With the start of the wedding season just a few weeks away, I thought this was a great time to give some tips and advice to help you put together some great outfits for these joyous celebrations. As always with fashion, age is a factor when deciding what to wear… but you might be surprised how far down the list that consideration falls.

FIRST CONSIDERATION: Dress code or No Dress Code.

There are six dress codes that a couple could choose to have for their wedding guests. To understand each of these, I’m using the information found on the invitations on the Dawn website.

Dress codes: what to wear

1. Casual – casual dress suitable for the season

2. Cocktail/Semi-formal/Smart Casual Attire – Cocktail Dress

3. Themed Outfit – Determined by the couple (See #5 Vintage below)

4. Formal Wear/Black Tie Optional: Floor-Length Dress or Evening Pantsuit

5. Black tie – formal dress

6. White Tie – long ballroom dress

If there is a dress code that will narrow your options, but there is still room for a lot of imagination! If there is no dress code, you can proceed to the next consideration.

SECOND CONSIDERATION: Theme or style of the wedding

There are many themes/styles but I will mention the eight most common ones. Understanding the theme/style can help you decide what to wear if the invitation doesn’t have a dress code.

Theme/Style (ranked from most formal to most informal) – Suggestions of what to wear

1. Classic or traditional: from a cocktail dress to a long dress

2. Contemporary or Elegant: Cocktail Dress or Wide Leg Jumpsuit

3. Romantic or Backyard/Vineyard: Cocktail Dress or Wide Leg Jumpsuit

4. Industrial inspiration: any of the above

5. Vintage – Depending on the era the couple chooses

6. Rustic or Country: Sundresses, Long Casual Dresses or Jeans and a Lace Top

7. Beach: Sundresses, Long Casual Dresses, Sarong Swimsuit

Your possibilities are endless – use these tips to get your creativity flowing.

THIRD CONSIDERATION: Time of day

A general rule of thumb is that the attraction becomes a bit more formal as the day progresses into the night.

Now you can narrow it down even further and start thinking about the details of the garments and start putting together ideas for accessories.

FOURTH CONSIDERATION: Adapt to inclement weather

Whatever outfit you choose, make sure you have a secondary option ready in case the weather turns nasty, or have a blanket or shawl…even a fancy umbrella to help you weather the weather!

FIFTH CONSIDERATION: What are the colors of the wedding?

If you know the colors that the couple have chosen for their wedding, you can choose to wear something that goes well with them. You usually don’t want to exactly match the colors if you are not part of the wedding party. However, something a little lighter or darker than one of the colors or a simple pattern that has one or more of the colors are good choices.

SIXTH CONSIDERATION: What do you see yourself best in?

This one is a bit tricky, because even though you want to look your best, you should never outshine the bride or the bridesmaids. This is the day of the bride to shine hers and hers bridesmaids hers with her, so consider what looks best on you and then tweak it up a bit. That might mean that instead of wearing a very short, bodycon dress with high heels, choose a bodycon dress just above the knee and any heel OR a slightly looser dress that’s short with high heels. Another example would be that instead of wearing a low-cut, off-the-shoulder jumpsuit, you could go with a slightly higher neckline with a low back. The changes are endless…

DO NOT skip this consideration. It will keep you from gossiping behind your back at the wedding and for weeks afterward.

SEVENTH CONSIDERATION: Appropriate Age

This is not good for my younger readers and bad for the older ones. Again, it’s all about modifications. You want to look stylish while still being age appropriate. Those of you who are younger have more options, although I would recommend ALL of you, no matter your age, study yourself closely in a three-way mirror – standing, sitting, walking, and leaning! The word modest means showing grace to the onlooker and that should be your goal when attending a wedding. You don’t want to be a distraction to any other guests or anyone in the wedding party. Those of us who are older need to spend even more time thinking about and studying how we look in an outfit…no matter how impressive it might be on the hanger or mannequin. As we get older, we can lose sight of (or sometimes choose to lose sight of) how our clothes look on us from different angles and in different body positions. Show no mercy with any outfit that doesn’t look its best at every angle and in every body position. Do not use something that you will later regret. Always opt for the side of the most classic pieces.

A good rule of thumb for those of us old enough to parent a couple:

Combine classic pieces with a trendy piece or two.

EIGHTH CONSIDERATION: Your Accessories

Accessories are what turn garments/pieces of clothing into outfits. Never underestimate the power of accessories. Here are some things to help you make good decisions.

1. Weddings are not the best place to wear oversized jewelry or brightly colored jewelry.

has. Choose earrings, bracelets, and necklaces that are more moderate in size

b. Pieces that are mostly metal with pops of color and sparkle are best.

2. Make your jewelry or your shoes/purse/belts/outerwear the main focus…not all of the above.

3. Choose shoes that are comfortable for hours of standing and dancing OR bring another comfortable pair for dancing that will complement your outfit and keep you in great shape.

My husband and I have two weddings to attend this summer. One is a rustic wedding and the other is traditional, so I get to choose two very different outfits in different colors with different accessories… some of which I already have in my closet and some of which I will have to purchase. I am already gathering ideas of what I will wear these two days based on everything I have written here.

So, I’ll leave you now to your own creative juices. TO ENJOY!