26 Dresses to Wear to a Summer Wedding (That Won’t Upstage the Bride)
Well, maybe some of these will.
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In my humble opinion, summer weddings are the best. The weather is warm, everyone’s in a feel-good mood, and there’s a healthy chance that a destination wedding might be on your schedule. But finding the perfect summer wedding guest dress is not always as fun. And when you’re working with an ambiguous dress code, discerning what’s appropriate for that city rooftop versus a beachfront property can get all the more confusing. Fret not, ELLE.com is here to help.
I have a handful of summer weddings to attend this season, so while I’ve been on the hunt for my own wedding guest wardrobe, I found plenty of options worth sharing. Whether you’re looking for a black-tie wedding guest dress to invest in or a dance floor-ready mini (be sure to grab those comfortable high heels while you’re at it!), shop the most stylish wedding guest dresses to wear this summer, below.
Between the pretty floral print, the luxe silk, and the chic neckline, what more could you need? This has “black tie wedding guest dress” written all over it.
Sizes: 14-24
Material: 100% silk
Sleek and elegant, this halter gown works for pretty much every wedding dress code. Hands down, a black wedding guest dress is a smart buy if half your Instagram feed is engaged right now.
Sizes: XS-XL
Material: 95% polyester, 5% spandex
This is the type of dress you’ll want to wear over and over again. Pair it with classic black pumps or another pair of heels for the special day, and a set of sleek sandals when you want a more casual look.
Sizes: 0-20
Material: 100% polyester
When in doubt, you can never go wrong with a classic, airy slip dress—especially if you happen to be attending a wedding at the height of summer. Let yourself breathe in this dress, which will pair perfectly with summer sandals or heels.
Sizes: 00-16
Material: Shell: 100% Naia acetate; lining: 100% polyester
Not every wedding calls for a sleek, fitted gown. but when one does, you won’t regret wearing this top-rated number.
Customer review: This dress has a stunning fit—the stretchy material ensures that! Tight throughout then mermaids out....The bodice has boning for structure and support. The back is open to slightly below the waist. Fits true to size...We will have to have the bottom hemmed for length and the spaghetti strap tightened and then—perfecto!
Sizes: 6-12
Material: 100% polyester
There’s a CVS receipt-long list of details that make this pretty Rixo dress so special. But, let me name a few: the vintage-inspired print and the sleeve length to the keyhole detail in the front. I’m in love. This is a great option for the more casual weddings you may have on your summer agenda.
Sizes: XXS-2XL
Material: 52% silk/46% viscose/2% metallic; lining: 100% polyester
Not only have I noticed that this under-$250 dress is a bestseller among shoppers, but it’s also a popular favorite among my stylish friends. I may just have to order this one for myself as my go-to summer cocktail dress.
Sizes: XS D/E
Material: 97% polyester, 3% elastane
I should just let this dress speak for itself. With such a vivid shade of pink as the main draw, followed by the timeless print, it’d be hard not to snap a picture when you’re wearing it.
Sizes: 0-12
Material: 100% viscose
Feeling yourself this summer? Showcase it with this slinky slip from Fleur du Mal. I envision you wearing this with strappy black or white sandals.
Sizes: XS-L
Material: 97% recycled polyester, 3% spandex
Could there be a more fitting wedding guest dress for summer than this romantic beauty? I think not.
Customer review: I was apprehensive about buying this dress because of the comments about the zipper. I took a chance and am so glad I did. The zipper is fine. You have to be careful zipping & unzipping but that is no surprise. The dress is beautifully made and fits perfectly. I love it.
Sizes: 2-24
Material: 100% polyester
Just because it’s summer doesn’t mean you have to have a lower neckline—or even show much skin. In this case, be sure to go for a dress that’s comfortable, like this ruched number.
Sizes: 0-4
Material: Main: 100% Ramie; lining: 100% Rayon
Heading to a destination wedding this summer? pack this Staud dress. I’ve personally seen one of these cross the Atlantic for a trip to Italy. It packs well, works for multiple occasions (which means it’ll be great after the wedding, too!), and boasts a timeless design. I know what you’re thinking: Say less.
Sizes: 0-16
Material: 98% cotton, 2% spandex
Look, I know this is all about not overshadowing the bride, but I can’t make any promises if you show up to the nuptials wearing this. Yes, there’s a high price tag, but you won’t regret this—I promise.
Sizes: 0-14
Material: 71% cotton, 19% polyester, 10% polyamide; lining: 100% polyester
It’s the little cutout detail at the hip that does it for me.
Sizes: XS-XXL
Material: 65% viscose, 35% nylon
A black slip dress is the ultimate failsafe choice—especially as an Amazon wedding guest dress. For a casual-leaning option, look to this viral Tik Tok find from Amazon's in-house brand The Drop. As one verified shopper put it: “[This dress] Makes you feel like the leading star of a romance movie.”
Sizes: XXS-5XL
Material: 95% Polyester, 5% elastane
I’m getting major Pretty Woman vibes with this dress. (And no, you don’t have to complete the look with a hat and gloves!)
Sizes: XS-3XL
Material: 100% recycled chiffon polyester
Breathable silk? Check. Timeless design? Check. Endless possibilities? Check. This sleek halter dress will find many a wear, which, in my opinion, is one of the most important factors when shopping for a wedding guest dress.
Sizes: XS-XL
Material: 100% silk
You'll be in tiers when the couple exchange vows.
Sizes: S-XL
Material: Main fabric: 57% polyester, 43% metallic fibres; lining: 100% viscose
Nothing beats Markarian when you’re looking for a luxurious option to wear to formal weddings. This option is perfect for when the occasion calls for cocktail attire.
Sizes: 4-10
Material: 55% viscose/30% silk/15% polyester; lining: 100% polyester
A sunset in a dress. It’s basically a beach wedding guest dress waiting to happen. Can’t you just picture this in a tropical setting?
Sizes: 2-16
Material: 62% rayon, 38% polyester
Dale Arden Chong is the senior fashion commerce editor at ELLE.com, where she edits and reports on the latest trends, labels, and designers in the fashion space to bring you the best items that will elevate your wardrobe. With a passion for great sartorial stories and getting dressed (as well as a knack for nerding out over the details), she has a robust knowledge of high-quality design, construction, and materials based on testing hundreds of products over her eight-plus years in the industry, writing stories for Glamour, Who What Wear, Entertainment Tonight, and others. So, if you ask her for a shopping recommendation, she’ll give you five picks plus her honest, unfiltered opinions. Dale graduated magna cum laude from the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism with a degree in Journalism and a minor in Communication Design. In 2015, she was a finalist for the National Arts and Entertainment Journalism Award in the Online category of “Commentary/Analysis/Trend” for her article “Calvin Klein Underwear: What Is Plus Size?” Outside of the style world, her hobbies include cooking, playing tennis, ceramics, and watching BTS dance videos on YouTube, among other things. Follow her on Instagram at @dalearden.
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