What to Wear to a Wedding as a Guest — 5 Outfits That Work

A summer wedding poses one challenge: how do you look elegant in 30°C heat? The answer lies in fabric, length and colour — not in abandoning elegance.

Wedding dress code — the ground rules

• Avoid white, ivory and ecru — those are the bride's colours
• Avoid black for outdoor summer weddings (fine for evening receptions)
• Midi or maxi length is safe — mini is risky
• Light fabrics: chiffon, silk, linen, viscose
• Colour: pastel, earthy or vibrant (avoid nude)

5 summer wedding guest outfits that work

1. Floral maxi dress

A floral maxi is the summer wedding classic. Floaty, elegant and comfortable in the heat. Add heeled sandals or wedges and a small bag. Perfect for garden or outdoor weddings.

2. Coloured wide-leg trousers + blouse

Wide trousers in bottle green, terracotta or cobalt with a delicate satin or chiffon blouse. Modern, breathable and ideal if you don't want a dress.

3. Off-shoulder midi dress

Off-shoulder or strappy in a pastel colour. Bring a shawl or small blazer for the evening when it gets cooler.

4. Matching co-ord set

A midi skirt and top in the same fabric look like a dress but give you more temperature control throughout the day.

5. Elegant wide-leg jumpsuit

Wide leg, V-neck, light fabric — a jumpsuit is the summer alternative to a dress that's making a strong appearance at weddings. In a muted colour it looks very elegant.

How Closie helps you plan your wedding guest outfit

Enter "wedding" as the occasion in Closie and add the date — the app checks the weather forecast and suggests outfits from your own wardrobe suited to both the temperature and the dress code.