It’s wedding season! Are the invites rolling in? The first thought that crosses my mind when I open the invite is, “What can I wear to a summer wedding without breaking the bank and upstaging the bride?” That’s a long thought! Hey, just because it’s not your day doesn’t mean you can’t look stunning!
The main reason I have weddings on the brain is because my baby girl recently got married!
It seems like it was just yesterday that she got engaged. Actually, it was a year and a half ago! Of course, I’ll share a “She Said Yes” photo. These are photos my daughter took with her phone to share with the world via Instagram and Facebook. 🙂
Another reason I have weddings on the brain is because I had a contest on my Facebook page last month: I asked my readers to “Name one subject you would like for me to write about on my blog. I gave away a $25.00 Amazon gift card to the randomly chosen winner, Donna Porter! One of the subjects she wanted me to write about was weddings, so here goes.
First of all, let’s look at some do’s and don’t’s:
It’s A Do!
- Use good judgment – Keep it simple and refined.
- Wear cute, comfortable shoes (You’ll probably be mingling, standing, etc. a lot).
- Embrace soft, summer colors OR
- Wear bright prints (just not too bold) -think floaty floral numbers and floor-sweeping maxis.
It’s A Don’t!
- Don’t go too short.
- Don’t go too flashy – it’s too distracting.
- Don’t wear white or cream (White is reserved for the bride only unless you’ve been specifically asked to wear white).
- Don’t wear heels to an outside affair (you’ll sink into the grass, trip, fall, skin your knees, bleed, cry).
- Don’t wear black to a morning or afternoon wedding (evening is fine).
- Don’t show your boobs! That goes for the bride, too. I’ve been to far too many weddings where too much boobage was showing. That’s what tailors are for.
- Sequins belong to the night, not the morning or afternoon
- Denim – unless it’s a denim themed wedding – is always a don’t
Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s try to decode that invitation:
- Casual daytime wedding: Sundress (throw on a shrug if you’re not ready to bare your arms), linen pants suit, maxi
- Semi-Formal: Cocktail Dress
- Formal: A floor length or dark colored cocktail dress
- Black Tie: An evening gown or really, really nice cocktail dress
- White Tie: Evening gown only with awesome accessories
33 comments
No weddings this season for me. So no hunting up the perfect dress either! Those are really good tips you have given us up there. I will certainly remember them for next time someone invites me to a wedding.
My grandson had a beautiful southern outdoor wedding last weekend near Savannah at Woodlawn Plantation. It was an outdoor evening event but they requested their guest to be casual. Stacy wore khaki’s with a dress shirt and I wore a long summer dress.
We have one more wedding to attend this coming weekend which is also an evening affair but indoors at church so it will be a bit more dressy but still not formal.
I know you and your daughter will have so much fun planning the wedding. There is much to do. We traveled as far as Atlanta to scout venue’s when Tiffany got married several years ago. Have fun!
I love weddings, I love watching the moment of I do’s , doesn’t matter who it is for. I am a sucker for happy ending ( new beginnings too)
Loved your list of Do’s as well! I am going to have to keep them in mine for when I walk down the aisle! Thanks Love!
Congratulations to your daughter! Yes, it’s always so hard to figure out what to wear to a wedding, and nowadays, many weddings are casual, so you don’t want to be overdressed either 🙁
Your tip about not wearing high heels to an outdoor wedding is SOLID. They do sell little shoe guards now to help with that!
We are attending a friend’s wedding this summer and love your tips. Nice touch by giving us links where to get nice dresses. 🙂 I love Nordstroms for everything!
Congrats to your daughter! I love summer weddings! I never know what to wear to a wedding any time of the year but I’ve found summer the worst!
I guess my daughter doesn’t know the rules!!! She got married on a beach at noon…dress for guests was cocktail attire and since her colors were hot pink and black, she had me wear a black cocktail dress (barefoot at the wedding, flip flips at the reception)! It was great fun, but now son is getting married in the mountains in October…I have no clue what to wear for this one!! I’d really like to wear skinny jeans, awesome boots and a sweater…no way I’m doing heels!!!
