Invited to a wedding and not sure what to wear? We’ve got you covered with a few fashion dos and don’ts.
The most important thing to remember when shopping for a wedding is you want to look cool and stylish, but you don’t want to distract from the bride or draw attention for the wrong reasons. That’s why we recommend you use the wording on the invitation or the time of year to determine your wedding attire. But first, let us tell you the ground rules for dressing for a wedding. Rule number one: Don’t ever, ever wear white to a wedding. You should also avoid wearing white to pre-wedding festivities, like the engagement party, shower or rehearsal dinner. The only exception to this rule is if there’s an all-white dress code for one of the celebrations. Rule number two: Always be respectful to religious affiliations. If you know the wedding is going to be held in a Catholic church, it might not be a bad idea to cover bare arms with a sweater and avoid showing too much leg or cleavage. Rule number three: You can wear black to a wedding—it’s not off-limits. It used to be taboo to wear black to weddings, but now a little black dress is totally appropriate for an evening affair. Rule number four: It’s better to be overdressed than underdressed. If an invite says “black tie optional,” err on the side of caution and wear a long dress or dark suit or tux. Like your mom always said, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
What to Wear to a Summer Wedding
Dressing for a summer wedding is all about looking elegant while keeping it cool. Focus on wearing breathable fabrics so you don’t overheat during an outdoor wedding. Fight off heat and humidity and still look put together when you wear a longer dress made with light and airy fabrics like silk, chiffon, cotton or linen. Those made with vibrant colors and unexpected textures will add a summery twist to a floor-length gown. Dress up a cute sundress with chic heels or wedges. Keep a lightweight pashmina on hand, since the AC will most likely be on full blast. Dressing in light layers is even more important for men, who tend to get overheated (read: perspire) more easily. In the summertime it’s definitely okay for guys to ditch the tie and keep it casual with a loose button-down—just make sure to wear a jacket. And for outdoor beach ceremonies, it’s totally acceptable for men to forgo socks and just wear loafers or boat shoes with their slacks. But before you make any wardrobe decisions, pay attention to the dress code on the invitations. Even if it’s taking place in the middle of July, if a wedding invite says “black tie,” you’re going to have respect the dress code and wear a bow tie and tux. Our tips: Stay hydrated and get there early to claim a seat in the shade!