It’s wedding season! Well let’s be honest - weddings can happen anytime of the year. 

With August ending, summer has hit its peak and luckily so have the retail sales. Have a wedding to attend soon? Or maybe another fancy occasion? Will you go with something timeless and classic, or something more fashion forward and playful? For my purposes, I was thinking about renting a piece from a rental shop like Rent the Runway. Yet, time is ticking my friends and I have had to scratch that idea (length will be an issue with my petite frame). I am traveling for this wedding, the piece needs to be packable, lightweight and, of course, venue appropriate. 

Different event spaces call for dresses highlighting different moods, colors, textures, lengths and styles. The unwritten western wedding rule for guests is not to wear anything white (or white adjacent), so as not to take away from the bride. Whereas, an ethnic celebration (South Asian/Asian) has the bride wearing red and other vibrant colors, so white could be worn (although white and black are usually reserved for mourning). Be sure to do your research and read the invite thoroughly before you make that dress purchase. Depending on how lavish the affair is – you might be needing two or more outfits. I’m thinking of a certain wedding celebration of billionaire heirs, Radhika Merchant and Anant Ambani. 

Traditional wedding venue (Country Club, Hotel/Resort, Mansion, Place of Worship)

For a traditional wedding venue, dresses that range from formal floor length to semi formal below the knee dresses would be considered appropriate. Having a dress with sleeves is a personal preference, but it’s smart to have something to cover up those shoulders (cardigan, cropped jacket, cape, bolero) when the sun goes down. If you are looking for something multipurpose, go for something in one colourway with less embellishment. 

Outdoor wedding venue (Winery, Beach, Botanical Garden, National Park) 

For an outdoor wedding venue, one could go semi-formal or opt for something more casual like a sundress. Some things of note, material and length matters. Especially if this wedding is taking place in the heat with little to no shade. Or if you are going to be traversing through sand, grass and other elements? Ditch the floor length and go for a midi dress. Especially if you plan on kicking up your heels. 

Unique venue (Art Gallery, Library, Zoo, Distillery, Warehouse) 

For a unique venue such as an art gallery or distillery, guests could wear something a little bit more fun. I love the idea of method dressing – matching the surroundings with the outfit. Maybe something with a few feathers if the wedding takes place at a Zoo. Just don’t fully commit and come in a costume (See Jared Leto as Choupette, Karl Lagerfeld’s cat) – it’s not the MET Gala.