:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/072225-what-to-wear-summer-wedding-683630c6329446c3ae0a892787f3b020.jpg)
- The summer wedding season is in full swing, which means it’s time to pick out the perfect outfit.
- When choosing what to wear, it’s important to consider the dress code, temperature, and setting.
- Ahead, we spoke with fashion expert Maisie-Kate Keane on what to wear to a summer wedding.
Ahh summer. Sunny long days, beach breezes, frozé cocktails, and weddings galore. Thinking about what to wear to a summer wedding can be daunting. And as one of the more popular wedding seasons with the most varying dress codes, knowing where to begin is a task within itself.
In the summer, cocktail attire, festive cocktail, and semi-formal dress codes can all seem like slightly different versions of the same thing. Overall, summer weddings tend to lean more casual due to more destination locations and the warm weather. Think beachy shores, boathouses and country clubs, rustic vineyards, or a floral-covered garden estate—any venue where you might spend the whole event outside, dining and dancing in the heat. This is also where festive attire comes into play, encouraging guests to dress the part of the theme or location.
“For an outdoor summer or destination wedding, a ruffle, floral print (or solid!) chiffon dress is perfect for formal attire. It’s light, feminine, and effortlessly romantic, and the soft layers and delicate print add movement, making it a lovely contrast to more structured looks from other guests,” suggests luxury bridal stylist Maisie-Kate Keane.
And while it might be tempting to lean into the white and ivory hues of the season when you’re planning out what to wear to a summer wedding, in respect for the bride, stay clear.
“As always, you want to avoid wearing white or anything too close to the bride’s dress color,” says Keane. “Steer clear of anything too casual, such as cotton sundresses or denim, and anything too short or revealing.”
Sure, it can be hard to decide what to wear to a summer wedding, but we’re here to make it a lot easier. Whether you’re packing for tropical beach nuptials or an outdoor ceremony at your local botanical garden, we’ve rounded up a selection of summer wedding outfit ideas that’ll land you on the best-dressed guest list this season.
Chiffon Anything
Christian Vierig/Getty Images
When in doubt about what to wear to a summer or destination wedding, chiffon is always the answer. Chiffon dresses can be worn for any wedding dress code, but because the material is incredibly light and airy, it’s best for hot weather. A chiffon dress is whimsical, romantic, and if you prefer a sleeved chiffon moment, it’s also one of the few breathable fabrics that allows you to wear long-sleeved garments in the heat without feeling like you’re going to melt.
Flouncy Florals
Moritz Scholz/Getty Images
Florals? For Summer? Not groundbreaking. But for a tropical and or peak summer wedding, you can never go wrong with a flouncy floral frock. Yes, they can be expected for the season, but elevated floral looks dominated Spring-Summer runways from Chloé and Loewe to Erdem. From tiny patterned flowers and wispy Monet-style floral strokes to 3D floral embellishments that add some texture to the dress, whatever type of floral dress tickles your fancy, a stylish bloom is always a crowd pleaser.
A Strappy Dress
Edward Berthelot/Getty Images
Summer is the season of the strapless dress! And while a strapless dress can be worn for any type of wedding attire, it’s most ideal in the summer, when it’s hot and sticky and you don’t want anything weighing down your arms. Stapless dresses come in all lengths and styles, but you can break away from the typical straight-line bodice with a more unique top, like the ruched, sweetheart-style top above, which gives a chic, unexpected twist on the classic strapless look.
A High-Low Dress
Edward Berthelot/Getty Images
A high-low dress is a great way to beat the heat for any kind of summer wedding and works well for pretty much any dress code, from formal and cocktail to black-tie optional. High-low dresses come in many styles. From silk pleated, like the dress above to flowy chiffon, or a current favorite: the bubble hem look. High-low dresses have even become a popular dress option for brides.
Mermaid Sequins
Edward Berthelot/Getty Images
People always think you can’t wear sequins to weddings. But they’d be mistaken. There’s an appropriate way to wear embellishments and not upstage the bride. Mermaid sequins, also known as matte or clear sequins, are often the best way to do so. They shimmer and normally look beautiful on pastel shades, but aren’t too flashy and give just the right hint of sparkle. And if the bride is wearing sequins for her second dress or after-party look, you’ll complement her sparkle but not in an overpowering way.
