If you will be attending a wedding this summer, one of your biggest questions is probably what to wear. You will want to look summery and feel comfortable while being festive. Whether you have been invited to a casual beach wedding or a formal evening soiree in a private club, this is what to wear to a summer wedding.
In general, summer weddings tend to be more laid back than winter weddings. That does not mean the guest should not dress to impress, however! Certain things have no place at any wedding, even the most casual ones: sandals on men, plastic flip flops, shorts on women, and anything too low cut or revealing. Beyond that, choose a style that goes with your particular location and time for your wedding. Typically locations like beaches are the most casual, churches and country clubs the most formal, and gardens somewhere in the middle. Evening weddings are almost always more formal than daytime ones, and definitely call for fancier attire and accessories like sparkly crystal earrings.
Starting with the most casual type of summer wedding, which is usually a park or beach wedding. A strapless or spaghetti strap sundress in a festive color, would be the perfect outfit for a beach wedding guest. Choose to wear a linen shift dress in tan or navy if you prefer to dress in more conservative clothing. Never show up to a beach wedding wearing black! For weddings on sand or grass, beaded or metallic flat sandals are perfect shoes. You may wish to bring a lightweight wrap if the wedding will go into the evening hours. Jewelry should be kept somewhat simple, such as a pearl tin cup necklace or a dainty pair of crystal earrings.
Choose a slightly fancier dress than you would for a beach wedding, for a summer garden wedding. A silk shift dress or a wrap dress would be absoutly wonderful. Floral prints work perfectly for garden weddings. A cotton voile skirt with a floral print would be would look stunning paired with a sweater in a coodinating color. There is certainly no hard and fast rules, but feminine hues like pink, peach, yellow, and light blues are especially beautiful for guests at a garden wedding. Kitten heel shoes, slingbacks, and wedge shoes are all choices that will be appropriate, assuming you don’t sink in the grass. Some examples of jewelry which will suit this style of wedding, are pearl necklaces, crystal earrings and charm bracelets.
Plan to take it up a notch, if you are attending a more formal summer wedding. For an evening wedding that is not black tie, a long dress would be perfect. With the right color and fabric choice you can keep the summery look. A full length seersucker dress would be amazing, as would a flowy strapless chiffon dress to the floor. If the wedding is not black tie, but still very formal keep your hair soft and loose to avoid looking overly formal or stiff. Loose flowing waves or a simple bun at the nape of the neck will be ideal. Pearl or crystal chandelier earrings would be a beautiful accessory, as would high heel sandals.
For the most formal summer wedding, which would be black tie, dress much as you would for a black tie wedding at any time of the year. A full length or very ornate short cocktail dress is in order. In the afternoon, a fabric with some sheen can be wonderful, although a summery silk chiffon is also entirely appropriate. Wear a more elaborate hairstyle, and add a crystal ornament in your hair to complement your crystal earrings and necklace. To finish the look perfectly, choose a beaded handbag and a fabulous pair of dressy sandals. You are a gorgeous and confident wedding guest, when you know what to wear.
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