What to Wear to a Summer Wedding

I think dressing to attend a summer wedding is the easiest of all the seasons.  Even if no dress code is indicated on the invitation, you can take a look at the venue and the time of day and pretty well figure out which direction to go.  Most of the time, I am able to break it down into these two categories:

Before 4:00 p.m. – Go with a summer dress -- it can be fun, but not too revealing or too short.  Avoid wearing black or white, and instead choose summer colors.  If the event is indoor, wear a higher heel pump or sandal.  If the event is outdoor, choose a lower, wider heel sandal for comfort and to avoid having your heels sink in the grass.

After 4:00 p.m. – It can be a bit tricky here depending on the venue.  But an indoor evening summer wedding typically calls for a cocktail dress in a lighter-weight fabric.  You can wear black but avoid wearing a solid black dress without any additional color.  Again, avoid anything too short or too revealing.  If it is outdoor, an evening wedding still calls for dressier fare.  Consider taking a wrap or shawl in case it is windy and be mindful of your shoe choice given the terrain.

Of course, there are always exceptions.  That’s why it is important to know a little bit about the venue.  We recently attended a Saturday morning wedding that was held at a downtown museum.  When we left our house, I was a bit afraid that I was overdressed for the occasion.  Not at all – it was one of the most elegant weddings I’ve ever attended, and my blue-green chiffon crinkle cocktail dress was just the ticket. 

Clothing Alterations

A few years ago, I had a bad alteration experience.  I’ll skip the details but will tell you that basically I went from pants that were a bit too big to pants that I could no longer wear because they were so poorly altered.  It was my own fault really; I failed to properly do my homework.

If you are in need of some clothing alterations and have no idea where to find a qualified seamstress, here are a few suggestions to help you.

• Check review sites like Yelp and Google Reviews for alteration specialists in your area. 
• Ask around.  Word of mouth is great advertising but a word of caution here -- don’t just take one person’s word.  Ask several folks, and once you decide on a seamstress, ask to see samples of their alterations.  Examine the quality of the work closely.
• Most high end clothing boutiques work with qualified seamstresses and tailors.  Find out where they send their clients for clothing alterations.

After you find your alterations specialist, test the waters.  Don’t take a prized garment first thing.  Instead, have them do something simple that you aren’t too attached to.  Check the quality of their work, and gauge your comfort level.  If you are pleased with the final results, then move forward.
 
When having clothing altered, keep these few basics in mind.

• Pant legs fall to the top of the shoe, but the fabric doesn’t touch the floor.
• Jacket sleeves fall to the bottom of the wrist bone on the thumb when arms are resting at the side.
• Gentlemen, shirt cuffs fall ¼ to ½ inch lower than the jacket sleeve.
• Always try on the garment with the shoes you plan to wear with it. 
• Finally, talk openly with your specialist.  Tell them what you don’t like about the item.  Give them an idea of what you are trying to achieve.  Most importantly, ask for their input.