Ah, wedding season, which more often like not falls during the summer months, meaning that as soon as it's warm enough to contemplate bare arms, you've guessed it, it's time to look for that summer wedding guest dress. What should be at fun opportunity to dress up can often feel overwhelming and/or never-ending if you have back-to-back celebrations and need several wedding guest dresses. What we really want is an all-around winner that will look good for the whole day not just the canapés part of proceedings - and, as it's summer, something that will feel as easy and as breezy as possible.
The first thing to consider is the fabric of your wedding guest dress. Look for designs in linen, which can look surprisingly chic at formal occasions, cotton or silk, which are likely to feel slightly more breathable in the midday sun than anything synthetic. Then think carefully about silhouette. Something form-fitting is undeniably fabulous, but an empire-line cut might be more comfortable, especially if your friend's wedding falls during a heatwave when temperatures could easily clear 30 degrees. A mini dress is also perfectly acceptable during summer - or any time of year, really, if worn with sheer tights when it's not quite so balmy - so don't forget to look at shorter-and-sweet options that you could pair with flat sandals to balance out the stretch of leg on show.
Grazia's Fashion Assistant, Gavi Weiss's Festival Outfit Picks (as seen on Grazia Style Clinic):
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The vibrant colour of this dress is sure to turn heads and the pleated fabric gives it a unique and flattering quality.
rixolondon.com
An animal print is a stylish option if you want to avoid florals. This silk dress is light enough to wear on hot summer days and the ruffle details on the side add flair.
www.next.co.uk
With an elegant silhouette, this dress is perfect for formal dress codes. Also, it's a great option if you want to keep your arms covered but it’s just too hot for long sleeves.
www.ratandboa.com
Between the colour and the slinky silhouette, this dress was made to stand out. Perfect for weddings or events abroad, this dress is best paired with an Aperol spritz and the Italian sun.
If you have wedding guest dress fatigue, an elegant suit can be a great alternative. This stunning sophisticated taupe colour is perfect for summer weddings.
www.whistles.com
These trousers are great to add to your summer capsule wardrobe, when you’re not wearing the full suit, they can be styled with a t-shirt for an elevated, casual look.
The Best Summer Wedding Guest Dresses At A Glance:
Best Satin Summer Wedding Guest Dress (Editor's Choice): Ghost Chloe Satin Midi Dress
Best Floral Summer Wedding Guest Dress: Ted Baker High-Neck Floral Satin Slip Dress
Best Subtle Summer Wedding Guest Dress: Arket Sheer Maxi Dress
Best Bold Summer Wedding Guest Dress: Pucci Vivara Printed Tulle Maxi Dress
Once you've decided on the fabric and fit, you can start thinking about colour. The kind of shades you might associate with a tequila sunrise - punchy orange, yellow, red pigments - will most definitely pass muster on the summer wedding circuit, as will more unusual but equally look-at-me shades like chartreuse, fuchsia, violet and turquoise. At the other end of the spectrum you've got ice-cream pastels, which are a go-to for all wedding guest outfits - and for good reason. Finally, don't forget about black wedding guest dresses, which look oh-so-chic in sultry temperatures - and are absolutely fair-game for a wedding (if you're nervous, do check with the couple beforehand).
Looking for the most glamorous summer wedding guest dress doesn't have to be a pain. With picks from Arket, Me+Em, Tove and more, as well as a range of lengths and styles to suit all preferences, here are the top wedding guest dresses of the season.
Shop: The Best Summer Wedding Guest Dresses
www.net-a-porter.com
Already restocked after selling out, Tove's ruched tomato red midaxi dress would look sublime with flat lace-up sandals for an effortless summer vibe.
Best Tiered Summer Wedding Guest Dress
www.needleandthread.com
With floral tulle, Needle + Thread's Hummingbird Ballerina Dress is a divine wedding guest dress for summer. Plus, it comes in mini, ballerina and maxi lengths, so the choice is yours.
www.net-a-porter.com
As one of the best labels in the business for exuberant prints that spell 'summer', Pucci's printed tulle maxi dress is a no brainer for wedding guest season.
www.ghost.co.uk
If satin is more your style, Ghost has a range of gorgeous summer colours in this button halter-neck midi dress, including this creamy pink that will suit any month of summer.
www.whistles.com
Simple, sleek and effortless, Whistles gets wedding guest dresses right with this Gemma Strapless Maxi - perfect for the hot summer weather. Who could possibly say no?
www.tedbaker.com
With its blown-up print and chic high neck, Ted Baker's knocked it out of the park with this twist on traditional florals.
www.reiss.com
As its name would suggest, this satin dress has a high-low hemline that will keep people guessing. Plus, with a plunging back, you'll hopefully feel as cool as you look.
rixolondon.com
This sleeveless polka dot frock will be a breeze to wear in summer, especially if you pair it with a straw hat to shield your forehead from the sun.
www.karenmillen.com
For a friend's summer wedding that will most definitely involve a disco, you couldn't do better than this fabulously sequinned frock.
www.nobodyschild.com
If polka dots and florals aren't your vibe, why not try something bolder in the form of cream-and-brown deckchair stripes courtesy of Nobody's Child?
www.meandem.com
Available in two shades - cinnamon and ultra pink - Me+Em's cotton voile halter-neck dress would bring some boho-luxe to your friend's nuptials, which, especially in sultry temperatures, is never a bad thing.
www.stories.com
This gilded satin dress - somewhere between cream and gold - has a kind of empire silhouette that means it won't cling to your body (great when it's balmy).
www.arket.com
Another barely-there gold dress but with an extra bit of diaphanous energy, Arket's sheer maxi dress can so easily be dressed up with gold jewellery.
www.thereformation.com
For a height of summer wedding with a black tie dress code, this yellow gown - shade = sunshine - most definitely fits the bill with its thigh-high slit and strapless neckline.
What material is best for a summer wedding?
The best material for a warm (and possibly clammy) summer wedding has to be linen. The natural fibres mean that it's cool against the skin and tends, more often than not, to be cut on the breezy side.
What are the best accessories for a summer wedding?
A lot of couples now provide either parasols or hand-held fans so that their guests can cool themselves down, while looking impossibly chic it has to be said. While you can get some pastel-coloured electric fans that would certainly do the job, a wooden fan probably makes slightly less ambient noise.
When it comes to shoes, it might be worth forgoing stilettos for a slightly easier to navigate kitten or block heel. I also think rope espadrilles with romantic ankle-tie straps really come into their own during the summer months - and seeing as they're usually the colour of straw, they'll go with whatever shade of dress you choose.
But the most important accessory of all - a non-negotiable, in fact - is plenty of sun cream.
Caitlin Casey is a Senior Beauty & Fashion Products Writer for Grazia. She covers shopping, women's lifestyle, popular culture as well as all things trending.