3 Simple Rules for Styling Yourself this Wedding Season
With the return of wedding season after a long event drought during the global pandemic, I have clients itching for assistance with their wedding guest looks. Weddings can be the biggest events you’ll attend all year and while you might enjoy dressing up - the pressure to look great “for the gram” becomes overwhelming. But I’m here to tell you, dressing for a wedding doesn’t have to be stressful - follow these three simple rules and you’ll fly through wedding season with ease.
Location, Location, Location!
The wedding venue can give you a lot of inspiration for your event look. If you’re stuck with what to wear, do some browsing of the wedding venue to help spark an idea (and also help guide what’s practical). Is the wedding on a beach in Cabo? Think about shoes you can realistically wear in sand and build from there. Okay...so you’ll probably wear some embellished sandals, what dresses look good with that? Maybe a flowy maxi or a silk midi to feel like a boho beach goddess.
What else screams cabo? Bright colors - Coral, Blue, Yellow etc. Might want to save Burgundy for your upcoming winter wedding in the city.
See? With just location scouting, you already have an idea of what vibe you’re going for. Whether you are shopping for a new outfit, borrowing a friend’s or reusing a dress, think about how the location can guide you.
My husband and I heading to black tie wedding. Him in a tux, me in a full-length gown.
Respect the Bride (and Groom)
The bride and groom (but let’s be real, mostly the bride) have been putting in at least a year of effort to plan this special day. From the invitations, to seating arrangements, to flowers, to silverware, there is not one detail on this day they haven’t thought about. So as a guest who gets to enjoy free food, beverage and dancing for an evening, the least you can do is dress according to the dress code. They curated their event to fit their wedding day vision and you, as a guest, are part of that vision!
Here’s an easy guide to wedding dress codes:
Casual - Yes it says “casual” but jeans, sneakers and tank-tops should be off-limits for any wedding! If you’re a man, a short-sleeve button-down with khakis is appropriate while for women, a casual summer dress, skirt + blouse or even nice trousers/palazzo pants will work.
Semi-formal - This is one step above casual but still not very formal. Think casual summer dress but dressed up with a nicer pair of heels. A maxi with some embellishment or a midi made of less-formal material is appropriate. For men, a dress shirt and slacks will work great.
Cocktail - Hopefully you know how to dress for cocktail attire by now but here’s a reminder. For men, go with a suit (no tie is optional) or slacks + sports coat. For women, a shorter dress (mini or midi) is the way to go. Cocktail dresses in winter can include lots of sparkles and bling where in the warmer months, you may want to stick with patterns/bright colors.
Formal/Black-tie optional - One step above cocktail, you should stick to a pretty formal dress. While full-length isn’t a requirement, you probably don’t want to do any length above the knee. Stick to heavier/more luxe material. Men - if you have a tux, wear it! If not, a black suit with tie is the next preferred option.
Black Tie - This designation is as it states - black tuxedo! Without the “optional” they really are expecting every man to be in a tux and every woman to be in a full-length gown. Bring out all of the stops with the glitz and glam.
White Tie - This might be the rarest of dress codes but it happens! I, myself, have attended a White Tie wedding. This is the most formal you can get - women should wear ballgowns (not just full-length) and men should wear a tuxedo with tails (yes, tails). If you really want to fit the occasion, wear gloves with your gown.
Want a more detailed explanation? Check out this article in Brides.com
A Dress Does not a Look Make.
Okay, you found a great dress….but that isn’t the end! The more formal you get with the dress code, the more you need to BRING IT with the accessories, hair and makeup. One of the biggest mistakes I see people make is that they buy a dress and believe their work is done. Not the case! On a special occasion like a wedding, you should take everything on your body into consideration. Be thoughtful about your shoes and jewelry. Not only do you want to be practical (walking on a lawn in stilettos is not fun), you can also use these elements to really make your outfit POP.
In the example above, you can see that the dress (while bright) is a “blank canvas” in terms of silhouette and we really bring up the volume with some platforms and fun earrings.
You can also use these extras to your advantage. If you’re afraid your cocktail dress isn’t formal enough, use these other elements to elevate the look! The same thing applies if you don’t have a long gown for a black tie event - pull up your hair into an up-do and bring on the costume jewelry. I did just that for the white tie event below where I didn’t have a “ballgown” or white gloves…but I did have a bejeweled choker and hair teased to the heavens - using the extras to my advantage.
Even your hair and makeup play into your “look”. Think about how a pop of red on the lip may bring a “Hollywood Glam” look to your sparkly dress and then style your hair in soft waves to match. Get out of your comfort zone and play around - nothing turns heads more than bringing something unexpected.
So for your next wedding, don’t fret for weeks scouring the internet for the “perfect dress”. Follow these simple rules and you won’t fail.
