What To Wear as a Summer Wedding Guest
Wedding season is well and truly upon us! Whether you are the best man, maid of honour, or someone’s plus one, a summer wedding is always the perfect excuse to get dressed up. However the world of dress codes can be a tricky one to navigate, so here is a handy guide on what to wear to any kind of wedding this summer –
Casual Wedding
You may see the “casual” dress code and assume that means there are no rules. However, it is still important to put thought and consideration into an outfit and show up looking smart, even when the dress code is laid back. For a casual-dress wedding it is also important to get some Ideas of wat the bride, groom and other guests are wearing, if possible, because accidently being over dressed can be even more embarrassing than being under dressed.
There are many options for casual summer dress, but for ladies think something along the lines of a summer dress, maxi dress or skirt and blouse combination, and for gentlemen, a pair of chinos and a dress shirt. Avoid super-casual items such as jeans and trainers, unless the wedding invitation specifically specified that they are acceptable.
Shop these socks here
Semi-Formal Wedding
The dress code “semi-formal” can often lead to some confusion, however when you get into it. It is relatively simple. For gentlemen, this means a suit jacket, collared shirt and dress trousers and loafers or brogues, but a necktie isn’t required. For summer, a suit jacket and trousers can easily get warm, opt for lighter colours such as a stone grey or beige, and if the wedding has a colour scheme, a pastel-coloured suit or shirt is a nice way to be on theme.
Shop these socks here, Soho socks, Made from Egyptian cotton, perfect for summer.
For women, this dress code provides a lot of flexibility. A jump suit or knee length dress paired with dressy sandals or heals are always a good call for a semi-formal summer event.
Formal Wedding
Navigating formula wear in warm weather can be tricky, as it is often hard to reach a balance between looking smart and keeping cool. For some tips and tricks on how to achieve this, look at our recent blog post on how to stay stylish in a heatwave here.
TLDR; Colour and fabric are key- at a formal occasion such as a wedding where you are required to wear a full suit all day, picking a light colour suit made from linin and light cotton is the best way to make sure you don’t overheat.
For women, gowns made of lightweight fabrics such as chiffon or silk always look classically elegant, and you can have fun with seasonal colours and floral prints.
Other Things to Consider
Location and Weather.
Summer is such a popular time for weddings as it opens a whole new world of venue options. If you are attending a wedding on a beach or somewhere else outdoors, you should consider coordinating sunglasses or a wide brimmed hat to your outfit to keep yourself protected from the sun while socialising outdoors. Of course, Ideally these items will be removed for pictures, but are acceptable to wear while attending outdoors events.
Accessories
Accessories are the best way to pull an outfit together and elevate a look. Especially when wearing lighter fabrics such as chiffon or linin, they can look more casual than intended, so dressing your outfit up with some jewellery can be a great way to make sure you still look and feel fancy while dressing for the weather.
Shop these socks here
Wedding Theme
Many wedding invitations come with a theme or colour pallet, it’s polite to stick to the given theme as best as you can, If you are a member of the bridal party or grooms’ men, then you may plan on matching or coordinating your outfits, so check with the bride/groom/organiser on what is appropriate. One fun way to coordinate your groomsmen’s outfits is with matching socks, shop our specially selected groomsmen giftbox’s here.
And here are the Lux Taylor socks from that set styled in some wedding-ready looks!
Remember, although it is always important to wear something you feel comfortable in, you are a guest at someone else’s big day, so sticking to theme is an important way to show the newlyweds that you care about making their wedding day as special as possible.
Wedding Customs
It is well known that it is a social fopaux to wear white to another person’s wedding, and although non-traditional choices are becoming more and more popular these days, it’s always best to air on the side of caution and avoid wearing white or anything that resembles it unless explicitly told by the bride that it will be okay. It is also considered polite to avoid wearing an outfit that is overly bold or patterned, as it could be seen as trying to outshine or draw attention away from the couple. So, if not given specific instructions, then muted colours, pastels, or simple patterns are a good way to play it safe.
It is also important to remember that every culture and religion will have different traditions surrounding dress, so if you aren’t sure on what is or isn’t appropriate it can go a long way to do some research online, or ask a member of the bridal party or wedding planning team for advice.
