Hello everyone! It’s magic to be back chatting to you again and this time it’s one of my favourite subject matters – dressing up! Now don’t get me wrong, I adore dressing up in every sense of the word but when it’s to do with weddings, I secretly am even more excited!! Why… because it’s a SPECIAL occasion!!
I love to pound the pavement and find beautiful pieces that are both eclectic and wearable for the big day. I don’t know how many weddings I’ve been to, maybe a dozen in both Ireland, the UK and in Europe and one thing is for sure, it’s about how you feel on the day. I’ve worn outfits to weddings that have been too tight, heels too high and also restrictive for the all important dancing!
Let’s break it down… with weddings being such celebrated and memorable occasions, your outfit really needs to be just as special and memorable as the event itself, plus it really gives you an excuse to buy something that you’ve been lusting over! I’d like to take three high street stores that have nailed three beautiful looks for me for wedding guests. In all high street stores, they have stunning wedding guest offerings for any season or style of wedding. And of course there’s all sorts of weddings with everything from traditional church weddings, to destination weddings, black tie, bohemian beach affairs or even a barn dance!! These three picks will suit any style of celebration, whether it is the ceremony, party or the whole nine yards.
Look 1
Okay, let’s start, having recently married in Florence in September 2015, although I was the bride, I do remember guests saying that it was a great day for a wedding! Reason being – not only was it warm but it didn’t rain thank God and the ladies had a choice to wear long or short even though it was black tie. Everyone dressed so beautifully that day and from the bridesmaids to my own family members, the fashion stakes were high! So if I start with a wedding abroad (since it is peak wedding season right now) and I’m sure a lot of you will have weddings at home but also abroad… many ask, email and enquire as to what to wear. My advice on this one is to wear what you would normally wear to a summer wedding in Ireland but minus a layer, so drop the pashmina or the jacket on the two piece, you won’t need it! Summer weddings in Italy, France, Spain, if the weather stays good for you, you could be looking at temperatures of up to 30 degrees or more so you’ll be in the shade toasting with your Prosecco and then at night dancing away in the balmy weather – lucky you!
I went to Karen Millen for my first look here as I think that Karen Millen has a lot of beautiful pieces and you’ll be sure to find something for a destination wedding.
This jewelled Coral Maxi Dress comes in an array of colours but I particularly like this bright pop of colour for a destination wedding. One of my good friends wore something similar to my wedding and it was simply stunning. I would team this with very simple gold earrings and strappy gold sandals. Platforms for weddings are a MAJOR NO NO! Okay, back to maxi dresses and weddings. First of all, the most common maxi dresses I see are in a thin gauzy cotton or light jersey, so really they are too informal for most weddings and should only be worn for a very casual beach wedding, or outdoor backyard wedding. If you’re heading to a church ceremony and indoor reception venue, I would leave those casual maxi dresses at home – it’s not so much about the length, but the fact that a cotton or jersey fabric is so casual. My rule is if you’re questioning it, you probably don’t feel comfortable in the dress which is no fun at all, so leave it for another day. If your maxi dress is made out of a more formal fabric like a chiffon, as above here from Karen Millen or some kind of light silk, then I’d say it’s fine and appropriate for a daytime to afternoon wedding. Most chiffon fabrics are meant to be formal enough for evening too, so it’s a nice versatile fabric for summer.
Look 2
Righto, so we have you covered for a wedding abroad but what about a traditional church wedding in Ireland? Although you may think this is easy, I’d say you could end up with one of two things, the same dress as someone else or you’re in a too tight overdressed number that you can’t dance in! So here is another option, this time from Reiss.
Reiss is one of my all time favourite go to shops when it comes to wedding fashion and the reason being is that you’re sure to find something nobody else will be wearing as it’s not considered a wedding high street label such as Coast and Karen Millen. However, it’s got the elegance and drama that will ensure that you’ll stand out from the crowd. Ever since I saw Kate Middleton wearing one of the signature dresses to a royal engagement, I knew I had struck gold. Take a look at this ice blue dress – its stunning semi-see through material makes it bang on trend. No wardrobe is complete without at least one hero piece and this number can not only take you to a wedding but everywhere!! It’s intricately designed to showcase the nude-pink lining and has pretty scalloped edging that adds a detailed final touch. I would style this with a matching headpiece, perhaps nude or very light silver shoes and a matching clutch for a beautifully polished look.
Look 3
Finally for our last wedding guest look, it has to be one of my all time favourites from Next and it’s the all round classic that you can wear to a formal and informal wedding both in Ireland (summer time only) and also abroad. It’s non-crease, it’s a stunning colour and will allow you to feel relaxed and beautiful all day long. For me there are two redeeming factors, its shape which is both flattering and forgiving on all shapes and the fact that it comes in a great range of sizes. Its cut is very fluid and pretty and can take a hat or no hat or flowers in the hair and as it’s a nude palette, soft silvers and gold would go so well with it. For me it’s knock down, a hands down winner and would be a dress I could see myself in at a relaxed wedding and also in my suitcase for holidays. Team this with open toe sandals and soft beauty waves, don’t over accessorise with this look and remember you can add a dusty pink pashmina for those chilly evenings. This dress is one of my all time favourites and it’s good on price points too (€53) from Next!
So that’s my three go to options for weddings and if you’re a guest, remember, there are no hard and fast rules but you can’t go wrong with pretty pastel colours! I really hope you find the perfect dress to wear to a wedding and that you feel comfortable and joyous and most importantly can dance all night long!!!
