How to prepare for a Summer wedding

One of my favourite things about Summer is the influx of wedding invitations when at least one of our friends sets the date and gets married. I love a good wedding and especially love planning my outfit, getting my hair and nails done, booking a hotel and making a weekend of it – after all it’s not often we get out now that we have children! And just when you think you’ve got the wedding itself sorted, there’s the hen party to arrange too!

I thought I would share my top tips for attending a Summer wedding.

Plan your outfit way in advance

With most stores introducing the Autumn range long before Summer has ended, it’s always better to buy your outfit in the Spring whilst stores still have the full Summer range in stock. It also gives you way more time to find an outfit you really love without all of that last minute panic. As someone who once ordered 29 dresses the week before a friends wedding, I speak from experience!!

Smell as good as you look

Fragrance is the final touch that ties everything together, especially for a summer wedding. Opt for a light, uplifting scent that won’t overpower in warm weather—think creamy florals, soft fruits, or vanilla notes. A soft, summer‑friendly choice like Lattafa’s Yara EDP feels feminine without being too heavy, and it layers beautifully over a light body lotion to help it last.

A few tips:

• Apply sparingly to pulse points (wrists, behind ears, and the base of the throat).
• Avoid rubbing your wrists together—it breaks down the notes.
• Pop a travel atomiser in your bag for a quick refresh before the reception.
• If you’re in the bridal party, check the bride’s chosen scent and pick something complementary rather than competing.

Think carefully about your footwear….

On a hot day, when you’ve been on your feet all day and they are sweaty and swollen, the last thing you want is to be squeezing them into a 4 inch heel and sitting in the corner whilst everyone else hits the dance floor! For those who really need a little extra height, a wedge is always way comfier than a heel and, even better, a flat sandal comfier still. I love to wear a maxi dress with a diamanté gladiator sandal, or even a wedge for the day and a pair of flip flops in my clutch bag for the night.

And your underwear

There is nothing worse than getting dressed for a wedding and realising that your bra isn’t quite right for the style of the dress, so I recommend planning this way in advance also. I have always invested in a good quality multi-way bra in white, nude and black, so that whatever the style and colour of dress, there is always something suitable. If you don’t want to go braless with a backless dress it’s worth buying a stick on bra to keep everything in place!

Go for the perfect up do to finish your look

During a Summer wedding there is nothing worse than your hair getting all sweaty and clammy against your neck, and your style dropping by the time you’ve left the church. I use Clip in hair extensions to add a little body and length to my own hair and opt for a low bun, to the side or softly curled, for an understated but classic look every time.

Go natural with your make up 

With most weddings starting around noon, I think a natural make-up look is always preferable but that doesn’t mean you can’t add to it before the evening reception. Switching a lip gloss for a bold lipstick, or adding a little more eye colour/liner can make a huge difference to your look and leave you feeling ready to party!

Make sure your clutch bag is big enough 

Although you can get some gorgeous little box clutch bags, when it comes to a wedding I always opt for a larger sized clutch to fit in all of my things for the day – my camera to capture the day, my phone to check up on the kids, make up for a touch up, perfume for a refresh, and a small zip purse for the bar.  I love an envelope style clutch that still looks great but gives you plenty of space.

Enjoy yourself!! 

We are finally reaching an age where all of our friends are pretty much married and so making the most of the last few weddings is so important. The next wedding we might attend may well be our own children’s……now that’s a scary thought!!

** This is a collaborative post **