It’s summer and wedding season is upon us, ladies! The invitations are rolling in, and you’ve RSVP’d. Now comes the hard part… what to wear?!? When choosing a dress, keep two simple ideas in mind:
1) Look stunning, but…
2) not as stunning as the bride
Piece of (wedding) cake, right? Not always. You have to consider things like, what time of day is the wedding? And, what the heck does “black tie optional” mean anyway? If you’re stumped this advice can help you find the sweet spot between “incredibly chic” and “OMG, she wore WHITE to a wedding.”
Daytime Wedding:
Daytime weddings are typically the least formal type of wedding and usually take place between noon and 4pm. For these, we recommend trying a dress in a pretty pastel. This is the closest you can get to wearing white to a wedding, since we all know that Rule #1 of Wedding Etiquette is to NEVER WEAR WHITE. It’s just not cool to upstage the bride.
In a color like mint, lavender, pink or pale yellow, and you will certainly brighten up any daytime wedding! Also, try lighter fabrics, such as silk, for a more formal look (for the later-in-the-day events) or cotton for a more casual, say noonish wedding. If dresses aren’t your comfort zone, you can certainly opt for a dressy top and skirt combo or a sleek pantsuit.
Outdoor Wedding:
For the outdoor wedding, this is your chance to don a fun floral dress. Floral prints are super on-trend this summer, so you shouldn’t have any trouble finding the perfect frock! If floral isn’t your thing, try a coral or bright green dress. Just be sure to dress for the elements, as you may be in the sun, wind, or rain (the horror!) for periods of time.
Evening Wedding:
For evening weddings, no doubt, you will want to go with a cocktail dress. Darker jewel-tone colors are acceptable here, such as royal blue or emerald green. Your classic LBD is great, too! Yes girlfriend, you can wear black to a summer wedding, as long as you keep the silhouette light and lively! We know, back in the day, it was a big “no-no,” but that’s no longer the case. Black is definitely a great choice – just go for shorter hem-lines, and perhaps accessorize with some sparkle!
Black Tie Optional:
When you see the phrase “Black Tie Optional,” that simply means the event will be slightly less formal than Black Tie. For this type of wedding, a floor-length dress is usually the most appropriate. Another great option would be a formal cocktail-length dress, but be sure to stick with dark, neutral hues such as black, gray or navy.
Black Tie:
This is the most formal of all wedding types and will most likely be an evening wedding. A black tie wedding requires a formal, floor-length dress; and, again a dark color is most appropriate. Black-tie may seem intimidating, but the perfect, gorgeous dress can certainly change all that!
One final note before we send you out to shop: hopefully your head is now filled with lots of inspiration, but at the end of the day, it’s really about picking a dress that makes YOU feel beautiful and allows you to have some fun celebrating with your loved ones! Happy shopping, friends!