Peak wedding season is approaching, and you might have already received multiple invitations. So the obvious question is: What do you wear to a Summer wedding?
That’s exactly what I will help you answer in this post.
Hi, and welcome. I’m Alessia, the writer and founder behind Italy with an Italian.
If you’ve started going through your wardrobe, and looking at Summer wedding guest outfits inspiration, you are in the right place.
I have put together 15 elegant outfit ideas to get your imagination going.
While these are Italian-style outfits, the kind of outfits Italian women love to wear to weddings in Italy, they can work for any country. Simplicity and elegance are the common themes, and they work in London, or New York, just as much as they do in Italy.
You can use these outfits ideas in different ways:
- shop the outfits, provided they are still in stock;
- recreate them with similar pieces in your wardrobe;
- get inspired to create similar outfits that are completely you.
Table of Contents
What To Wear To A Summer Wedding In Italy: The Rules
Whether you are here because you are going to a wedding in Italy this Summer, or you are just looking for wedding guest outfit ideas, I am pretty sure you’re still intrigued by the silent rules behind wedding guest outfits in Italy.
You might be asking yourself whether they are the same as everywhere else. Well, let’s go through the most common ones, and you can then compare them to those in your country. While these are specific tailored to women, most of them apply to men too.
1. Dress elegantly, in an appropriate way for a wedding, and specifically for the wedding you are attending.
What that means is that unless you receive clear indication of the exact dress code, you should inquire about the location, look at the time of day, they type of ceremony and reception, and consider all those factors when choosing your outfit. Don’t forget to also consider the family culture and religion, and also the season and weather.
2. Dress in a way that makes you feel your best, but don’t exaggerate.
Anything that’s too exposing, flashy, and attention-seeking, is considered tacky and disrespectful.
It’s not just a question of upstaging the bride. It’s also about dressing in a way that complements the wedding instead of clashing.
3. The length and color of your dress are important, but the rules can be broken.
It all depends on the type of wedding you are attending. A formal wedding, a wedding hosted by a family with a strict culture and religion, might require you following the rules more closely. Instead, if you are attending a wedding that you know is going to be more relaxed and fun, you can let go of the rules, always within a limit.
Here are the rules, in case you are wondering:
- White is usually reserved to the bride, but you might be able to wear it if you know the bride is wearing a different color, or doesn’t mind. Just ask.
- Italian women love wearing black to weddings, especially in the evening. However, the right black outfit might also work for a morning wedding.
- When it comes to other colors, always consider the season, time of the day, type of wedding, and any dress code requests. In Summer, pastel colors are a great idea, but the neutrals are always a safe and elegant option.
- Prints, such as florals, are perfect options for more relaxed Summer weddings, like casual beach, garden and countryside weddings. Of course, you can find a floral dress that’s really dressy and elegant. However, the general consensus in Italy is that solid colors make a wedding guest outfit look dressier.
- Midi dresses are usually the most versatile option as they can be worn for day and evening events. However, for more formal weddings, floor length gowns are the best option in the evening. Again, if your dress is dressy but midi, you can still make it work with dressier accessories, hair and makeup.
- Dresses are not the only options. Italian women love wearing suits to weddings, especially with pants, or even dressy pants and blouses outfits. This can be a great option for civil ceremonies, and more relaxed celebrations like restaurant receptions.
- Shoes and bags are an important aspect of your outfit. No sneakers, and preferably no flats, unless you are someone who can’t wear heels or the wedding is going to be on a sandy beach. Smaller bags, like handheld clutches, are the way to go.
- As for jewellery, the best option is to keep it elegant, and choose the right option that complements your outfit, without looking too over the top.
- Hair and makeup should also be elegant, dressy, and complement both your features, colors, and your outfit.
Simple Tips For Choosing Your Summer Wedding Guest Outfit
Other than following the rules, fitting in with the other guests, or at least not standing out too much, your main goal is to feel and look beautiful, especially for us women.
