Remember the good ole days when I used to post outfit photos just for fun with a short blurb about where I wore it? Less than a thousand words and no broader message? I figured I’d “go back to my roots” today and do just that—share a couple of random thoughts and ramblings about today’s wedding guest outfit.
The wedding invitation said the dress code was “western cottage core semi-formal”—I was stumped, as you might imagine. I shared a video trying on different things in my closet that might fit one or both of those vibes, though cottage core is not my style at all (nor do I really understand what it entails). So, I leaned more into the western aspect, thinking I might be able to break out my boots for the first time this year.
I ultimately decided to wear this $1 butter yellow dress that I thrifted in 2020 and STILL have somehow never worn. It was definitely her time to shine… plus, butter yellow is the color of the season. Instead of tying the waist belt into a bow at the back I just knotted it in the front, which seemed a little more casual and on-theme. I was nervous about the boob situation (the dress is several sizes too small, but for $1 I couldn’t pass it up). I finagled a couple of strips of fabric tape to secure the dress to my skin and then hoped for the best, being careful not to bend forward too much. While it was hot out, I thankfully did not sweat off the tape, nor did I flash anyone (that I know of).
I paired the dress with my boots, a dainty Kendra Scott necklace, and earrings that belonged to my grandma, which I felt sort of had a western vibe (you can see the earrings up close in this video, which has over 10K views). I was having a bad hair day so I begrudgingly decided to put my hair up. I hated the hairstyle originally (mostly the bangs—they were too tightly curled), but looking back it’s not so bad. The boots were kind of a controversial decision, according to my audience on TikTok—some people loved them with the dress and others said they were inappropriate for a semi-formal dress code.
I was a little nervous about my outfit going into the wedding but ultimately think it was the right choice, and the right balance of “western” style. Most women there were wearing regular semi-formal attire, plus their cowgirl boots. Pretty much nobody was dressed for cottage core, but there was one tween girl in a poofy-sleeve off-the-shoulder long green dress, with a leather wrap belt, boots, and a big hat. She looked so cute and absolutely nailed the theme. Not only did my boots fit in, but they were also functionally an excellent choice—there was a lot of walking on uneven, dusty surfaces, so heels would have been tough.
Which brings me to the venue. The wedding was held on a ranch in Longmont, Colorado, right on the Big Thompson River. I didn’t take any pictures, but it was a beautiful backdrop. Hard to get to though, and no cell service for an Uber home. Believe it or not, the bride and her parents came in on a horse-drawn carriage, which sounds so extra but was actually really fitting for the ranch/western ceremony. Right as she was getting off the carriage, the large storm cloud that had ominously rolled in above of us let out a huge clap of thunder, which added to the drama and beauty of the moment. Thankfully it only sprinkled lightly for a few seconds. Then the clouds parted and the sun shined, perfectly framing the couple.
I love weddings. I was the plus one, so I didn’t really know anybody there aside from my boyfriend and a few of his friends. But even still, the people, the fashion, the different approaches and traditions—I always find them so fun and interesting. There wasn’t much dancing at this wedding, but after it ended everybody went out back near the river to start a big bonfire. The groom’s dad and uncle are musicians from Louisiana so they broke out their guitars and banjos and played for us under the stars! It was such a vibe.
What would you have worn to a western/cottage core wedding? The yellow dress isn’t the most western thing ever, but of the pieces in my closet that I hadn’t worn yet in 2025, it was definitely the best option!
Miles of smiles,
Grace
Dress: Thrifted, originally a $250 BCBG dress, $1 ($1.00 per wear), last worn here | Boots: Ariat, $180 ($6.21 per wear), last worn here