Arabic Muslim wedding guest dress help please

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I'm attending a Muslim wedding celebration soon. Really looking forward to it, but as with any special occasion I'm stressing about what I'll wear.

I'd like to wear a dress/outfit that is culturally appropriate for such an occasion, but not culturally appropriating either. I'm neither Arabic or Muslim and would be mortified if I was offensive in my choice. I love the bride dearly and don't want to embarrass her.

Can anyone here advise of a style I should aim for? Or even point me in the direction of retailers that stock lovely arab-esque styles that is still appropriate for a non-Muslim middle aged woman to wear? I've checked the usual occasion wear stockists and not finding anything that I feel would be right.

I've asked the bride directly, but she just tells me to wear whatever. I want to make an effort though and not just turn up in a run of the mill dress from Coast (or similar shop) that's not particularly well placed for a Muslim wedding celebration.

Would really appreciate the help.

I went to a Moroccan Muslim wedding and got zero help from our friend (the groom) on what was appropriate.

I went for a maxi dress. It was sleeveless but had thick straps and I pinned it a bit more closed and covered than normal. I also wore a shawl over the tops of my arms.

I didn't get any negative comments and tbf I got the feeling that because I was married it didn't matter because my husband was with me and ok with it.

Some of the local women wore beautiful kaftans.

It felt for us that as long as we were covered and respectful it was ok. We didn't have to cover our hair.

You don't need to wear an Arab style dress, just a long maxi with arms covered is fine. I'm going to a Muslim wedding next month and I'm wearing a monsoon dress with a light jacket over the top. It'll give you more choice if you get something that you can wear off the high street..

Thank you. I know I don't HAVE to wear something of an Arab style, but I'd like to. Something that is Arab inspired or influenced would be perfect. So not necessarily Arabic per se, but has hints of it.

Are embellishments welcome, or too much? Is something on the fitted tight side not quite right? Are there certain fabrics, cuts, colours or styles only the bride should wear and a guest wearing it would be a no-no?

I'd have a look at monsoon. A couple of my Muslim colleagues have complimented me on a few different monsoon dresses and asked where they were from so I'd take that as an approval.

If it was me going my first port of call would be Monsoon.

I've been to lots of weddings of Arabic speaking Muslims and they're basically big affairs. Essentially dress like you're going to a (glamorous) ball, and if they're conservative then cover your arms - boleros can be better than shawls as you don't need to fiddle with them all evening. Ideally no cleavage showing and def not if religiously conservative.

Maybe if you gave a nationality and how conservative it could help?

The only Muslim weddings I've been to where guests were wearing local, traditional dress were in rural settings in country. Otherwise it was about really looking your best and generally full-length gowns. Diamanté was very much accepted!

Very formal, arms/shoulders/cleavage covered and matching bag/shoes. I’d go with a maxi dress with a jacket and a very floaty scarf with a Middle Eastern pattern if you want. My experience is that Arab women are far more “finished” than Europeans at formal events.

Really depends on the family/atendees. If quite religous then covered, no cleavage or legs on show. A maxi dress with arms/legs covered would be good. However it may not be a conservative wedding at all in which case it would be fine. But I think a nice maxi would be your best bet. Or perhaps a kaftan? You can get kaftans with embellishments. This would work well I think. Perhaps ask the bride what she thinks?

They're both from Algerian backgrounds with the bride a little less religious and conservative than the grooms side of the family. But by all accounts, it is going to be a big affair with the bride having three outfit changes throughout the day. The men and women will be celebrating separately though, at different venues. Apparently, as the men and women don't mix, the women don't have to feel so conservative in their attire. At the engagement I saw everything from completely covered and all black in colour (the older married generation), to very short, colourful, sparkly and lots of cleavage and legs on show (the young unmarried generation).

Only 3 outfit changes? That's very conservative for an Algerian wedding you'll be fine then wearing whatever if it's segregated. Women wear whatever they like, so like you said, you'll see all sorts. An embellished maxi would be fab I think. Monsoon do have some nice options and I've bought from Asos before for occasions. You can filter it for occasion dresses or even 'bridesmaid' and you'll have lots come up.

www.diyaonline.com/

This is Asian formal wear which will tick most of the modest requirements.

Something like this ?

www.johnlewis.com/aab-ochre-satin-floral-maxi-dress-yellow/p6229405

All of their Aab dresses are lovely, and modest too

In that case it's like the engagement but (even) more dressy.

Agree with the comment about looking finished. If you wanted to get your hair and makeup done, for example, it wouldn't be out of place (and you wouldn't be the only one!). I used to get my hair done but do my own makeup when I attended lots of weddings.