Christmas weddings are as plentiful as ever at the Claregalway Hotel.

Figuring out what to wear however can be a particularly difficult challenge as the festive season can sometimes bring with it that additional pressure to go extra glam. For instance, most women stress over whether or not they should go floor length or cocktail, sequins or plain, short sleeve or long sleeve, bright colours or dark, etc. 

Fortunately, we have compiled for your perusal the best Christmas wedding looks from Galway’s most stylish department stores such as Miss Selfridge, Oasis and Debenhams.

If you liked the pink sequinned-embellished Jenny Packham gown Kate Middleton wore to a charity gala in London earlier this year, then you will love this little cocktail number from River Island. Keep the accessories to the bare minimum. I personally love this diamante tennis bracelet from River Island and at five euro, it’s a steal. In fact this jewellery piece is one of River Island’s best sellers. I bought mine over two years ago and it’s still as sparkly as it was back then. The stones are also very firm so no need to worry about them coming lose.  

Light pink embellished waisted dress – River Island – €90

New satin foldover clutch – Accessorize – €16

Silver tone thin diamante tennis bracelet – River Island – €5

 

 

This is by far the most perfect dress for a Christmas wedding. With the faux fur neckline and gorgeous black lace panel embellishment, it is the personification of elegance. Try to keep your accessories simple and plain (the aforementioned River Island tennis bracelet featured in the previous pic is a perfect example of the type of subtle jewellery piece you could wear with this dress). If you are attending a family wedding, then the silver headpiece from Accessorize is the perfect way to complete this glamorous look.  

Black faux fur trim dress – River Island – €80

Lurex Sin Lopps and Quill on Ban headpiece – Accessorize – €39

Flat bow sparkle clutch bag – Oasis – €15 (originally €28)

 

There are two ways in which you could wear this dress. 

You could either pair it with a fur shrug and earrings, or a fitted peplum-skirted jacket and a dramatic necklace. While I have twinned this dress with a light pink stole, it would be equally as beautiful if worn with a black stole. If you decide to wear the coat, then the dramatic necklace will keep you looking glamorous long you have removed the coat for the reception.   

Metallic twist bow bandeau dress – Oasis – €50 (originally €81)

Light pink faux fur cape – River Island – €12 (originally €35)

Princess choker necklace – Oasis – €19 (originally €37)

Fitted pleated jacket – Oasis – €56

Double ball drop earring – Oasis – €10

The nipped-in waist and angle sleeve detail on this dress are both wonderful advantages to any woman conscious of either her arms or her tummy weight. Even though this dress has some studded embellishments on the shoulder, you could still add a little extra sparkle by pinning a brooch to the centre of the front band. 

Cape back embellished dress – Oasis – €56 (originally €88)

70s sequin frame cross body bag – Oasis – €15 (originally €21)

Sin disc with looped bow – Accessorize – €46

When The Hills actress Lauren Conrad attended the nuptials of Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt, her outfit made the fashion pages of every magazine. If you too are fan of this look, then Awear is where you can recreate it. Granted, the dresses are not replicas of the one worn by Lauren, however if you are determined to have the exact same dress as hers, then why not bring the blue gill skater dress (featured on the right) to a seamstress and have them shorten the sleeves and lengthen the neckline. Et voila, you will have Lauren’s dress for a fraction of the price she paid for it!  As the dress is quite plain, I would suggest pairing it with dramatic bejewelled heels so as to give it an a little bling injection!

Glamour dress – Awear – €31

Blue gill skater dress – Awear – €30 (originally €48)

Belt – Accessorize – €12.50

Dolcis bejewelled ankle cuff sandal – Barratts & Debenhams  – €28

 

If the wedding you are to attend stipulates a ‘black tie’ dress code, then this elegant maxi dress will fit the bill perfectly.

With the snake clasp band hugging the midriff however, a dress like this can often be quite figure defining, so it may be worth your while investing in control underwear even if only to eliminate the risk of VPL as well as to give yourself a completely smooth appearance. Silk material isn’t known for its warmth, so if you want to keep the winter breeze at bay then pair it with a fur coat like the one pictured. The black and gold diamante bangles beautifully compliment the colour of the dress however if you intend to wear a necklace, then I would suggest that you forgo the bangles and instead wear a simple bracelet. 

Burgundy Snake Clasp Maxi – €65

Bangles – Oasis – €10 (originally €20)

OPP organza loops on band – Accessorize – €14

Black Nadine fur coat – Awear – €65

 

 

While technically this item is a playsuit, it does have the appearance of a dress. It is also available in blue however if you are wearing it to a wedding then I do think black would look more elegant. I have completed the look by pairing it with these amazingly eye-catching heels from River Island. Never wear a necklace with a high neckline like the one on this dress. Instead concentrate on dramatic bracelets or earrings. Satin back crepe playsuit – Oasis – €25 (originally €49)

Sequin frame cross body bag – Oasis – €15 (originally €21)

Light pink embellished bow sandals – River Island – €65

This deep blue silk dress is so sophisticated and would be absolutely perfect for a Christmas wedding, especially when accessorised with the gold clutch featured. This really is the kind of dress that will take you to any event and at €44, its also a steal! Unless you have a very slim figure, I would advise against buying it online. A rouched waistline will either work for you or against you. The only way to know for sure is to try it on in-store first.

