What to wear to an autumn wedding

An autumn wedding asks more of an outfit than a summer one. The ceremony might be in a cold church, the photographs outside in a breeze and the reception in a warm marquee. The trick is to choose one strong piece and plan the layers around it.

Start with the venue, not the dress

A country house or a church calls for something that covers your shoulders or can be covered easily. A city registry office and a restaurant reception suit a sharper line, such as a jumpsuit. If there is a lawn, a marquee or a walk between venues, plan for flat or block heels from the start.

Three ways to dress for it

• A velvet wrap dress. Long sleeves, a midi length and a deep colour such as damson or bottle green feel right from October onwards, and a wrap adjusts through a long day.
• A plissé maxi dress. Fine pleats move beautifully and do not crease in a car or a suitcase. In dusky rose it works for an early autumn wedding; add a cashmere wrap as the light goes.
• A wide-leg crepe jumpsuit. The most practical choice for dancing and for venues with stairs, and it looks deliberate with a block-heel slingback and one piece of gold jewellery.

Keeping warm without hiding the outfit

A featherweight cashmere wrap folds into a small space and can be worn over the shoulders in church and knotted loosely outside. A wool coat is the smartest option for a late autumn wedding, as long as its length clears the hem of your dress or sits well above it.

Shoes and accessories

Block heels do not sink into grass and are kinder by the evening. Keep jewellery to one focal point: a pearl pendant with a V-neck, or huggie hoops if the neckline is high. A small satin clutch holds a phone, a lipstick and not much else, which is exactly enough.

A quick checklist

• Check the invitation for a dress code, and avoid white, ivory and anything that could look bridal.
• Try the whole outfit on together, including shoes and the layer you will wear outside.
• Sit down in it. Weddings involve a lot of sitting.