What to Wear to a Temple Open House

July 17, 2026

Nine temples hold public open houses between now and the end of October, and more are on the calendar behind them. If you have an invitation card on your fridge or a friend who said "come see the temple with me," you might be wondering what you're supposed to wear.

To keep it simple: dress like you're going to a nice church service or a job interview, wear comfortable closed-toe shoes, and don't worry about anything more than that. You do not need white clothing. You do not need a temple dress. You don't need to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, either. Open houses are for everyone.

First, what a temple open house is

Before a new temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is dedicated, the public is invited to walk through it. Everything is finished and furnished. Volunteers guide you room to room, the tour usually takes about an hour, and admission is free. Once the temple is dedicated a few weeks later, entrance is reserved for members holding a temple recommend. The open house is the one window when anyone can see the inside, and the Church genuinely wants you there.

Because the temple has not been dedicated yet, no temple clothing is involved for anyone, member or not. The white clothing members wear inside an operating temple belongs to temple worship, which begins after the dedication. An open house is a walking tour. Regular clothes are the correct clothes.

What women typically wear

Sunday best or business casual, whatever that means in your closet. Common and completely appropriate:

A modest dress or skirt, knee length or longer
Dress pants or nice slacks with a blouse
A sweater or cardigan over any of it

Nothing needs to be white. Nothing needs to be new. Modest and tidy is the whole assignment. If you'd wear it to a church service, a christening, or a nice dinner with your grandmother, it works.

What men and kids wear

Men: slacks and a collared shirt. A tie or jacket is welcome but not expected. Kids: their church clothes or the nicest version of their regular clothes. Families bring babies and toddlers all the time. Strollers are usually parked at the entrance, so a carrier helps with little ones.

Shoes matter more than the outfit

You will walk and stand for close to an hour, sometimes on marble and stone floors, sometimes in a line outside first. Wear comfortable closed-toe shoes. Many open houses provide fabric coverings that slip over your shoes to protect the carpets and floors, so shoes that slip on and off easily are a small mercy. Skip the brand-new heels.

A few practical notes

Weather the line. Depending on the temple and the day, you may wait outside. A light jacket or an umbrella earns its keep.
Quiet is part of it. Tours are hushed and reverent. Phones go on silent, and photography inside is not permitted.
Reservations. Most open houses use free timed tickets from the Church's open house page. Book before you drive.
Sundays are excluded. Open house tours run Monday through Saturday only.

What you do not need to worry about

You will not be asked about your beliefs. You will not be pulled aside for wearing pants instead of a skirt. Nobody is grading your outfit. Members and volunteers are simply glad you came. Come curious, dress respectfully, and enjoy one of the quietest, most beautiful hours you'll spend all year.

If the temple is being dedicated soon

After the dedication, members attending the temple prepare differently, including the white clothing worn inside. If that is the road you're on, start with our complete guide to Latter-day Saint temple clothing and our post on what to wear for your first temple visit. And when the time comes to choose a white dress, our temple dress collection was curated for exactly that season of life.