What to wear to a summer wedding (and still feel like you)

Got a big event coming up? Be it a birthday, wedding, bar or bat mitzvah or baptism – outstanding occasionwear takes planning and prep time. The most stressful experiences usually stem from leaving your shopping to the last minute, particularly if you want to beat the Rental rush.

‘The arrival of a wedding invitation means I immediately start thinking about what I'm going to wear,’ says Catherine Summers of award-winning blog Not Dressed As Lamb.

Emma Rose Thatcher, fashion stylist extrtaordinaire, agrees. ‘I’ll usually start browsing a month before to see what’s about and then narrow my options nearer the time.'

British summertime – it is what it is. So do consider a cover-up. Former Vogue stylist and Graham St founder Hannah MacLeod says, ‘I’ve seen so many wedding guests who are wearing beautiful outfits but have obviously decided at the last minute that they need something warm and have put any old coat over the top and ruined it.’ When it comes to dressing for a summer do, plan for every eventuality.

So, how do you choose something to go with your outfit? ‘A duster coat will hang beautifully and will suit anything from a shorter dress to a midi dress to a jumpsuit,’ Catherine says. ‘It’ll keep you warm for those outdoor photos but doesn’t completely cover up – or compete with – an outfit like a heavy coat would. For very cold days, cropped faux-fur is another great option.’

Hannah’s advice? Think: coat first. ‘If you think it’s likely that you’re going to have to wear a coat or a jacket to the wedding, then I would build your outfit around it. I know it sounds quite extravagant as coats and jackets can be expensive, but your overall wedding outfit will look so much better.'

‘We all have that fear of turning up in the same outfit, so accessories can help to keep your look individual,’ Emma says. ‘I love a pop of colour at a wedding. If you’re wearing print, pick out a colour and accessorise with a brightly coloured clutch bag.’

‘I'm a big fan of statement jewellery,’ Catherine says. ‘My tip when you have several weddings coming up is to invest in a solid-colour dress in your favourite silhouette, then dress it up with different jewellery, belts and shoes, maybe a hat, to make it look like a new outfit each time. It won’t be as obvious as if you wore the same bold print dress to more than one wedding.’

Speaking of hats, Hannah has some great advice. ‘It used to be that most wedding guests would wear a hat, but I’ve found that people are wearing them less and less. If you do want to wear one, think about the hat first and work the outfit around it.

‘If you’re looking to wear the hat again and again, then I would keep the colour palette neutral. Navy and cream are always good bets. If you’re keen not to wear a hat but would like something in your hair then vintage-style hair slides are a great option.’ 

‘I think people go wrong when they have this idea in their heads of what wedding guest outfits should look like and wander too far from their usual style,’ Hannah says.

Ditch the dress! ‘Don’t be afraid to think outside the box. I always say try to stick as closely as possible to what you would wear in your everyday life. So if you’re generally a jeans and T-shirt kind of person, then wear smart trousers and a blouse, a jumpsuit or even a co-ord set.' 

Equally, if you don’t usually wear heels, are you going to feel comfortable walking and standing in them for a whole day and night? Probably not. There are lots of great occasion flats to choose from now – high heels aren’t the only wedding option out there.