The Best Summer Wedding Guest Dresses For 6 Types of Weddings

Looking for summer wedding guest dresses? Here are tons of ideas for you!

Dress + Shoes at a wedding in Maine!

Summer is here and that means another wedding season is upon us!! It can be so much fun to pick the right dress to compliment the venue and style of each wedding – but even though it’s nice that there’s so much choose from, it can also be a little overwhelming.

So today, I’ve put together a roundup full of summer wedding guest dresses, whether it’s for a black tie affair or a chill beach party. Some dresses work for more than one category, but hopefully splitting it up like this helps you narrow it down. And honestly, as long as you’re not planning to crash a wedding while wearing white, I wouldn’t stress too much 😉

Summer Wedding Guest Dresses

Summer Wedding Guest Dresses: Cocktail Attire

Let’s start with the most common dress code – cocktail attire! This can mean a lot of different things, but I still think it’s the easiest to shop for. You really just want to look nice! You can do that!

I’d start with fabrics you’d see at a fancier wedding (chiffon, lace, silk, etc) in shorter/less formal cuts. That being said, you can also look at some more breathable fabrics like linen in the summer, too. 

The dress pictured above is truly what I think of when I think of summer wedding guest dresses in this category. It runs a little small and there’s a slit, so keep that in mind. Shop more ideas below!

 

Anthropologie Asymmetrical Dress | Abercrombie Satin Midi | ASTR Blythe Dress | Lulu’s Wrap Dress | Reformation Juliette Dress | J.Crew Sweetheart Dress | Sabina Musayev Peach Dress

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Summer Wedding Guest Dresses: Garden Party

I’m really glad I asked for feedback on my stories because a bunch of you mentioned “Garden Party” as a super common dress code this summer! In my opinion, this just means cocktail attire but with florals… but I think it’s also an opportunity to play with fun colors!

The dress above is old but this one is very similar! I’d also check out ASTR The Label – they have sooo many cute floral wedding guest dresses at affordable prices! Shop more below:

 

WAYF Strapless Dress | ASTR Off The Shoulder Midi | ASTR Ruffle Bustier Dress | Wayf Corset Dress | ASTR Pleated Floral Dress | ASTR Tiered Dress | ASTR Pink Puff Sleeve Dress | ASTR Yellow Puff Sleeve Dress

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Summer Wedding Guest Dresses: Church

Again, these dresses could fit into the cocktail category – but a few people specifically requested church appropriate dresses, so here we are!

To be honest, I don’t think I’ve ever modified what I wanted to wear to a wedding for a church… but I also know that every church/family/bride is different. I think the dress I’m wearing above would be perfect for a church wedding. It’s feminine and flirty, but your shoulders are still covered!

Also, if you don’t like these ideas, then you could also throw a shawl over your shoulders 😉

 

Hyacinth House Mini Dress | Hill House Matilda Dress | Chelsea28 Floral Print Maxi | ASTR Flutter Sleeve Maxi | ASTR Floral Sweetheart Dress | Reformation Magnus Dress | French Connection Satin Midi Dress | Reformation Rosalie Dress

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Summer Wedding Guest Dresses: Black Tie

Oohhhh you FANCY! Black tie weddings are always SO much fun, but it can be a little stressful figuring out what to wear! I personally think a full length dress is your best bet for this dress code, but that doesn’t mean you can only wear black. Summertime weddings mean that pretty much all colors are fair game – besides white 😉

I usually start by looking for fabrics like chiffon, silk, lace, or crepe. That being said, the dress above is polyester but you could absolutely dress it up for a black tie wedding. Some more ideas are linked below:

 

Lulus Column Dress | Hill House Scallop Lace Dress | Abercrombie Satin Maxi Dress | Few Moda Melonia Dress | Show Me Your Mumu Eden Dress | Show Me Your Mumu Jodie Dress | Few Moda Paige Dress | Norma Kamali Diana Dress | Reformation Ingrid Dress

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Summer Wedding Guest Dresses: Daytime/Casual

Going to a backyard wedding that’s super chill? You can definitely wear something more casual. In fact, I think this is the easiest type of summer wedding guest dress to pick right out of your closet.

If you’re looking for something new, this dress is a great option. Lightweight, comfortable, and wearable all summer long!

 

Lost + Wander Tie Strap Dress | Steve Madden Midi Dress | Aqua x Kristopher Brock Dress | Hill House Ellie Nap Dress | ASTR Smocked Midi Dress | Abercrombie Puff Sleeve Dress | Anthropologie Somerset Dress

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Summer Wedding Guest Dresses: Beach

First if all, if you’ve been invited to a beach wedding, I am JEALOUS! Not only because it’s lovely to be on a beach, but also because you can have so much fun shopping for wedding guest dresses!!

The dress above is old but this new one is a super similar cut with a similar print, too! So fun!

If I were shopping for this, I personally would take the opportunity to treat myself to a Farm Rio dress – but I found some other really fun options below, too. Just be sure you like the way it looks barefoot or with flip flops in case you will be in the sand all night!

 

Farm Rio Wrap Dress | ASTR Cutout Midi Dress | Reformation Rayna Dress | Farm Rio Beach Vibe Mini Dress | Farm Rio Leopard Forest Dress | Farm Rio Green Dress | Maaji Bouquet Dress | Farm Rio Asymmetric Dress

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Maternity Wedding Guest Dresses

Last but not least, a lot of you asked for maternity wedding guest dresses! While I am not an expert in this arena, I can confirm, via friends of mine, that the Ellie Nap Dress is pregnancy and postpartum friendly! 

I think the key is to look for an empire waist and/or smocking that can stretch with your belly! Shop some more ideas below:

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Shop even more Summer Wedding Guest Dresses below:

PS. You might also like The Best Wedding Guest Shoes (That Don’t Sink In The Grass), Hill House Nap Dress Review, and Reformation Sizing.