Well we’re smack-bang in the middle of another wedding season – there’s so much love in the air – but also that slight sense of panic when another glitter-filled invite (I”m looking at you Danika) arrives….. what the F do I wear to a garden/cocktail/lounge suit-style wedding?

So let’s talk about what to wear to a wedding.

Deciphering the dress code can be tricky, but I think that brides are getting more savvy to that these days and are giving a little more direction on what they would like their guests to wear. A very clever girlfriend of mine even started a Pinterest board so that her guests could view examples of what the dress code entails.

So let’s talk about a few of the most common wedding themes and what to wear.

There will be sand – so be prepared for that. Normally a beach wedding dress code will be ‘Lounge Suit” – which means something pretty (but not too dressy or nighttime-ish for the girls, and light colours suits, or no jackets and/or ties for the guys)

Have shoes you can take on and off easily, and let’s face it, you are probably going to be in the beating sun for a bit so don’t wear dark colours.

Instead aim for light, floaty prints and fabrics that let the breeze flow. But remember, this is still a wedding, so no togs please!

One: SugarAndSpice maxi dress from Freez.com.au $49.00. Two: Call Me necklace from CocoKitten $19.95. Three: I Love Billy sandals from StyleTread $69.95

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The time of day this wedding is held will dictate the dress code slightly more for this kind of wedding. If it’s more a daytime wedding (like mine will be – yay!!!), the dress code will be more along the lines of the “Lounge Suit” theme again. This means pretty floral dresses and wedges (or heels if you have good balance on grass!) for the girls, and again, a lighter coloured suit for the guys, to compliment you better.

One: Fate dress from Alibionline.com $59.95. Two: Sandrine Dress from Sacha Drake $475 Three: Chamelra tunic from Charlie Brown $399. Four: Floral print dress from Jacqui E $149.95. Five: Siren “Jonas” black wedge from StyleTread $139.95. Six: Colette Hayman clutch $29.95

If the wedding is a little later in the day, it may be a “Cocktail” theme wedding. This means slightly dressier dresses for the girls (but traditionally short dress, not long ones) – think anything with bling, and darker suits for the guys (definitely jackets and ties for this one folks.)

One: Sacha Drake “Jess Dress” $275. Two: Maiocchi “Spring Carnival dress” $247.50.  Three: Asos scalloped midi dress $108. Four: Spur heels from The Iconic $39.95.

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This is the event of all events! Normally set later in the day, starting with a church wedding followed by a reception in a vineyard, estate or ballroom.

The biggest ‘dress-code must’ with this ladies is long dresses. Yep – black tie equals formal. A cocktail frock just won’t cut it here. Boys – strictly speaking, this dress code for you means exactly what it says. Black suits and ties, but any dark colour suit and a nice tie will normally suffice.

Ladies, my biggest tip if you have to go to a black tie wedding is to buy a dress that is a classic style. Don’t follow trends on this one. Buy a dress that you can in your wardrobe for quite a few years and pull out whenever the ‘Black Tie’ dress code takes effect. Here are two amazing options.

One: Sacha Drake “Cheryl” silk dress $699. Two: Colette by Colette Hayman earrings $12.95. Three: Verali “Greta” shoes from StyleTread $67.47 Four: Andrea Moore “My Darling” dress $850. Five: Colette by Colette Hayman “Avery” hard clutch $34.95. Six: Toni Bianco heels from StyleTread $94.98

So from relaxed beach nuptials to an elegant black tie affair, there is a quick guide on what is expected of you as a guest in the wardrobe department.

Have you got any weddings coming up? What is the dress code? and more importantly, what are you wearing?? (I’m wearing a long, white dress to the next wedding I’m attending – wink wink!)

In Love & Style Always

Cait xoxo

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