Dress for a Summer Wedding

By: Aysha Schurman

The best dress for a summer wedding is one that is lightweight to help keep you cool. Summer dresses mean breathable fabrics and less material. You should also choose heat-reflecting colors because black absorbs the heat and will make you uncomfortable.

Summer heat is never a smart time to choose a thick or dark satin and lace gown. By adding all that extra, heat-absorbing fabric, you'll end up hot and sweaty, which is never attractive for a bride or bridesmaid.

Fabrics such as linen, tulle, organdy, chiffon, open lace and light silk will help you not only look beautiful, but also look cool and collected. However, fabrics such as satin, velvet and heavy silk are sure to make you look like the amazing melting woman.

Your usual summer cuts apply to a  dress for s summer wedding, just as they do to regular dresses. Straps, short sleeves or sleeveless gowns will feel much more comfortable than long sleeve or mid-sleeve gowns will. Obviously, short hems will also help keep you cool much more effectively than floor-length hems.

If you want the look of a full or elaborate skirt without the extra material, remember the dress trains that cover only your rump and the back of your legs, leaving the front and sides of your legs covered with less fabric. This provides air circulation and breathable fabric for most of the skirt, instead of multiple petticoats or slips to provide the skirt shape.

For some smashing styles that help blend a cool feel with a beautiful look, browse for some airy, silk, sleeveless wedding gowns. A sleeveless sweetheart neckline with a light, long and airy skirt combines tradition, beauty and function into a dress that looks good on most women.

A thin-strapped, portrait neckline dress with a beaded tulle coverlet and loose, ankle-length skirt combines indulgence, depth and air flow into a gown that also works well on most women, especially full-figured women.

For the most popular dress for a summer wedding, try the sleek spaghetti-strap wedding dress. These dresses follow simple lines, with thin spaghetti straps and a fitted, sometimes backless, bodice constructed from quality silk or linen. The skirt style can range from a tight mini-skirt to a full and flowing floor-length skirt. This look is simple and elegant, not to mention cool and comfortable.

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