Summer Wedding Dress Codes: Do You Know What To Wear?

Tina, here.

My moment of reality came when the child of a dear friend married. We had received the "save the date" 3 months prior. And the invitation arrived a month prior. And... 15 minutes before time to leave for the wedding I opened my closet door to decide what to wear. I felt unprepared and a bit frumpy.

Look lower right-hand corner. Time to dry-clean your lounge suit. Image by Mark Hillary.

Wedding invitation arrived. Fear set in. Maybe it's a church ceremony, on a beach or in a backyard. (Are these lovebirds crazy? Yes. But we, sweating in the summer heat, love them and forgive their youthful plunge into matrimony in such a hot and humid month.) Or maybe it's an urban setting like the wedding I happened on one weekend in Chattanooga on a pedestrian bridge.

I hate to report that it rained during the ceremony. But we were fine - we were having ice cream inside. I doubt the bride and groom minded too much.

So how the heck are you supposed to dress for these weddings? An outdoor wedding can feel inherently less formal, but not so fast. Did you know that there is one thing that dictates the dress code for a wedding? And it's not the venue. Unless the invitation clearly states Beach Casual (dress pants and a button down for him; sundress and sandals for her) or Dressy Casual (summer suit for him and nice knee-length dress for her) then the time of the ceremony dictates the wedding guest dress code. Here's how to break it down, hour by hour.

Summer Wedding Dress Codes: By Time of Day

4:00 PM and Earlier - This wedding is likely to going to be informal, unless the invitation clearly states otherwise. Think garden, beach, small home wedding. Just because it's informal does not mean you can wear informal clothes. You still need to be wearing what honors the occasion and the bride and groom, like a pretty skirt and blouse or dress. You don't want to be the stain on their perfect day that will be memorialized for generations to come by comments over the years that will go something like this, "Oh yeah, that's the lady Granny and Pops said showed up in her work clothes."

"Casual" by wedding dress code standards is not the same as "casual" for other summer outings. The bride and groom (and their parents) will be super happy if you put a little effort into your outfit.

I can hear the heavy breathing and eyebrows being raised. I'm wearing white. To a wedding. It's ok, dolls. Here's why. First off, it's ivory. There's a difference. Secondly, I'm not wearing white (or ivory) lace. Thirdly, it's not a formal wedding, and it's a skirt and blouse as opposed to a dress, and it's a dot pattern which is not a traditionally wedding-y pattern. My favorite nurse, who also happens to be Southern like me, is cringing.

5:00 PM - This wedding is also going to be informal, but not quite as casual as a 4:00 PM wedding. Which is why it's tricky to dress for...so take the middle road. You may see "Smart Casual" on this invitation. Men should be in dress slacks and a dress shirt, a tie and sportscoat is optional, but reeeaaally encouraged.

Summer Wedding Dress Codes: Smart Casual

So a great compromise for an informal wedding/yet still respectful of the occasion is a nice church dress. Like something you would wear to a confirmation or even a luncheon. Your shoes can dress it up or down, depending on the type of venue. Shop similar dress inside the July Style Vault if you're a member, Style Notes section.

My dress is a knit, which means it's casual. But it's also nicer than a t-shirt dress, which means it's respectful of the occasion. And it's not black. It's charcoal grey with kind of some blue in it. Can you wear black to a wedding? I would say only if it's a black tie (i.e. formal) wedding because you can brighten it up with sparkly jewelry and accessories that would be inappropriate for a casual wedding. I'm wearing a black patent wedge, the perfect marriage, ha, of dressiness (the black patent) and casual ease (the wedge). A wedge is also great for an outdoor wedding. Style Vault insiders, shop this wedge inside the July Style Notes.

6:00 PM - Now things start to get interesting. Time to dry-clean your lounge suit. Whatever that is. A 6:00 wedding is almost always dressy casual, that oxymoron of a dress code. You'll see some people in run-around sundresses and others in embellished dresses. What to wear? Take into account the venue, the bride and groom's style and, of course, what the invitation says. If it says nothing, wear something on the dressier side. Men should be in a suit and a tie.

A modest going-out dress, re: not a work dress, and nice shoes are in order for a 6:00 PM wedding.

Pay attention to details like your clutch and jewelry. Your everyday handbag you shlep on your shoulder is not cutting it. Shop a similar clutch inside the July Style Vault, Style Notes, for members.

7:00 PM - This timeframe means one thing: semi-formal, which means a cocktail dress for women and a dark suit for men, unless otherwise specified.

Summer Wedding Dress Codes: Cocktail Dresses

Pull out your cocktail dress and wear it in all its glory. What do you mean you don't have a cocktail dress other than the one you bought 8 years ago and wore to that awards dinner? The time to buy a cocktail dress is when you find one you like, not when you need one. Cause you know you'll never find one.

So, what kind of attire is never appropriate for a wedding? Dresses that are white lace, immodest, or too casual. ALWAYS err on the side of being overdressed rather than being underdressed. Better to flatter your hosts than offend them.

8:00 PM - Formal. An 8:00 wedding is by definition formal. It wasn't the only time the church was available. It's on purpose and so you want to dress for it. If the invitation says white tie, whoa, this is fancy. White tie is always white tails for men and a very fancy, formal, floor-length dress for women. Black tie is always a tuxedo for men and a formal dress for women. Women can opt for a short dress or long in the summer, but for a fall, winter or spring wedding, floor length it is.

I don't have the appropriate dress so no one ask me to their 8:00 wedding yet please. KThanks.

Black tie optional? That means men can wear either a tuxedo or a nice, dark suit; women need to stick with a formal dress, either short or long.

My final thoughts for you, dolls. Respect the importance of the event by dressing up a little. You're witnessing these folks make a MAJOR commitment. And don't forget your presence there signifies your involvement to support that commitment for a lifetime. This is serious stuff. Not just a party. No pressure. Oh and one more thing. You don't have to wear hose in the summer.

To shop these looks our Vault insiders have already been buying, check out the Style Vault. All our fab must-haves in one place, with exclusive discount codes. Get ready...our upcoming August issue is full of new fall fashion!

And don’t forget our amazing Nashville Wardrobe Consulting services. Check out how you can access our in-store discounts and have us in person to get you to your most stylish self.

Thanks so much for reading. And here's the happy ending to the story I started telling you at the beginning of the post:

Along came Barbara. Sweet, compassionate, understanding Barbara. And she listened. What I wanted was a closet that had what I needed when I needed it. She cleaned out my closet and she listened to my life and then she scheduled the shopping. Just this week Barbara returned to my home to create my style book to show me all the different ways each item works. The measure of success is in the number of compliments I have received and the confidence I have every time I open the closet doors just knowing I am prepared for anything that is on my schedule.

~E. Spain

Best,

Tina