Wedding guest abaya: what to choose and what to ask for

Colour: festive but considerate

Jewel tones are a safe and beautiful choice for an evening reception: emerald, sapphire, deep plum, wine or a rich teal. For daytime events, softer shades such as champagne, blush, sage or powder blue feel fresh. Black with gold or silver detail always looks elegant at night.

If you know the couple’s colour scheme, or the family has asked guests to avoid certain shades, plan around that before choosing fabric. When in doubt, ask the host; it is a kind question and saves an awkward moment on the day.

Fabric with a little sheen

In general, satin-finish crepes, silky fabrics and textured jacquards catch the light in a way that matte everyday fabrics do not. A sheer chiffon or organza overlay on a lined base gives movement and softness for photographs. Velvet is lovely for winter weddings in cooler countries; our velvet guide explains how it handles and how it is cut.

Tell us the season, the venue and the look you want, and we confirm the fabric in your written quote. If you have bought a special length yourself, our Stitching Only service makes it up after we confirm it suits an abaya.

Lace, embroidery and where to put it

For a wedding, the statement level of our fancy work, which allows bolder work for Eid and parties, is often the right choice, but placement matters more than quantity:

• Sleeves: lace or embroidered cuffs move as you greet people and show in every photograph. See sleeves with lace.
• Front opening: a border down both edges of an open abaya frames the inner dress.
• Hem: a deeper band at the hem gives weight and makes the abaya swing as you walk.
• Back: a panel of work across the shoulders looks striking when you are seated at a table.

Length, heels and the inner dress

Measure your length while wearing the shoes you plan to wear to the wedding, because a heel can change the ideal hem by several centimetres. If you might switch to flats later in the evening, aim for a length that just clears the floor in the heels and simply looks fuller in the flats.

An open abaya over a coordinating inner dress gives two looks in one: closed and formal for the ceremony, open to show the dress at the reception. If you would like the inner dress made too, include it on the same request. Our neckline styles help you choose a neckline that sits well under the abaya.

Ordering for a wedding date

Work back from the date. Allow time to agree design and fabric, then 5 to 7 working days of production once the quote is approved and paid, then shipping, which varies by destination and is never fixed in advance. Our page on how long stitching takes explains each stage.

Guests travelling to a wedding in Birmingham or Manchester can read about ordering on our UK page. For your own reference photos, the Send Your Design service and the design quote form are the place to start.