It’s wedding season, people! Finding a dress to wear to a fancy occasion can be tough, especially when the ceremony’s held in Florida where the heat and humidity are not your friends. Here’s some basic guidelines on dressing for various wedding ceremonies:
Church ceremony:
If there is a church ceremony before the reception, be sure to dress appropriately. That means no exposed shoulders or cleavage, and a dress that should at least be two inches past your fingertips. Try bringing a shawl or light-weight sweater if you wear a strapless piece (it’ll help with the cold AC air too). A light, pastel-colored dress will work with low wedges and a relaxed hair-do. Once the reception begins after, you can relax your outfit by removing your shawl and enjoying the party.
Beach wedding:
Beach ceremonies are generally more relaxed than any other wedding. This allows guests to wear pieces that they feel comfortable in; i.e. flowy dresses, linen pants and even bowling-style Hawaiian shirts. A maxi dress or a short structured one will work as long as you keep in mind that the shoreline can be windy. Flat shoes will be ideal for walking around, especially if it’s on the sand. Your hair and makeup should be neutral and natural too to tie in with the wedding’s relaxed theme.
Country wedding:
A wedding in the country is always a fun time. Show your happiness for the bride and groom in a dress with a fun color or pattern. You might want to wear your hair up because of the inland heat and all the dancing that’s sure to come. Your feet will thank you for wearing wedges as you walk through the grass without your heels sinking in.
Evening ceremony:
Weddings at night are generally black tie affairs (your invitation should clearly state the dress attire). If so, then you’re going to need to dress up a little more than usual. I would choose a dress in a darker color (maybe even black, if that’s the protocol) but glam it up with a styled hairdo and nice jewelry like dangling earrings. Heels might be expected, but a nice pair of flats could work too.
If you find yourself with a wedding invitation and nothing to wear, try renting a dress through Rent The Runway. They’ll send you your dress, and an additional size in case of a fitting issue, and you can keep it for 3-5 days for your event. They’ll even dry clean it for you. I used them last year for a summer wedding, and they were great! If a dress sent to you doesn’t work or fit, the cost is dropped.
I also recommend searching on Ebay or investing in one really great versatile dress. J. Crew, Shoshanna, Lilly Pulitzer and Shopbop all have pretty, basic dresses that can be used for multiple occasions if you switch up the accessories.