Satin bow dress – Oasis – €44 (originally €59)

Sequin envelope clutch bag – Oasis – €15 (originally €28)

Diamante strappy high heel sandal – Barratts – €6

If you don’t like show-stopping clothes, then this fabulous dress definitely won’t be to your taste! Unfortunately there is a slight downside when it comes to heavily sequined dresses, namely that of bracelets. Charm bracelets in particular can so easily catch off the sequins and snag them so perhaps limit your jewellery to that of a watch. With a dress this detailed however, you may find that you won’t even need to wear a bracelet. 

Glitz sequin dress – Oasis – €100 (originally €163)

Ballroom diamante shell clutch bag – Accessorize – €59

Black point sling back shoes – River Island – €75

 

Sometimes the nicest styles are the simplest. Testament to this theory is  this blue belted dress from Debenhams. If you are wearing this dress to a wedding, I would suggest that you either remove or replace the belt that comes with it. I personally think the accompanying belt is not particularly pretty, and distracts from what is a stunningly classic number. If however you want to give the illusion of a taller leaner frame, then you definitely shouldn’t wear any belt with this as it will break the look and make you appear slightly shorter. Complete your ‘tall illusion’ by twinning it with nude shoes.

Blue belted dress – Debenhams – €60

Ivory Stephanie wedding bolero (top) – Debenhams – €75

Ivory gathered sequin bolero (bottom) – Debenhams – €28

Black Faux Fur Stole - Debenhams – €22.50

 

The days of not wearing black to a wedding are long gone thank God! If you are one of the many women who feel most comfortable in black then this little cocktail dress will be to your liking. I would suggest that you give it an extra edge of glamour by pairing it with a black fur stole. If however you are aiming for a tailored chic style, then pair it with a black blazer like the one featured. 

Tencel Drape Jacket – Oasis – €69

Ponte Stripe Dress – Oasis – €62

Black peep toe platform shoes – River Island – €90

 

This dress couldn’t possibly get any prettier. When I was putting this look together, I paired the dress with so many clutches however the best by far was this copper coloured sequinned clutch from Oasis. The copper tones highlight the dress even more particularly as there are already some similar tones in the floral detail on the upper half.  

Ballerina flower dress (also in black) – Oasis – €100

Ball ring – Oasis – €6

Sequin clutch bag – Oasis – €19 (originally €27)

Lotus diamante detail strappy sandals – Barratts – €40

 

Even though this dress could be worn at any time of the year, I find that the smattering of diamonds around the midriff of this dress really gives it that Christmas vibe. As always, keep the rest of the items simple. Elegant feminine heels, a little clutch, a pearl and diamond bracelet, and a plain black headpiece will finish your wedding attire beautifully. 

Twinkle bandeau dress - Oasis – €100

OPP organza loops on band – Accessorize – €21.50

Black peep toe platform shoes – River Island – €90

Silver mixed bead stretch heart bracelet – Accessorize – €13

Claudia clutch – Accessorize – €59

You can’t but love waist cinching dresses. They flatter and hide all our unforgiving lumps and bumps, leaving us with a nicer, more defined silhouette. Sometimes women worry that their dress is too plain for a wedding, however if you choose the correct accessories, you should have nothing to worry about. For instance, I have accessorised this particular dress with a pink clutch and a silver headpiece as these colours, when paired with purple, really compliment each other. As you can see, the right shade of accessories can transform an otherwise relatively plain look into one that is more interesting. I would also suggest that you wear this dress with very subtle silver strappy sandals.  

Jasmine buckle front dress – Awear – €29

Large leather frame purse – Oasis – €31

Sin flower on band – Accessorize – €29.90

 

This dress is absolutely ideal for a woman who wants a dressy-but-not-fussy look! As you can see it is quite tailored in terms of fit, so it should give you a nice defined figure. If green is not your colour however, you will be pleased to hear it is also available in black. I would suggest that you wear your hair in an upstyle so as to showcase the gorgeous studded detail on the shoulders. I have paired this dress with a handbag as sometimes a clutch is just not big enough to carry all those make-up necessities!   

Green embellished shoulder shift dress – Oasis – €88

Top bar lock lady bag – Oasis – €31 (originally €50)

Jewel trim strappy platform sandals – Barratts – €25

This pretty little number is very feminine in its style and as such, works best with silver and pink. If you want to cover your shoulders then I would suggest that you go for either a white fur stole or a white coat, primarily because white is the only colour neutral enough to work with the colour of the accessories. Steer clear of this dress if you have a big bust as halter necks tend not to offer adequate support. Secondly, the empire waistline could also make your upper half look somewhat larger than it is.    

Black Gardenia Satin Sling Back Court Shoes – Barratts – €13 (originally €25)

Large Leather Frame Purse – Oasis – €31

Pleated cocktail dress – Debenhams – €66.50 (originally €95)

Buy a decent coat and I promise you that you will have it for years. It’s the epitome of an investment buy. Here is a very small selection of sophisticated coats from Debenhams and Oasis that would certainly be dressy enough to wear to a winter wedding. All those who reviewed these coats have raved about their quality, style and warmth. 

Black swing coat – Debenhams – €170

Faux leather trim belted drape coat – Oasis – €119

Black long coat – Debenhams – €179

Faux leather trim belted drape wrap coat – Oasis – €119

Sandy brown long coat – Debenhams – €170