Oh, how lovely…engagements are so fun, wishing all the happiest! What a gorgeous ring. 🙂 You’ve got some great tips. The summer around here brings beach weddings–definitely NO HEELS! Enjoy your planning, and I can’t wait to read about it along the way.
~Lorelai
Life With Lorelai
I hate having to pick out things to wear to weddings. It is the second most annoying part of a wedding (other than being asked when I am going to get engaged to the boyfriend). Great advice to what to wear.
These are great ideas! I do really like outdoor summer weddings. I’d love to go to one with lots of summery colors.
Congratulations to your dd’s engagement! It’s great to have this tips to help me get dressed for weddings. Good to mention staying hydrated for summer weddings as I had severe heat exhaustion bordering a heat stroke at a summer wedding.
Congratulations to your daughter! No wedding for me this year. But will keep these tips in mind. I never understood how someone would think Jeans would be an acceptable attire to a wedding.
Us guys have it easy 🙂 We only have a few options for a wedding anyways 🙂
This is all great advice!! WE attended a late spring wedding a couple weeks ago and it was amazing!
Congratulations to your daughter and I love how unique and different weddings can be! The smiles on the bride and grooms faces are always memorable to see!
Congratulations on your daughter’s wedding! I’ll bookmark this page as reference for my upcoming wedding! 🙂
It’s funny, the next wedding we have is in October, and I’m already trying to figure out what to wear LOL These are fantastic tips! And I totally agree about the boobs. If I as a well-endowed woman can cover them appropriately, anyone can ! LOL So excited to follow along with you as you plan your daughter’s wedding!
Congrats to your daughter and future son in law. I love that ring by the way. I have never been good at what to wear so these are awesome tips indeed. I can’t wait for my sons to get married off. Thanks for sharing.
I love summer weddings, but here in Florida it can get so hot that dressing for an outside or beach wedding is so hard. Love all the tips that you shared! Congrats on your daughters engagement!! So exiting!
Congratulations to your daughter! You will do an awesome job helping her plan her big day! I love shopping at TJ Maxx for dresses. They are so affordable and I always find some great clothes there!
No weddings this year, but I have to say that engagement ring is BEAUTIFUL! It is the best ring I’ve seen in a long time- lucky girl!
Great tips! I will actually be photographing a wedding next month and will definitely fit into your “Do” category! Great article!
Congratulations!! My little cousin is getting married this summer!! I can’t wait to celebrate.. I like your tip and will use them.
Really great things to remember. I’ve actually never been to a wedding, except when I was a flower girl way back when I was 4. People need to start getting married! 🙂
Congratulations to your baby girl! I love summer weddings (any kind of wedding actually). For summer weddings I love to wear pastel maxi dresses or floral printed chiffon dresses paired with gold or bejeweled sandals.
Congrats to you and your baby girl. How awesome. I was curious to read this post because we have several weddings this summer.
Congratulations to your daughter! You two will have so much fun planning! I don’t think we have any upcoming weddings to attend, but lots of babies being born this year! I agree with all your advice especially NO JEANS – I cringe every time I see this!
These are great tips! My sister is getting married this summer and asked me to be a bridesmaid. I insisted on a shorter dress because it is so hot here in July! Thanks for sharing
This is so helpful! I never know what is appropriate and what is not haha
First off, MAJOR congrats to your baby girl, Alli!!!!! THat is so stinkin’ exciting. And I literally bust up laughing reading “you’ll sink into the grass, trip, fall, bleed, cry” hahahaha. So true. I’m hitting up my cousin’s wedding in July, so I’m thinking about a pretty purpley paisley babydoll dress to keep it fun and airy but danceable and feminine. Do you approve? (:
cominguprosestheblog.com
Thanks for these great tips. I have often wondered what I need to wear, now I know. Thanks so much for linking up this week at #HomeMattersParty. Can’t wait to see what you link up next week.
Hey!!!
I read your blog it really nice! Also i like the do’s and don’t .I like that very much and these are really very helpful.And the prize is awesome that person is very lucky.And i like your idea also.
Thanks for share.