What to Wear to A Summer Wedding

Summer still seems to be the most popular time for a wedding, though Fall is definitely a contender! Today let’s talk about what to wear to a summer wedding, depending on what type of wedding it is. Black tie weddings, garden weddings, cocktail attire, casual… here are some ideas of what to wear to each!

Here are my picks for what to wear to three types of weddings this summer: garden, cocktail, and black tie.

Garden wedding

Look for pretty colors, floral prints, and lightweight fabrics. This is probably the easiest wedding to dress for, because a garden wedding usually calls for lighter fabrics in any color. Florals are so pretty for a summertime wedding!

Of course, you can always skip buying a new dress and use a service like Rent the Runway. See their garden wedding options here >

Shoes for a garden wedding: Avoid heels and go for wedges instead. A garden wedding usually means there’s going to be grass or surfaces that don’t work well with heels, so flats would also be acceptable.

How to accessorize: For any of the dresses above, pretty earrings are really all you need.

An older ‘gram of one of my favorite dresses that is wedding-perfect

Cocktail attire

One of my most favorite wedding-guest looks was a coral-colored long sleeve dress that I paired with black tights and amethyst colored pumps. It was an early springtime wedding in Boston, just a few days after a massive snowstorm, so the tights were perfect. (This was also back in 2014, when colorblocking was IT.) For summer cocktail attire I’ve typically gone with a short or midi-length dress.

Shoes for a cocktail wedding: Break out your absolute favorite shoes. Bonus points if they’re fancy and you’re going with a more basic dress.

How to accessorize: Add something interesting like a beaded bag (see below!) or large earrings.

(In the Northeast, any of these cocktail options would also work for a “black tie optional” wedding, which is somewhat of a mix between cocktail and black tie! Think semi formal. If T is wearing a tux, I’ll go fancier, and if he’s wearing a suit, I won’t.)

Black tie wedding

I love a good black tie wedding, because it’s a great excuse to go formal and wear something you don’t have a chance to wear! I think of it as like prom, but grown up. And “black tie” does not necessarily mean “black dress,” so go ahead and get something with color in it! A black tie occasion is also a great chance to skip buying a dress and instead use a service like Rent the Runway. My older sister and I did this for a wedding. We both opted for long black dresses that were conservative in the front but fun in the back!

Shoes for a black tie wedding:

How to accessorize: Minimalist jewelry will do the trick for these dresses, unless you want to go bold.

One other note on what color to choose – Most brides won’t care at all if you’re wearing the same color as the bridesmaids. I chose long navy dresses with a ruffle detail for my bridesmaids, and one of our guests told me later that she was embarrassed to have shown up in a navy dress, too (even though hers was short with lace). It didn’t bother me! I knew I was picking a popular color. If you’re worried that you might wear the same color as the bridesmaids, go with something printed and you’re 99% sure to avoid that.