By Mitch Rice
Summer promises balmy weather, vibrant florals, and longer days, making it the most popular season to get married. Chances are, the wedding invitation in your mail is for the summer season (running from June to September), and just as you feel excited for being a part of someone’s special day, the burning thought pops up, “What am I going to wear to a summer wedding?”. As dress designers and retailers for brides’ closest group of girls, we are well acquainted with the outfit codes, style expectations, and fashion etiquettes at a wedding! Below, we have shared summer wedding dress codes for both men and women to help you.
Tips for What to Wear to a Summer Wedding
Your gut instincts are right here! You wear to a summer wedding along the same lines as you’d dress up for any other summer event – some if’s and but’s applicable. A wedding is more of a formal celebration, so floral prints that are playful yet graceful, accessories that are elegant and not gaudy, and a silhouette that’s flattering and synergises with the “dress code” are essentials. Here are tips on where to start and lead when you’re invited to attend summer nuptials.
1. Check the Invitation & Wedding Website
The dress code is often mentioned on the invitation, but many couples choose to include the dress code with inspirational pictures on their wedding website to help the guests. That guests adhere to the aesthetics is important for them, so their wedding visuals remain coherent. If you’re still confused, reach out to a close friend or family member involved in the planning process, or just contact the bride or the groom for more details.
2. Avoid Black & White
Summer weddings call for pastel shades or light colors like baby blue or lilac dresses for wedding, but avoid white or anything closer to the color. If you have a floral printed dress with an ivory base color, then make sure the prints are concentrated enough to hide the color. The only exception to wearing “white” is when the couple specifically asks for a white dress code.
Black, on the other hand, will be uncomfortable as the color absorbs sunlight and traps body heat. If it’s an outdoor ceremony, it can make you sweaty and hot, and it will also feel uneasy during the dance party.
3. Embrace Florals & Punchy Shades
Florals for summers? There’s nothing groundbreaking in it, but it’s an obvious and safe choice for wedding guests. So are punchy shades like vibrant pinks and striking neons. Incorporating a unique print or pattern is what summers are for – and don’t shy away from experimenting with them while planning your summer wedding guest look.
4. Choose Breathable Fabrics
Summer weddings can get hot and uncomfortable quickly. The key to comfort is to rely on breathable fabrics like cotton, linen, Merino wool, chambray, rayon, etc. Silk and chiffon are also breathable and elegant materials for female wedding guests and bridesmaids. Also, avoid form-fitting silhouettes as they can also trap heat and cause uneasiness.
5. Romance is the Vibe
When you’re at a wedding, you’re literally celebrating romance, making it the perfect time to include romantic details and silhouettes in your outfits too! Puffed sleeves, ruffles, bows, corset dresses, and laces are all details to sport as a guest at a summer wedding.
How Dress Codes Affect the Choices
Black Tie/ Formal
Your summer wedding invitation card mentions “black-tie/ formal”; then, most of the guests will be arriving in floor-length gowns and tuxedos. Besides gowns, midi dresses with standout prints are also dress-code appropriate. Men, if you’re worried about your tux warming you up, opt for cool and breezy colors with a white/ neutral color shirt inside. Materials like linen, cotton, and seersucker look polished yet allow air to pass, so you can wear them for longer hours without any sliver of discomfort.
Cocktail & Semi-Formal
Cocktail and semi-formal wedding dress codes can seem confusing. It’s that gray part between the middle of two extremes where perception changes the game. Maxi dresses that don’t look like gowns, midi-dresses with playful prints, and a dressier knee-length dress are good options. A tasteful crop-top with a mid-length skirt and elegant jumpsuits also adhere to the outfit code and look pretty.
Men, suits with suit jackets or blazers are a smart ensemble. Keep it light and breezy for an outdoor event, and let darker colors rule if it’s an afternoon wedding held in a more formal venue.
Casual Wedding Attire
When you read the word “casual” on a wedding invite, your mind immediately runs wild and goes to the flowiest, easiest dresses in your wardrobe. And you’re thinking in the right direction. But just one advice: keep it dressier and more celebratory than you are envisioning. It’s still a formal affair. A stunning floral dress, skirt with crop top, and cocktail-style rompers are perfect to keep it understated and acceptable. The wedding party will also be dressed casually in mismatched styles or a rose-gold bridesmaid dress to keep up with the theme.
Casual wedding attire for males is all about comfort yet staying stylish. Casual doesn’t mean jeans or flip-flops, even if the wedding is in a backyard or at a beach. Casual for men comprises chinos, dress pants with polo shirts, and soft linen shirts. Neat accessories like a metal watch, simple gold chain, and bracelet can add a stylish charm to the outfit.
How to Accessorize for Summer Weddings?
When done mindfully, the right accessories can add grace to your outfit and be an extension of your personality. For a summer fete, comfortable shoes, practical clutches, and gold hoops can be game-changers. Neutral colors are the best, but smartly pairing colors and eye-catching designs gives you that showstopper look. Turquoise earrings with floral prints, statement bows on heels, and a bag embellished with generous rhinestones can make your outfit pop.
Comfort and venue also play a role in the choice of accessories. You don’t want pointy heels for a beach wedding or stilettos for a grand outdoor venue that requires a lot of walking. Wedges, block heels, and platforms with thick cushioned insoles are comfortable to walk on beaches, grass, and uneven walkways. Similarly, outstations venues may require outfit changes, and you’d want light-toned, multifunctional accessories to pair with your summer wedding outfits as a guest.
For men, avoid ties (especially ascot ties) that can heat up in warmer temperatures and make you uncomfortable. Wear bows that are loose but not sloppy with your tux if it’s a black-tie event and skip anything around the neck completely if the event is anything other than black-tie.
Other accessories to wear to a summer wedding as a male guest are metal watches (smart watches are too casual for a celebration like a wedding – no matter the dress code or the venue), a simple gold chain or ring, cuff bracelets, and pocket squares. Footwear can be anything from loafers to derbies and oxfords. Just pair it well with the dress code and outfits, and you’re good to go for the event.
Data and information are provided for informational purposes only, and are not intended for investment or other purposes.