Virgin Red's guide to wedding season

Attending a wedding is a great way to spend a day; mingling with friends and family, nibbling on fantastic food and dancing to questionable hits of the ‘80s. And with a boom of ceremonies expected in summer 2022, now is the perfect time to think about the gift, the accessories and most importantly, the outfit for you — the guest.

As a Virgin Red member, you can earn points across a range of fabulous partners so all your planning, mingling and celebrating can add up to a great treat for you.

The wedding guest outfit

The rules on what to wear to a wedding when you’re not the bride or groom used to be strict but simple: no white, no black, no trainers, and absolutely no superhero costumes (hello Jaden Smith). But aside from not wearing white, the rules are gone as women swap occasion dresses for suits and men favour a pastel palette instead of grey, blue and black.

If you have multiple events to attend, try to mix and match new items with clothes you already own so you don’t end up with a wardrobe of clothes you’ll only wear once. Shop for a showstopper with ASOS (from two points per £1), a smart suit at M&S (up to three points per £1), or a unique bargain from TK Maxx (one point per £1).

The gift

Nowadays couples will explicitly inform guests of what gift – if any – they’d like to receive on their special day. But if they don’t and you’re at a loss, it’s best to fall back on some fail-safe options. Think quirky dinnerware, personalised stationery, and one-of-a-kind vintage items that have that personal touch.

Check out Etsy (one point per £1), eBay (two points per £1), notonthehighstreet.com (four points per £1), and John Lewis & Partners (up to two points per £1) for a wide range of stylish options. Alternatively, a Fortnum & Mason (three points per £1) hamper always goes down a treat.

The footwear

Guests dancing the night away while barefoot has become a common wedding reception image when discomfort inevitably outweighs style, so choosing your shoes is about more than how they look.

The Orianna Strap from Clarks (two points per £1) is a perfect summer shoe that doesn’t compromise comfort, while H&M (five points per £1) has a wide range of kitten heels available in their current collection. The gents can similarly find some classic Clarks wallabees or pick up a designer brogue from Selfridges (up to six points per £1).

The accessories

Now you have your look and are ready to come bearing gifts, it’s time to finesse the final touches to your wedding guest outfit. Etsy (one point per £1) has endless options for hair embellishments while Selfridges (up to nine points per £1) has a wide array of designer options for handbags, belts, and card holders. And as it’s summer you’re going to need some shades: earn from nine points for every £1 spent with Ray-Ban or spend 11,000 points for a pair of Tens.

The beauty survival kit

For obvious reasons weddings are typically very emotional affairs, so whether you choose a dab of concealer or a full face, it’s important to prep. For the hot weather SPF is a must, and to keep everything in place for the long day it’s good to invest in blotting paper and setting spray.

Boots (one point per £1), LOOKFANTASTIC (up to four points per £1) and ASOS (from two points per £1) stock just about every beauty brand around to help you keep your mascara in place no matter how much you cry during the speeches.

And don’t forget that whatever you wear and bring, you can earn three points for every £1 when book your train journey with Virgin Trains Ticketing or your ride home earning four points for every £1 on Bolt journeys with Karhoo.

Want more fun rewards in your life? Find out more about Virgin Red, the reward club for Virgin, and become a member for free.

P.S. We always do our best to include the most up to date information but Virgin Red offers do change from time to time. Click on each offer for the current points rate and all the details.