What to Wear to a Summer Wedding If You're Plus Size
Summer wedding season is upon us, and small events are more popular than ever. When you're one of 10 people at a wedding, you're going to be in a lot of photos, so your outfit is important. And even if you're 1 of 500 wedding guests, you still want to wear an outfit as special as the occasion. I don't want you making stressful last-minute decisions, so let's get started.
The Standard Guidelines Still Apply
Summer weddings mean you're going to be outdoors for at least some of the time, even if it's just on your way into the frigid air conditioning. You need to go with light layers. Jersey is your friend here, as are Silky Classics which are more lightweight than our regular Classics. Sheer cardigans and toppers also work well. If you're concerned about overly enthusiastic air conditioning, carry along an extra layer that works with your outfit. Vikki Vi Classics can survive being shoved into a bag without wrinkling, so they're a good choice.
If you can, find out what "the bride's colors" are. You don't want to wear anything too similar to the decorations or bridesmaid dresses. The shorter the guest list, the more important this is. Prints look great on camera, so don't shy away from them.
Don't wear white, of course. But you should also check to see if there are other colors you should or shouldn't wear. For example, you may have to avoid black because of religious traditions. Or the happy couple may be asking all the guests to wear pastels or whatever. Even in cases where you end up wearing a color that's not your best, Vikki Vi Classics can help you wear your wedding guest outfit again - mixing and matching can pull some colors into the background.
You'd never go to the pool without sunscreen, but weddings can make us forget about the usual precautions. Apply a non-greasy, non-staining sunscreen when you get dressed, and reapply as necessary. ("As necessary" means every 30 minutes you spend in the sun, not whenever you start to feel like you're getting a sunburn. )
This applies to all weddings, but we all tend to ignore it so it bears repeating. Wear shoes that you can wear for the duration. Switching into flip flops or taking your shoes off is fine for beach weddings, but it's best to avoid blisters and sore feet altogether. If you're going to be walking on grass at all, heels are a no-no.
Protect Your Thighs
You're not going to wear hose or tights to a summer wedding, so if you're wearing a skirt you need to do something to prevent chafing before it starts. I've written about this before, but essentially, there are products made to reduce friction in that area. You can also get lingerie-like shorts to wear under your skirt.
Have Fun
It's all too easy to dread a wedding - relatives you dislike, a drunken uncle, a too-loud DJ. Will you get there on time? Is your outfit OK? We can forget that we're there to celebrate the happy couple. They put a lot of effort into planning a great party for you, so relax and enjoy it.
Check out our other posts about plus size wedding guest dresses.