We Asked A Stylist For The Best Summer Wedding Guest Outfit Ideas
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Wedding season has finally arrived – here’s how to navigate summer style as a guest
Calendar full of weddings? If the answer is ‘yes’, and you’re on the hunt for some style inspiration, look no further. Here, we bring you our ultimate guide to summer wedding season, with outfit ideas and top tips from a stylist.
Summer Weddings: A Guide
The year’s most sociable season is in full swing. Summer is ripe for nuptials – according to Weddings Hub, August is the most popular month for ceremonies in the UK, followed closely by July and June – and for wedding guests, this means days and nights celebrating their nearest and dearest. (Sometimes over back-to-back weekends.)
And with the weather hotting up, summer comes with a whole new host of wardrobe challenges. ‘The weather can completely change your approach to wedding dressing,’ says stylist and fashion writer Alice Hare. A heatwave immediately eliminates the need for extra layers, while also calling for accessories we might not usually think about (read: sunglasses and SPF).
VV Rouleaux SS26 | Photography: Vivi Suthathip, Hair and make-up: Olivia Todd, Model: Sapphire O’Neill, Location: Pylewell Park
Location is also key. ‘I think it depends on whether the wedding in question is abroad or in the UK,’ confirms Alice. ‘I went to a wedding in France last year where it was 40 degrees and I succumbed to a new accessory in the form of one of those very un-chic electric handheld fans. That and a hat with a brim so wide it kept the sun at bay and acted like a moving parasol for several other guests too.’ At home, we’re usually luckier. ‘English churches, marquees and town halls are all generally cool, even during a heatwave.’
Hear aside, there are plenty of wedding guest staples to fall back on in summer. ‘While winter wedding dressing calls for opulent fabrics like velvet in rich tones, summer weddings are the perfect time for all-out ethereal romance and frothiness,’ notes Alice. ‘Think romantic dresses that offer a modern, statement-making take on traditional English country florals.’ And for accessories: ‘A bag with a bracelet-style handle that you can dangle from your arm is a lifesaver,’ suggests Alice. ‘You can juggle an order of service, hymn book and a drink without worrying about dropping or leaving anything behind.’
(c) Alice Hare
The stylist adds that she too is preparing for a busy wedding calendar. ‘I’m attending my sister’s wedding in August,’ she tells C&TH. ‘My plan is to wear a sharply tailored dress by Alessandra Rich – it’s navy blue, polka dotted and has an exaggerated 80s collar with padded shoulders. It’s dreamy.’
The Edit: Summer Wedding Guest Outfit Ideas
A Stylist’s Top Tips: What To Wear To A Summer Wedding
A Good Hat Is Essential
A wedding guest tradition Alice sees coming back into fashion? ‘I am on a one-woman mission to bring back proper hats,’ says the stylist. ‘People are so terrified of them nowadays, but they are so transformative. Leave the headband at home and wear a proper hat – I guarantee you’ll be flooded with compliments.’
And it seems the bigger, the better. ‘A big hat brim and statement earrings made centre of attention by wearing your hair back in a sleek low bun is always so elegant.’
Invest In A Statement Skirt
Remember: you don’t have to wear a dress. A skirt will serve you just as well. ‘A statement skirt is a wonderful summer wedding guest look that will set you apart,’ agrees Alice. ‘The Spanish always wear them so well as wedding guests (the Spanish do wedding guest dressing better than anyone, I think). You can pair them with a clever shirt bodysuit for the top half, and get a very chic result.’
Or A Suit
That being said, you can just ditch the skirt altogether if it’s not your thing. ‘A suit is also a modern option for a summer wedding guest,’ says Alice. ‘But this doesn’t have to be a suit in the traditional sense – think of a more tailored co-ord, satin trousers and matching jackets, and beautifully finished shirts.’
If In Doubt, Coordinate
‘If you’re feeling overwhelmed by how all the working parts of a wedding guest outfit are going to work together, match your shoes to your bag to your hat colour-wise for immediate cohesion,’ suggests Alice.
No Wedges At The Wedding
Shoes are one of the trickier aspects to nail when it comes to a wedding guest outfit – especially in summer. But before you make a choice on shoes, heed Alice’s warning: ‘I cannot get on board with espadrille wedges at a wedding – they’re too casual,’ she says. ‘I hate seeing an otherwise killer wedding look ruined by a too-casual shoe like an espadrille. We need a heel with a razor-sharp toe point, pronto.’ And if you’re worried about sinking into the grass: ‘Add heel stoppers, they’ll save your shoes from the mud.’
Opt For Considered Layers
Hands up if you’ve chucked a shawl over your shoulders at a wedding. It’s hard to find layers that don’t disrupt a wedding guest outfit – but if you want to stay in style, Alice says it’s time to ditch the ‘pashminas, shawls or cardigans over wedding guest outfits. They are the reserve of 2007 for a reason. They always end up looking like you’ve grabbed something last minute on your way out the door.’ Instead, if you’re worried about being cold, Alice suggests ‘a sharply cropped jacket or dress with light sleeves is a much better bet.’
VV Rouleaux SS26 | Photography: Vivi Suthathip, Hair and make-up: Olivia Todd, Model: Sapphire O’Neill, Location: Pylewell Park
Summer Wedding Guest FAQs
What Should You Wear To An Outdoor Summer Wedding?
As well as the above suggestions – a good hat, lightweight dress and heels – you’ll want a few more practical additions. Protect yourself from the sun with SPF and sunglasses, and ward off the evening chill with a cropped jacket.
Can You Wear White To A Summer Wedding?
While it’s perfectly fine to wear a white summer dress in more casual settings, at a wedding – whatever the season – it’s a big no. ‘It surprises me that this even needs to be stated, but I’ve seen it a lot lately,’ says Alice. ‘But as well as white (one rule!), neutral tones even in the vague realm of white are a no-go.’
What About Black?
Black is absolutely fine to wear to a summer wedding, although keep in mind it’s not as common a choice – especially for outdoor settings when the heat is high – but as long as you’re comfortable, you should be fine. Black is also a classic colour to go for the party setting later in the day; if you’re an evening-only guest, then a little black dress is a great choice.
