The most “Festive” wedding guest dons a gown by Jill Jill Stuart, $348 at shopbop.com. Earrings, $49 at dazzlingrock.com. Firenze necklace by Rocktina by Cocoa Jewelry, $400 at cocoajewelry.com. Opal ring, $295 at dannijo.com. Dyemond shoes, $270 at tedbaker.com.
Garden Wedding
White Tie
Stylist: Jessica King
Shot on Location at: The Erno Laszlo Institute, 382 West Broadway, (212) 300-4111.
Go big or go home. “Stash your little black dress. This is your license to push the envelope,” says Cooper. Express yourself with bold colors and sparkle. “Have fun and get creative,” says Monahan. “Wear that statement necklace. Put on a funky, strappy shoe.”
Black Tie
Stuck on what to wear? Use this guide to pull together a look that’s perfect for any demanding dress code the bride throws at you.
The most formal affair of all is the belle of the wedding balls. “This is going to the Royal Wedding,” says Verdi. “The men are in tuxes with tails, and you really need to find the most magnificent floor-length gown.” Keep accessories refined. “This is diamonds and pearls and serious jewelry, not bib necklaces and bangles,” says Monahan.
Festive
Look “Daytime Casual” - but still chic - in a colorful print and cute heels. Dress, $395 at cynthiarowley.com. Bracelet, $288 at lulufrost.com. Shoes, $170 at schutz-shoes.com.
Elise Gannett for Daily News
A “Garden Wedding” roots for florals. Vintage Bardot dress, $154 at asos.com. Earrings, $12 at shopprimadonna.com. Ring, $68 at rebeccaminkoff.com. Tiara dress sandals, $225 at viaspiga.com.
Elise Gannett for Daily News
Play with texture to stand out at a “White Wedding” party. Dress by BCBG, $368 at saksfifthavenue.com. Eos headband, $298 at jenniferbehr.com. Earrings, $49.50 at anntaylor.com. Booties by Chinese Laundry, $90 at modcloth.com.
Elise Gannett for Daily News
Go “Semi-Formal” in an embellished blouse-and-skirt combo. Emmilye top, $325, and Roshni skirt, $335, both at tedbaker.com. Angelica bracelet, $55 at cocoajewelry.com. Daviner shoes, $129 at dunelondon.com.
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Picture the Royal Family having brunch. “We love the idea of a great A-line tea-length dress, or a flowy maxi dress,” says Cooper. Pick lightweight fabrics and florals. If you’re going to be standing on the grass, skip the stilettos for dressy wedges, flats and sandals.
White Wedding
Fashion Editor: Raakhee Mirchandani
Dress to impress, but keep the elements in mind. Heels sink in the sand, and short skirts fly up in the wind, so avoid both. And “formal” means no flip-flops. “Anything that you would wear to a nice restaurant on a summer day, whether it’s a dressier sundress or a beautiful maxi dress with some embellishment,” says Cooper.
“This is essentially a white party,” says Gretta Monahan, cohost of “Brides Gone Styled” with Robert Verdi. “I would wear a short, white cocktail dress, or someone could do a white maxi or jumpsuit. It’s less about formality, and all about the color.”
Say yes to the dress code.
Semi-formal/Dressy Casual
Loosen up, but stay polished. “Casual never means jeans, it never means khakis — and no flip-flops,” says Kristen Maxwell Cooper, deputy editor at The Knot. “This is still a wedding!” Try a sundress in playful print or lace with bright sandals.
Beach Formal
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Beach Formal: Dress, $498 at jcrew.com. Cosmos necklace, $250 at pamelalovenyc.com. Ring, $45.50 at anntaylor.com. Cuff by House of Harlow 1960, similar styles from $88 at glamboutique.com. Sandals by Cocobelle, $92 at Anthropologie, 375 W. Broadway. (212) 343-7070.
Elise Gannett for Daily News
A chic jumpsuit with a jeweled collar and heels kicks “Black Tie Optional” up a notch. Jumpsuit, $168 at vincecamuto.com. Earrings, $38 at katespade.com. Sandals, $295 at loefflerrandall.com.
Elise Gannett for Daily News
Turn heads with a metallic cocktail dress when you’re going to any “Black Tie” event. Tevin dress by alice + olivia by Stacey Bendet, $368 at shopbop.com. Earrings, $295 at oscardelarenta.com. Bracelets, $38-48 each, and ring, $20, all at anthropologie.com. Revaa sandals, $109 at bebe.com.
Elise Gannett for Daily News
A “White Tie” wedding calls for glamour and floor-length gowns. Midnight Emelda gown, $485 at shoshanna.com. Necklace by TRUE by Tuleste for DRESSBAR at dressbarn, $24 at dressbar.com. Resting Snake ring, $120 at noirnyc.com. Shoes by Wild Diva Lounge, $50 at modcloth.com.
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Peak wedding season is here, and guests are fielding confusing invites calling for everything from beach formal wear to white tie — or even “festive” attire.
Daytime Wedding/Casual
Model: Matar for Red Model Management
It’s all about timing: wear lighter colors and fabrics for weddings happening early in the day, while darker hues in luxe materials fit an evening fete. “We love a skirt and top combo for this category,” says Monahan, suggesting a silk or satin skirt with an embellished top. “You want to dress two steps up from work clothes,” adds Verdi.
Makeup: Millecher Semple
Formal/Black Tie Optional
Hair: Jaquel Jones-sy
Photographer: Elise Gannett
These usually evening affairs demand the men wear tuxedos. Think Hollywood award show red carpets. “This is going to be more on the formal side, so we say a chic cocktail dress or long evening gown,” says Cooper. “But women don’t have to wear black. Jewel tones and metallics also have that more luxurious factor.”
This is a notch below black tie, so your date can pass in a dark suit. “Stick to a formal, cocktail-length dress, but stay away from a long gown, or you might be overdressed,” says Cooper. A chic jumpsuit with a jeweled neckline and stilettos also looks sleek.
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