what to wear to a wedding

Wedding Season is here! Now, what do you wear?

Summer is a very popular time for weddings. Within our age group, I’m certain that there are several of us that receive many wedding invites a year. Between family, our friend’s children, and our children’s friends, we’ve been averaging at least four a year. And if you’re like me, as soon as the wedding invite arrives, you wonder what to wear!

I enjoy attending weddings as they are such happy occasions. It’s exciting to be invited to celebrate the beginning of a marriage between two people in love. My favorite part is hearing the vows. I always try to attend a church ceremony when I can. Although, now a days there are many marriage ceremonies right on the property. This is convenient for the guests attending because usually there isn’t any in-between time.

There are also many different types of themes and venues. With this said, I would like to offer a few suggestions on what to wear. Most of the time you will see the preferred attire printed on the wedding invite. Although you will still need to consider the venue and the weather before deciding what to wear. Let’s talk about the different venue types since we can never count on the weather forecast.

What to Wear to a Black Tie Wedding

(Click the arrows to the right of the styles to shop different looks & suggestions)

Black-Tie weddings typically require a full-length gown. Although mid length cocktail dresses are also appropriate. Be sure to keep an elegant look in mind. Usually, they are held in a luxurious venue such as a four or five-star hotel. When shopping for a black tie wedding, I tend to go for color. I enjoy wearing bright colors especially in the summer time as I feel that it emulates feelings of happiness.

Country Club Setting

Proper attire for a wedding held at a country club depends on the time of day of your event. If it’s an outdoor daytime wedding then I would suggest a floral skirt and pretty blouse, or a fancy sheath dress. Here you can play around with accessories, but for shoes keep in mind that you will want to choose flats or low heeled shoes because if the ceremony is outdoors, you may be walking on grass.

For an evening wedding held at a Country Club you can dress a little more fancy. I suggest semi-formal and fun cocktail dresses. They can be embellished, or sequin, but nothing too flashy. One again, you can sparkle with your jewelry or clutch, if you choose to wear a timeless LBD.

Loft/Modern Space

Think cocktail attire and savvy chic. Hemlines can be any length, but keep in mind many of these very trendy venues have concrete floors so consider your heel height. For events held in swanky warehouses, the décor is all brought in so you can ask about the theme when deciding what to wear. When your attending an event in a large city the atmosphere is usually trendy so keep that in mind and have fun with what you decide.

Beach or Destination Wedding

There are several different types of destination weddings so here you will need to decide what to wear depending on the location. I’ve been to a wedding held in the mountains of Telluride and Beautiful Sunset weddings on a white sandy beach. For a destination wedding you will need to do a little research before you pack. The weather, and the décor can guide you along, but it is best to pack a little extra, for back up.

Beach Wedding for daytime wedding, you can’t go wrong with light and breezy tea length dresses, short or long dresses, they all work. Just keep lightweight fabrics and materials in mind like linens, chiffon, and cotton blends. For a late afternoon beach wedding you can dress a little fancier but remember to bring a shawl or jacket for when the sun sets. 

Park, Garden and Rustic Outdoor Weddings

Many couples are choosing to say their vows outdoors surrounded by beautiful scenery. You will want to check to see if just the ceremony is outdoors and or if the reception is as well. The themes can go between dressy and dressy-casual depending on the location. For a wedding that I attended on top of the mountains of Telluride, I wore a long maxi dress with fancy gold cowboy boots underneath so that I could easily walk on the rocky trails. My first thought would be check the weather and then from there you might want to experiment with a Bohemian look. For a wedding held in on a farm or outdoor barn I’ve recently, heard the term “Country Elegant” which is also appropriate for outdoor weddings. I would suggest maxi dresses, with lace and floral.

I hope I’ve covered most of your questions on how to dress. Now it’s up to you to enjoy the festivities with family and friends.