Summer is said to be winding down, but let's face it, the hot temps still have yet to show sign of fading away any time soon. As September has come, the wedding invites are sitting on your fridge counting down the days to your friend or relative's special day which you still have no idea what to wear to yet. No need to worry - I have you covered! 

Below I am breaking down some summer wedding styles, inspired by Bonobos, for you and your date, so keep reading! 

One of the most crucial questions that I was asked by the team at Bonobos was "is it ok to wear black to a summer wedding?" Because this is such an important and not commonly charted question, I decided to tackle this look first! For the most part, black is totally ok to incorporate into your outfit as a wedding guest. But - the key thing to remember is to keep the other styling elements of the look light, maintaining a balanced contrast. 

In this outfit, for instance, I chose a black Bardot style mini dress. By itself it might be just a little odd to wear to a wedding, but when paired with a blush blazer - especially one that has a cape kind of look to increase the style factor - the darkness of the dress is complimented by the lighter shade of the layer on top. One thing to keep in mind when dressing for summer weddings: layers. Light layers are the best things that could ever exist in a chic look. Pair the look with some simple, understated heels, a cute clutch that matches either the dress or the blazer color, jewelry to continue the color scheme, and sunglasses preferably in a similar shade to the top layer to keep that look going strong. 

As a couple, the outfits need to coordinate, but not match. You know what I mean? So for this look, the perfect compliment to your outfit would be if your date wore black tailored pants, a simple white or neutral colored button-up top, and a tan colored dress jacket that looks nice next to your blush colored blazer. With this combo, you'll be walking into that wedding as best dressed couple in no time. 

Another way to style a black dress would be to take a more flowy evening style and pair it with a light pastel colored coat (one that is breathable for sure), like this blue one with trumpet sleeves. Grey matches amazingly with pastel colors, especially blue, so a pair of light grey lace-up heels, along with grey accessories and jewelry makes for the perfect finishing touches. Add a white clutch, marble or white colored nails, and a simple elegant up-do to top it all off. 

Now with this look, it's better if your date wears grey himself with some pale blue touches, such as with his top, suspenders, or bow tie. This incorporates both colors without it looking too matchy-matchy. 

If you're still not convinced to take on the challenge of wearing black to a summer wedding, here are some great alternative styles. You can never go wrong with pastel colors or a floral print, and those can both be easily coordinated in your date's outfits simply with his bow tie or button-up. It's best not to go too out there when dressing for a summer wedding, as in bright colors or ultra fancy styles, because it is someone else's wedding after all, and they are the ones who should be the main stars. But something simple yet elegant like these outfits are the perfect options to look chic but maintain your standing as a guest supporting the main people of the day. 

The key is looking nice, along with being nice. A day all about love means love should radiate from everyone, both front and center and in the seated attendance as well. ♡ 

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 

Ephesians 4:2