Introduction It’s that time of year again: a time for barbecuing, beachgoing, and dipping into your savings account to cover the costs of wedding season. Booking airfare and hotels, selecting gifts, and shopping for appropriate attire for these events can seem like a full-time job, but this what-to-wear guide for seven different types of weddings does some of the heavy lifting for you—and won’t break the bank.
For a Beach Wedding
Nanette Lepore’s Tropical Heat dress will make a splash at any beach wedding with its vivid orange background, bold floral details, and bubble hem. Detachable straps let you enjoy the sun on your bare shoulders while you watch the “I do’s.” ($398, Nordstrom)
For a Church Wedding
A wedding in a house of worship calls for a dress that’s all class and not too much flash. With its simple silhouette and pretty embroidery, this Kate Spade frock will have even the bride’s and groom’s most conservative relatives saying “amen” to your elegant style. ($375, Bloomingdale’s)
Naturally, you don’t want to outshine the bride at her own wedding, and what better way to blend into a garden-party setting than by choosing Corey Lynn Calter’s chrysanthemum-patterned Backswept silk dress? Its bright colors and keyhole back provide just the right amount of pizzazz. ($268, Anthropologie)
For a Black-Tie Wedding
A black-tie summer wedding means gorgeous gowns that celebrate the season with vibrant colors and light fabrics. Notte by Marchesa’s draped teal silk-chiffon gown fits the bill perfectly—you’ll feel like a Greek goddess (in a hue that showcases your suntan) from the start of the ceremony till the moment you kick off your stilettos to get down to some serious dancing. ($696.50, Net-a-Porter)
Whether you’re celebrating at a winery or in a park, Tibi’s 100 percent silk lavender Athena dress will do you just right. Its tiers of ruffles, halter neck, and graphic bird print are ultra-flirty and fancy-free—now go find a cute groomsman to build a nest with. ($285, Piperlime)
Roberto Cavalli may never have met the famed landscape painter Georgia O’Keeffe, but this stunning silk-chiffon gown with a split waterfall front evokes the shapes and colors the artist rendered so memorably during her career. Keep your hair, makeup, and accessories simple—you don’t want to gild the lily in this masterpiece. ($1,700, Net-a-Porter)
So what if it’s summer? Black is always acceptable at a wedding where the bride and groom enter the reception to Black Sabbath’s “Crazy Train” and give out shot glasses as party favors. This Sue Wong stunner features an elaborately embellished neckpiece and front cutout to give it just the right amount of va-va-voom—in other words, not so much that the guests will mistake you for a Mötley Crüe groupie. ($348, Bloomingdale’s)
