What to Wear to a Beach Wedding
A beach wedding has been announced and as much fun as the idea is, deciding what to wear to a beach wedding is as difficult. Of course, the first thought that comes to mind when thinking of a beach wedding is a pair of shorts and a tank top or a gunjee. However, there is a certain amount of formality associated with weddings in general, irrespective of the location, and respecting that formality is definitely appreciated by the couple. If you are unsure about what to wear to the wedding, it is a good idea to contact the couple and find out what is expected. It saves you the embarrassment of dressing up 'differently' from the others. Having said this, you can still look beautiful, stunning, or handsome in what you decide to wear to the wedding, by taking a look at this simple guide mentioned below, divided into beach wedding attire for women and men.
Beach Wedding Attire for Women
Women have a plethora of outfits to choose from for a beach wedding. There are certain dos and don'ts you want to follow in such a case as a guest. Take a look.
The Dress
Based on the formality of the occasion, you can decide on the length of the dress you want to wear. It could be a long, flowing gown for a more formal or evening event in a shade such as blue, brown, or even a salmon pink. For a morning wedding, a long gown in the colors orange, yellow, pink, blue, green, or even red are great. In the shorter varieties, go for knee length dresses, nothing shorter, with soft prints on them. Avoid wearing white as it will only overshadow the bride. These dresses make for semi-formal outfits in the day time. Solid colors are the best for evening beach weddings, irrespective of whether they are formal or casual. Finally, if a specific theme has been suggested in the invitation, then you must abide by it.
The Shoes
Shoes are something most people are unsure of when it comes to beach weddings. Since the ceremony is going to be on sand, it is a good idea to wear flats and not stilettos that sink into the sand every time you try to take a step. You don't want to wobble around. There is a beautiful selection of flat sandals available that can help complete your outfit, so don't assume that you are going to look terrible because you can't wear heels. Flip-flops are informal, so unless the theme has been specified as casual, avoid wearing them.
Other Accessories
Avoid carrying huge bags, and keep something small, say a small wrist bag that holds all your essentials with you. Similarly, keep the jewelry simple, because a beach wedding is likely to be held in summer, and you don't want to feel uncomfortable (to say the least) when you are meant to be enjoying the wedding. Finally, in case it is an evening wedding, the beach can get windy and chilly, so keep a matching shawl handy to keep you warm without sabotaging your overall look.
Also keep the makeup light and simple, and remember to use sun protection whether it is in the morning or evening. The lighter you are dressed at a beach, even for a wedding, the more comfortable you will be.
Beach Wedding Attire for Men
Clothing options for a beach wedding are no less for men, as long as they stick to some basics. What are these basics? Let's find out.
The Outfit
Men are usually not expected to wear a three piece suit to a beach wedding unless clearly specified, so you can safely cut off that option from the list. The best outfit to choose from is a pair of light colored linen pants or drawstring pants with a button down shirt (in colors such as blue, beige, light green, orange, or salmon) that is not tucked in. The shirt can be full or half sleeved. Again, the outfit can be based on the theme of the wedding. For instance, if it is a Hawaiian wedding, you can easily go all out and wear a tropical printed shirt with a pair of shorts and flip-flops. However, in other cases, stick to the pants with the bright or neutral colored shirts. Avoid colors like gray and black, irrespective of the time of the day. For a change in the weather, keep a light woolen jacket that is well coordinated with your outfit, at hand.
The Shoes
The ideal shoes for men to wear at a beach wedding are sandals or canvas deck shoes. Nothing too formal or too casual should be worn. Ensure that the sandals go with the overall outfit and do not steal from but complement your look.
These are safe options for beach wedding dresses for guests, if you don't know what you should be wearing. Again, if you still can't decide, just call the couple and find out what they expect. Otherwise, dressing in the aforementioned manner is definitely safe. You don't have to look too flashy or too subtle either. Just pick something you are comfortable in, clothes and shoes that will reflect this comfort, and you are good to go.
