The Best Outfits for Every Type of Summer Wedding

There’s nothing quite like a summertime backyard wedding: sharing toasts in the garden, dancing beneath the night sky (or a well-decorated tent), and enjoying a space that's special to the bride and groom. You’ll need a dress that’s breezy, breathable, and a bit more casual. Reformation’s Enya Dress is a backyard wedding dream with its sweetheart neckline, full skirt, and sunshine yellow hue. If you’re feeling floral, the Enya Dress comes in two other blossoming prints.

Just because you’re leaving your gown at home doesn’t mean that you can’t still dress to the nines for a backyard wedding. Abercrombie’s Emerson Midi Dress is made from show-stopping satin and features an elegant ruched, strapless bodice. With a midi length, you can dance and mingle in the grass without a care in the world about a dragging hem. If you’re more of an LBD lady, there’s an Emerson Midi Dress in black for you, too.

Is there anything more picturesque than a beachfront wedding? No, there is not. But while beach weddings make for the dreamiest photo ops, we cannot go on pretending that they don’t present wardrobe challenges. What if the faint ocean breeze picks up? What if the ceremony takes place during peak UV hours? What if sand gets in places where you do not want sand? Enter the Emillie Maxi Dress from NicoBlu. With long raglan sleeves and light, sea-blue chiffon fabric, this dress will keep you comfortable – and chic – while you’re at the mercy of seaside weather.

Beaches bring out the bohemian in all of us, and nothing captures the essence quite like Free People’s Cha Cha Maxi Dress. It’s hard not to swoon over all of the delicate details that bring this dress together, from its textured fabric and its button front to its ruffled bottom hem. Best of all, it has cape-style sleeves so your shoulders won’t crisp.

While I like to think of cocktail attire as whatever I happen to be wearing when I enjoy a dirty martini, that is simply not the case when it comes to the dress codes of weddings. Nailing the semi-formal look can be tricky, but not when you’ve got this slinky little Jasmine Halter Mini Dress hanging in your closet. With a flattering high neck and a draping open back, this dress is flirty and fun. Even better, it comes in 10-plus colors. (I’m partial to the pink luxe!)

This tasteful Singy Midi Dress is everything that a summer cocktail dress should be: it’s bold with its color, classic with its silhouette, and totally unique with its fabric texture. Pair with a strappy heel and your look is complete. Plus the price point is the stuff dreams are made of.

If your invitation came with a plane ticket, then pack your bags with the Jada Floral Sequin Mini Dress. Whether you’re staying at a luxe resort, in a new city, or headed abroad, the Jada Mini captures the spontaneity and celebration of it all with its fun sequins, floral print, and sultry shape.

Destination weddings can be something of a wildcard, especially if your loved one’s I-dos are taking you somewhere totally new. That’s why it's best to opt for a truly versatile dress, like the Sami Dress from Revolve. This neutral-toned wrap dress defines natural beauty, and can be dressed up or down depending on your accessories. Don’t leave without it!

When you’re shopping for summertime black tie, there’s no better brand to turn to than Anthropologie. Known for perfectly blending the whimsical and the elegant, Anthropologie’s summer collection is full of gowns that possess an ethereal beauty, including this Mac Duggal Long Sleeve Gown. The pink hue is absolutely breathtaking, as is its pleated texture. With its long sleeves, this gown is an excellent pick for end-of-summer nuptials.

Dazzling up for a black-tie soiree can be gloriously fun. But standing around in a gown in the summer heat? Not so much. That’s why this Corset Tiered Gown from Fame and Partners is the only dress you need for formal summer weddings. Made with soft tulle, it’s unbelievably light and comfortable, and its sheer panels define summer chic.