By the time summer arrives, it can feel like your calendar is completely booked with wedding invites. Whether you’re RSVP’ing to a beachside ceremony, chic garden soirée, or glamorous black-tie affair, decoding the dress code for each of these nuptials can often feel like navigating a sartorial maze. So, in the interest of checking “find cute wedding ‘fit” off your to-do list, I’ve curated the ultimate guide to help you decode the summer wedding guest dress dilemma.
Summer weddings present the perfect opportunity to showcase your style vibe while celebrating love under the sun. But they can be confusing to dress for, since you want to be comfortable in both hot and cool temperatures (remember the air conditioning), yet dressed right for the vibe of the event.
Here, we’ll go over some of our best tips for picking a summer wedding guest outfit for formal black-tie events, casual backyard weddings, and everything in between. From breezy bohemian maxi dresses to sleek, sophisticated styles, get ready to RSVP ‘yes’ in style.
What to Wear to a Summer Wedding:
Formal Black-Tie Events
A black-tie wedding might seem like a challenge because the pressure is on to look extra good, but don’t stress out about it. Dressing for a formal event is actually easier in many ways than dressing for a casual wedding, so don’t worry too much or let the stress of being red-carpet-ready ruin your fun.
Black-tie events aren’t the place to get super experimental with bright colors or patterns, so you’ll likely be sticking to solid colors for the most part. Black is always appropriate, even in the summer, as are jewel tones and other dark colors.
With a black-tie dress code, ball gowns and floor-length dresses are expected. So stick to maxi dressesve those cute minis for another wedding!
Often, the focus of a black-tie outfit is the construction and fabric. Choose interesting silhouettes and structured styles, and look for dresses in elevated fabrics like satin, organza, or lace. Dresses with structure, like a bustier or corset dress, will enhance the silhouette and look extra glamorous.
Again, black-tie events call for long hemlines: While you can feel free to go strapless or off-the-shoulder, longer dresses are the standard for these events. Look for gowns in lightweight fabrics for summer events, so that you aren’t uncomfortably warm.
Black-Tie Optional
A black-tie optional event is a bit more flexible. This is a wedding where you can choose to come dressed in black-tie attire or go a little bit less formal while still wearing an outfit that fits the elegant summer vibe.
Like formal black-tie weddings, your best bet is sticking to longer dresses, solid colors, and eveningwear fabrics.
However, you don’t need to worry as much about choosing something worthy of the red carpet. Feel free to branch out into simple-but-elevated fabric options like crepe and satin, just so long as your dress still has enough structure to avoid wrinkling through the ceremony or the reception.
Prints and patterns are acceptable at black-tie optional events, but you don’t want to go too crazy. Subtle florals and watercolor prints are a fun way to infuse your personality into a black-tie optional outfit without feeling out of place or inappropriate.
High-low and midi dresses are also great hemline options for a black-tie optional wedding, especially if you’re not in love with full-length dresses.
A black-tie optional dress code lets you be a bit more creative than black-tie. You can get away with details that are a bit more whimsical and fun, like cute cutouts and tiered ruffles that are more playful–but still summer formal appropriate.
Finally, with a black-tie optional wedding dress code, you’ve got a little more latitude when it comes to the color of your dress. For a summer wedding, you can go with bright, seasonal hues like pinks, oranges, purples, and blues instead of the deeper hues that are more appropriate for ultra-formal black-tie weddings.
Cocktail/Semi-Formal Weddings
A cocktail wedding is a semi-formal affair that usually takes place in the evening. The dress code is more flexible than a black-tie wedding, and you’ve got a lot of options. The goal of cocktail wedding attire is to look polished and elegant while still being comfortable enough to dance and socialize.
You can wear a variety of colors to a cocktail wedding, but it’s best to avoid anything white (unless specifically requested) or too bright or flashy that might detract from the bride or groom. Jewel tones are always a safe bet, as are classic neutrals like black, gray, and navy.
For a cocktail wedding, you can wear a dress that falls anywhere from just above the knee to mid-calf. Avoid wearing anything full length for this dress code, since you don’t want to look too formal.
A classic little black dress is always a good option, even in the summer–as are dresses with interesting textures or embellishments. There’s a lot of room for creativity in a semi-formal or cocktail dress code.
Pastels and florals are a great choice for summer cocktail weddings, too. Lean into seasonal hues for a fun, cheerful look that will nod to the and happy days ahead!
Floral dresses are a great choice for summer cocktail weddings, especially if cocktail hour or any part of the reception is outside. Botanical garden venue? Say less.
Bright colors are perfect for warm-weather weddings! Consider a midi in pink, blue, purple, and other rich hues for a summer cocktail wedding.
Outdoor Garden Weddings
Outdoor garden weddings are usually daytime or afternoon events, and as the name suggests, held outdoors. These weddings can range from quite casual to almost as casual as a cocktail wedding. Your choice of attire should reflect the weather so look for lightweight fabrics and even open construction details when planning a garden wedding outfit.
Playful elements like flutter sleeves, billowing skirts, and floral prints are great for outdoor garden weddings. A little bit of whimsy fits right in with the more relaxed atmosphere of an outdoor wedding.
