What time of year was your parents’ wedding? What about your aunts, uncles, cousins, colleagues, and friends? If you think about it, most people like getting married when it’s warm out. Spring and summertime are popular, except for destination weddings in tropical places where the heat is a hindrance. In most parts of the world, saving your nuptials until the weather warms up sure makes an outdoor wedding much more pleasant!
In the joyous and busy wedding season, whether you are a bridesmaid or a guest, buying the right dress can be a challenge, especially when you have received several invitations but are on a tight budget. Do you buy new outfits for each wedding or recycle old ones here and there? Use our spring wedding tips to create a unique look every time.
Choose Playful Colors
After a drab winter, spring feels extra colorful! At a garden wedding, bridesmaid dresses in lilac hue will create a unique romance with the flowers. Now is the time to be playful with your look before the flowers fade and green totally steals the show. Pastels are perfect for spring weddings because they’re cheerful, delicate, and fresh. Just make sure you don’t go too light on color—some may photograph as white, like butter yellow, which is, of course, entirely off-limits.
However, pastels aren’t for everyone, so if none of these colors pique your interest, don’t be afraid to go bolder! If you prefer a cool-toned spring color, you can choose something like dusty blue or eucalyptus green. Besides, the classic rust bridesmaid gowns will give you a surprise.
Best Dress Fabrics for a Spring Wedding
If spring is on the warmer side where you live, you’ll need a breathable dress. If it tends to come with showers, you might need something that dries quickly. The best dress fabrics for warm weather are made from natural fibers.
- Chiffon – a light, sheer fabric famous in the wedding and evening wear world for its stunning drape. It’s also super soft, which is a bonus! Flowy chiffon is made from blends of different fibers, mostly silk or rayon and polyester. It’s perfect for a spring wedding because of how lightweight it is.
- Cotton – one of the most breathable fabrics of all. When you picture cotton, you might not think of wedding guest dresses, but the truth is that they can be made into many different styles of fabric. The one you’re after here is a cotton jersey. It’s soft and breathable – perfect for spring!
- Linen blends – linen, known for beachwear, is the ultimate warm-weather dress fabric. It’s remarkably breathable, so you’ll definitely stay cool in a linen wedding guest dress. It does wrinkle easily, though and can come off as too casual for some weddings. Always check the dress code before donning a linen maxi!
- Rayon – a blend of natural and synthetic fibers. Rayon is made from cellulose, which comes from plants. You’ll probably find it blended with polyester, though, just to give it more drape and stretch. Look for a blend that feels drapey and delicate when shopping for a spring wedding guest dress.
Spaghetti Straps and Open-Back Dresses
Spring weather is known for being very temperamental. For this reason, it’s always good to have the option to show off your shoulders. You don’t want to be stuck in a baking outdoor venue fully covered from head to toe. We recommend choosing a dress with a neckline that shows off some skin. If modesty is a concern, you can always cover up with a light wrap.
- Spaghetti straps – a very airy style that keeps you cool. They are also super easy to style with a light cardigan when the breeze picks up.
- One-shoulder – a stylish look that works exceedingly well in a bold color. However, this type of neckline is more challenging to layer.
- Halter top – offers good airflow across your back and accentuates your shoulders and chest. If these are areas you don’t like to show off, you might not enjoy the look of a halter.
- Strapless – great for hot weather, but offers less coverage and support for your chest. It’s not the best if you plan on dancing really hard or playing boisterous lawn games.
Accessories and Shoes for Spring
There’s just something in the air during spring that gets everyone all excited. Maybe it’s the anticipation of summer? Whatever it is, it makes us more partial to the avant-garde. Fashion is allowed to be fun again. For a spring wedding, anything floral goes. Flower-shaped earrings, heels with pink petals on them, you name it! For shoes, sandals or wedges are the winners.
We say this within reason, of course. It’s still important to stick to the dress code and theme of the wedding where you can. When in doubt, choose a safe dress that you know will work, then get creative with the accessories. If you end up hating them, you can just take them off!
Formal Spring Weddings
Spring weddings are not always about sandals and sundresses. Sometimes, they’re formal affairs that require you to dress accordingly. When the dress code is “formal” or even “black tie,” you may need to make a few tweaks to your go-to spring wedding outfit.
- Darker colors – switch out the pastels and baby blues for navy, burgundy, or forest green. To keep the spring element, accessorize with subtle florals.
- Silhouettes – look for dresses with more structure if you’re going for a formal spring look. Getting something with a longer hemline instantly ups the formality.
- Glamorous accessories – instead of flower crowns and fun colorful earrings, go for diamond necklaces, tennis bracelets, and big hoops. A clutch purse will also do the trick!
Cold Weather Spring Weddings
Just because it’s spring doesn’t necessarily mean it’s going to be warm. Planning for cooler temperatures can save you from a wardrobe malfunction on the morning of the wedding day. Layering is your best friend here, especially if you’ll be outdoors at night.
To solve this problem, you could get a cute cardigan or shawl in the same color as your dress for a classic spring look. Other fun options are pashminas or silk scarves. These will keep your shoulders warm when the air temperature drops without completely covering your outfit.