In this section, I’d like to share a few tips on how you can do that every time you have a wedding coming up, simply and without breaking the bank. The latter is especially important if you are someone who has a full Summer of back to back wedding celebrations to attend.
1. Don’t panic shop.
Instead, follow rule number one above. Try to find out more about the wedding, and what’s expected in terms of dress code. Consider whether you have other weddings before or after it that will involve seeing the same people, and decide how comfortable you are wearing the same outfit.
2. Shop your closet first.
Use the outfit ideas below to shop your closet, especially if your bank account can’t handle another wedding dress and accessories purchase. You might have to buy a bag or a top, but that’s much better than an entire outfit. Of course, certain weddings will require more effort and involve more spending – think family weddings, ones where you might be more involved, or extra fancy ones.
If you are going to be a bridesmaid and want outfit ideas for that, read this guide: Elegant Bridesmaid Dresses You Can Shop. Don’t forget to share it with the bride.
3. Browse before you buy.
If you can’t find an outfit in your closet, the next thing to do is to come up with ideas for different outfits you can shop. When doing so consider your budget and what’s readily available to you – brands that ship directly and in time, easy return policies, reputable brands, etc.
4. Prioritise versatility, as much as possible.
By that I mean two things: firstly, if you are going to attend a more casual wedding, consider purchasing an outfit you can re-wear in your day to day life. This could be a dressy floral dress for a beach wedding; you can dress that down for Summer or wear it on vacation. Or it could be a suit that you can dress up for the wedding and then wear for the office, as a set or even separately.
5. Consider your accessories.
Don’t forget to shop your closet for the accessories. And if you are going to actually purchase them, try to choose options that can work with other wedding guest outfits already in your closet, or even pieces you might consider adding in the future. If you are someone who is invited to several weddings every year, the best thing you can do is build a collection of elegant and versatile pieces you can wear again and again.
These are the kind of pieces that tick both tips 3, 4, and 5 above.
6. Consider your hair and makeup.
Before you buy your outfit, put some thought into how you want your hair and makeup to look, more so your hair. That will help you achieve a more elegant and complete aesthetic.
7. Prepare yourself in advance for the big day.
You know what I am talking about – all the girly stuff we like to do. Going to the beautician, having our hair colored, maybe getting your nails done, and all that good stuff. Don’t leave it till the last minute.
8. Give yourself enough time to get ready.
While it’s not your big day, every occasion is a good occasion to celebrate and make the most of it. Take it from us Italians. It’s not just about looking good, but also feeling good, so you can have the best time. Set the mood in advance, and don’t rush.
9. Have fun with your outfit, and at the wedding too!
The most important thing when planning your wedding guest attire is that your outfit makes you feel comfortable and your best version of yourself, so you can stop worrying about it and have a wonderful time.
15 Summer Wedding Guest Outfits That Feel Effortlessly Elegant
Let’s start with two of my favorites, although, honestly, they are all my favorites.
The first one is such an elegant, yet simple look. It features this satin midi dress and this chiffon shoulder cover up.
The beauty of this look is that you can wear the two pieces together, you can remove the scarf for the reception, to reveal the dress. And you can change the outfit with your choice of accessories.
You can keep it simple with the silver sandals and minimal jewellery. But I’d like to show you that Italians are not afraid to add a pop of color, even when it comes to a wedding. The key is to do it in just the right dose, and make sure you are choosing a color that contrasts beautifully. Mustard is a great choice here.
The second look features a black chiffon cape. I would style this with an all black outfit like this: elegant black pants, black corset, and simple but contrasting accessories. I would choose silver, but gold, and any other metallic option would add more elegance to this outfit.
Do you agree that this outfit is very dressy and also feminine, while it doesn’t involve wearing a dress?
Next, I’d like to show you a way to take a dress you already own and style it differently for your next wedding. I am using this dress as an example, but this could work with any flared dress, as long as it’s not a dress with a very voluminous and stiff skirt.