A garden wedding is also an ideal occasion to wear your favorite floral print, of course. Pastels and other light colors, bold brights, and punchy summery hues are festive and fitting for summer nuptials among the flowers.
Heat comes with the territory at an outdoor summer wedding, but you may also want to carry a lightweight wrap with you. Summer nights can get cool, especially if they move the reception inside to an air-conditioned location.
You can wear any length of dress to a garden wedding, although a floor-grazing maxi might not be the best choice. Remember, this wedding is outside, and a long skirt will trail in the dirt!
Garden weddings are typically held during the day, so it will likely be warm. Lightweight fabrics, midi hems, and sleeveless styles will help you stay cool and comfortable.
A garden wedding is the perfect occasion for a cottagecore-inspired outfit. Light blue, floral print, and tiered ruffles are a winning combination with fresh, feminine vibes.
Festive Weddings
Festive wedding guest attire is a fun, colorful take on semi-formal wear that’s the perfect excuse to wear bright colors and prints. It’s supposed to be fun, but not casual. You should expect to wear something somewhat fancy, but with a fun, colorful flair.
You don’t need to be red-carpet ready, but you should choose pieces with slightly formal silhouettes and fabrics. You should feel free to play with your look and add lots of fun, playful accessories. Chunky statement jewelry and whimsical accessories are just the thing for a festive wedding outfit.
Another way to add a festive element to your wedding guest outfit is to choose fabrics with embellishments like lace, sequins, embroidery, or 3D florals. Interesting fabric textures can combine with bright colors to give your outfit the playful look that a festive wedding calls for.
A bright fuchsia floral wedding guest dress is another great option for a festive dress code. The print has a fun, bold vibe and the color is vibrant and flattering on every complexion.
You can feel free to make a bold statement with a festive wedding guest dress. Oversized ruffles, asymmetrical hemlines, and summer sequins are all fair game for this dress code.
Still not sure what to wear to a summer wedding with a festive dress code? You can’t go wrong with a bright print! Saturated, bright, poppy colors are a solid choice for this playful dress code.
Country Weddings
Rustic weddings in the woods or on farms are so romantic. The twinkly string lights and the fresh air can feel almost fairytale-esque, like you’re celebrating in a little world unto its own.
There aren’t a lot of rules for what to wear to a rustic wedding, but you can generally choose less expensive fabrics or wear slightly more casual pieces if you like.
Tie-strap are a sweet, feminine option that looks right at home at a rusting wedding. Depending on how casual the wedding is, you can pair lace with western boots for a cute cowgirl look.
Sundresses and simple flirty dresses are also perfect picks–and will make you feel right at home in the country setting. Don’t overthink your outfit; something simple and sweet is just right for a rustic wedding.
That said, you don’t have to go simple for a rustic wedding! Cute details like tie floral prints and ruffle trim add a little touch of something special for the occasion.
Because rustic weddings are frequently in the woods or at a barn, floor-length gowns are a little out of place. They’ll drag, and they can be too formal! But if you want a touch of dressy drama, look for sultry bustier details.
Casual Weddings
Casual weddings have the least formal dress code of all. A wedding is all about celebrating love, so it doesn’t really matter how casual or formal it is. Some couples like the cozy, intimate vibes of a simple picnic wedding or a fun, friendly barbecue wedding.
While this is a casual wedding, you still want to mark the occasion by looking a little dressy. A fancier sundress than you’d wear every day is a perfect option.
Choose a comfy pair of cute, summery shoes– you could even pull off wearing a clean pair of white sneakers with a shorter dress for a fun, casual summer vibe.
A sweet pattern like gingham is perfect for a picnic wedding. Ruffle detail elevates a dress without putting it over the top for a casual wedding.
Virtually any print is welcome at a casual wedding! The combination of white and light orange is a surefire winner during a summer wedding.
Beach Weddings
Summer is the perfect season for beach weddings. For a wedding like this, you’ll want to choose an outfit that works with the weather. It’s likely that the weather will be warm for the ceremony and cooler for an evening reception, and you will have to deal with the sand and ocean breezes.
Oceanic hues and cutouts are super cute details for a summer wedding guest dress, especially for beach nuptials. They’ll let you feel the breeze–just remember to wear sunblock under the cutouts if you’re going to be in the sun!
Two-piece dresses are a great choice for beach weddings. It’s appropriate to show a little skin at a beach wedding, and the bare midriff will help keep you cool during the day.
Light colors, bright colors, and bold colors are the perfect shades for a beach wedding guest outfit. Fabrics should be light; if you want to wear a longer dress, a flowing or fluttery skirt looks great when tossed by ocean breezes.
You can also opt for big, bold prints that make a splash. Florals and geometric prints are both fun options that look good at the beach.
Accessories are just as important as your dress for a beach wedding. It’s a good idea to choose heels with some width to them, or wedges or platform sandals. Stiletto heels like to sink into the sand, which is less than ideal.
We want to see what you’re wearing this wedding season! Show us your summer wedding guest dress on Instagram or TikTok @lulus using #lovelulus–and head to our Summer Wedding Guest Shop for more options!
This post was originally published in June 2022.
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