Summer Wedding Guest Attire

     Summer is here, and lovebirds everywhere are happily tying the knot.  You have probably been invited to atleast one ceremony.  Many experienced fashionistas who can dress for a given event in a snap still balk at the thought of dressing for a wedding.  Never fear, you have come to the right place!

     Style.  First of all, even if it is a casual wedding, always dress up.  Jeans are never acceptable; if leg hiding is mandatory, wear black or gray slacks with a nice blouse.  A wedding is a perfect place to not only dress up more than usual, but also complement the bride with your wardrobe decisions.  If you are to attend a black-tie wedding, lucky you!  This is another chance at prom-style wear.  Just choose something classy, not loud.  Think Marilyn Monroe or Audrey Hepburn.  if you are not sure what type of wedding you are to attend, check out your invitation. If the script is flowing and the paper fine, it is a fairly formal ceremony.  However, the invitation cheekily asks you to come the the couple "get hitched," you have a sundress-worthy wedding to attend.

     Color.  The number one rule in dressing for a wedding is this: do NOT wear white.  White is the bride's color, and it is disrespectful to steal any attention on her day.  If you are choosing a solid colored dress, avoid creme also. (Side note- both white and creme can be worn if contained in a pattern)  Find out ahead of time what the wedding colors are; you don't want to be mistaken for a member of the wedding party!  Red is sticky; in wedding context, red has an adulturous vibe.  Don red in a pattern to avoid this issue.  Black can be worn if complimented with bright accessories, such as a belt and earrings in pink.  Yellow, according to studies, encourages optimism, which would be very appropriate, considering the atmosphere.  Cheery shades of blue, warm greens, bright or muted pinks, or this summer's color, orange, are also good choices.
     Also, if you are attending a cultural wedding (i.e. Indian, Jewish, Japanese, etc.), it would be wise to speak to the bride directly about attire.  Color meaning varies from culture to culture. For instance, in Japanese culture, the bride wears red. 

     Cut.  Avoid wearing a floor-length dress unless the wedding specifically is black-tie.  The bride's day is not your day to try out the maxi you have been dying to wear.  Also avoid wearing anything extremely short.  Knee-length, up to three-inches above the knee, or a more conservative mullet-hem dress can be worn without crossing any lines.  Reject frocks that are low-cut or unnecessarily tight.  Anything attention-stealing is off-limits.

Here are a few of my summer wedding looks. What do you think?

Look #1:

Lauren Conrad dress, Gordman's shrug, Mudd gladiator flats, and handmade necklace.

I think this ensemble is both romantic and good-natured.

Look #2:

"Color Me Red" dress, Mudd gladiator flats, and handmade earrings.

The yellow promotes well-wishes for the new couple and adds to the spirit of optimism.

Look #3:

BCBG dress, Vera Wang cardigan, TJ Maxx belt, and  Dressbarn heels.

I realize I'm mixing two "iffy" colors, but I feel they offset eachother in tandem. The brown breaks up the two colors and provides continuity with the brown wedges.









     Remember that your purpose in attending a wedding ceremony is to complement and support the couple not only with your presence, but also with your attire. Avoid choosing something iffy; do you want to spend the day worrying about others' opinions, or celebrating marriage?


Thanks to Jessica L. for her photography skills!