The idea is to layer a contrasting but complementing blazer – in this case I am suggesting a light cream or white option. Then pair the accessories in a way that keeps the look elegant, minimal, and modern, but in a timeless way.
For example, I would prefer a bag that matches the dress for this outfit. Of course, if you don’t have it, you could also match your bag to the shoes or the blazer.
This next dress is a great outfit for a mother of the bride or a family member. It’s elegant, dressy, and simple. The fabric is stunning, and the color and length can work both for a morning and Summer evening event, provided it’s not a black tie wedding.
I plan to do an entire post about mother of the bride and groom outfit ideas, so keep an eye out if you have a family wedding coming soon, maybe even yours!
If you have ever wanted to wear a suit to a wedding but never quiet knew how to style it, I show multiple options in this suits guide. Here I am showing one way Italian women love to wear suits when they want to make them look more feminine, and less office wear.
The key is to pair them with very dressy and feminine shoes and accessories. You can wear a silk camisole under, but my favorite way is to button up the blazer and wear it in a way that creates a beautiful decolleté as well as cinching your waist.
Since it’s a Summer wedding, you can pull up the sleeves. If you didn’t know, you can use a clear elastic band to keep them up. Finally, make sure your hair and makeup is both elegant and feminine.
To make the outfit feel less corporate, you can choose a bright pastel like this beautiful butter yellow.
If you liked the idea of the blazer over the dress, perhaps you could recreate it with a floral dress you already own. You would be giving that dress an entire new look, as well as dressing it up. This works for less formal weddings, like a beach one. The blazer is a great cover up for when it gets a little chilly.
Jumpsuits are a great in between option between wearing pants and a dress. They are practically a sleeveless suit merged in one single piece, but when the pants are wide leg like these, they also look like a dress.
In any case, if you love them, let me show you two outfit ideas: one is more modern and the other is a little more classic. Perhaps, it could inspire you wearing that old jumpsuit in your closet, that you haven’t pulled out in years.
I know satin dresses are many women’s favorite dresses, especially lately. They fit the Italian timeless elegant style perfectly. Just be careful your body shape actually suits them.
For example, I don’t particularly love wearing them, because I feel they are too revealing, especially since I happen to be curvy. Although the right shapewear might help, this type of dress might not be the best if you have a larger tummy.
If you think your body suits them, here are four elegant options in different colors. You can shop all three here, provided they are still in stock.
Before I show you the final two outfit ideas with dresses, here’s another Summer wedding look with trousers. This one features a beautiful chiffon blouse that adds that classic elegance and femininity while keeping the vibe neither too dressy nor casual.
Italian women are known for loving blacks and neutrals, especially when it comes to dressing up. But there are many women who also love wearing bright colors like red, and pastels. The latter are perfect for a Summer wedding and can create stunning outfits like the one below.
My tip when wearing pastel dresses for a wedding is to choose the accessories based on the effect you want to achieve: metallic to dress them up, white/cream/skin color to keep the outfit balanced, or a contrasting bright color to make the outfit more fun.
Finally, but not least, sheath dresses are a great option for creating a very elegant silhouette. They are loved among women of all ages, especially the more mature ones. Here’s a beautiful example with contrasting black and silver brocade fabric.
I think this could even be a great mother of the bride option, especially for a younger mother of the bride who doesn’t mind wearing a strapless dress.
More Wedding Outfit Inspiration
If you found this guide helpful and inspiring, please give it a like and share it with a friend.
You’ll also find value in these other wedding guest guides.
Italian Women’s Guide To Gorgeous Suit Outfits (also for weddings)
Italian-Style Winter Wedding Guest Outfits
If you love Italian style or simply elegant fashion, I suggest reading this: Italian Women Style: 20 Pieces To Dress Like An Italian Woman
Want to connect with me, or get more Italian inspiration right in your inbox? I invite you to join my newsletter – Buona Settimana. I send one weekly email, every Sunday, and it’s like chatting with your Italian friend.
Thank you for reading.
A presto,
Alessia
