
Not only would this trouser suit look fabulous for a wedding, but you can easily make it work for more off-duty moments with a crisp white tee and Birkies.
www.marksandspencer.com
M&S' dark sage trouser suit is a chic yet understated option for this season's wedding guest circuit. And psst: you can buy the matching waistcoat to make it a three-piece suit.
www.marksandspencer.com
M&S' linen suit is remarkable value for quality tailoring, coming in at £104 for the blazer and the trousers (the waistcoat is an extra £35).
www.meandem.com
The shape of this textured jacket - cropped and oh-so-chic - will make it a go-to every time you're thinking about what to wear to a wedding.
www.meandem.com
Me+Em's tapered pants have additional soft pleats through the leg for structure, while the cropped style is perfect if you're not a fan of wide-leg trousers.
Is A Trouser Suit Really Suitable For A Wedding?
Of course, there's no reason why you can't wear a trouser suit to a wedding. Trust us! And if you want to stand out in a sea of floral dresses, it couldn't be a better option. They're also a great alternative to a dress or a jumpsuit if you're attending a wedding during the colder months for obvious reasons (if the neckline of your blazer is high enough, you might even be able to slip a thermal vest underneath).
What Do I Wear With A Trouser Suit?
The sky's the limit with a trouser suit, which is one of its many upsides. Wear it with nothing underneath and platform sandals to strike a glamorous note, try a pussy-bow blouse in a dreamy shade for something a little softer or drape a feather boa around your neck to dial up the drama.
What Shoes Do I Wear With A Trouser Suit?
Depending on your height and the length of your trouser legs, you might want a boost so that your hemline just brushes the ground, say with some platform sandals or a court shoe. If, however, your suit is cropped at the ankle, you have more flexibility and could wear anything from a kitten-heeled slingback to embellished ballet flats to smart loafers to naked sandals.
Natalie Hammond is Grazia’s Senior Fashion News Editor. She loves winter, hates summer and can often be found writing about the weather (and what on earth to wear).