Luxe Linen
Getty Images
Yes, linen is a casual fabric, but it’s also clean, elegant, and can easily be dressed up. So why not elevate summer’s favorite material for a warm-weather wedding? A linen maxi or midi dress, with a sleek silhouette like the one above, can be easily dressed up for a summer wedding occasion with a pair of stylish heeled or wrap-around sandals and statement accessories such as a matching clutch or dangly, embellished earrings.
Chic Cut Outs
Claudio Lavenia/Getty Images
Believe it or not, there’s a tasteful way to do cut-outs for a wedding. And no, they don’t always have to scream sexy or look like a revealing naked dress. But in the summer, who’s to judge you if you want to show a little skin? Especially at a wedding with a tropical setting or just a hot, outdoor. Cut-out dresses are great for festive formal and cocktail dress codes, where you have a bit more free rein with the attire. So if you want to rock a dress with side cut-outs, go for it. Just try to balance out the cutouts with some sleeves or ruffles—anything that doesn’t make the cutout the center aspect of the dress.
A Classic Cocktail Dress
Jeremy Moeller/Getty Images
In the summer, unless it’s a strictly black-tie wedding, cocktail-themed weddings tend to reign supreme due to the hot weather and varying outdoor locales. So it’s only necessary to have a good cocktail look for said wedding occasion, which can range from a versatile midi dress to matching sets and sometimes approved minis (depending on the formalness of the event). But more often than not, minidresses are reserved for casual and semi-formal weddings…or whatever after-party affair is planned.
Sweet-n-Sexy Sheer
Raimonda Kulikauskiene/Getty Images
If you want to rock the sheer trend at your next wedding, summer is the season to do it. A favorite look on both the red carpet and runways, sheer looks are certainly more acceptable in the hot summer months, especially with fabrics like chiffon, tulle, mesh, and organza. But if you want to show some leg (in a subtle sexy way) do so in a sheer look that has an opaque bodice with a sheer skirt or sleeves that will complement the see-through aesthetic. Or try layering a sheer top over a dress or skirt for a layered, unexpected alternative sheer look.
Festive Fringe
Christian Vierig/Getty Images
Fringe is always a good idea for a warm-weather occasion. Sure, fringe can be worn year-round, but it’s something about colorful festive fringe in the summer that adds an extra je ne sais quoi to a standard look. Plus, fringe pushes air around and can help keep you on the cooler side on a hot day. From feathers and tassels to crystal and fluffy knit, there’s an assortment of fringe possibilities that are vibrant, versatile, and work with pretty much any wedding dress code.
Romantic Ruffles
Valentina Frugiuele/Getty Images
Similar to fringe, ruffles are a playful, feminine accent that reflects the joy and carefree nature of summer. Whether you’re in a ruffled hemmed maxi dress, a frilly ruffled skirt, or an all-over ruffled garment, it’s hard to resist the added texture and movement of a romantic ruffled look for a summer wedding.
Bold Colors
Jared Siskin/Getty Images
Summer is the season of vibrant color and bold hues. If you’re not going to jazz up your summer wedding fit with some fringe, ruffles, or other accents, then don’t be affair to rock some bright colors. We’re talking cherry red, a striking pickle green, aperol orange, and let’s not forget Hailey Bieber’s color of the season: lemontini yellow. In the fall and for more formal weddings, people tend to lean towards darker hues, jewel tones, and black. So summer is the opportunity to rock a bright shade you’d normally shy away from. After all, isn’t that what we have sunglasses for?
Summer-inspired Matching Skirt Set
Edward Berthelot/Getty Images
Not to be confused with your cute matching shorts set that you’d wear to the beach or to run errands in, matching skirt sets are becoming more popular for spring and summer wedding events, especially those that are strapless or sleeveless. Comprised of a midi or maxi skirt, these types of sets are a fresh take on formal wear that is both modern, put-together, and versatile. Wear the full set to the ceremony and style another look with just the top or skirt for the day after or before events!
