What to Wear to a Summer Wedding

Guest style etiquette by sign

From Tarot.com

It’s wedding season! You’ve got your designated plus-one, you’ve bought the gifts off the registry — now you just need to decide what to wear. That little black dress simply won’t do unless it’s an evening wedding, and you don’t want to look like you’re trying to upstage the bride. So let the zodiac act as your personal stylist and use your Sun sign to figure out the appropriate ensemble for your friend’s big day!

Aries (March 21 to April 19)

First, keep in mind that with your brave (sometimes brash) style, you’ll have to be extra careful not to pull focus from the bride. Tone down any urge you might have to wear a plunging neckline, and go a bit more demure. Don’t ditch your sign’s signature color, red, though — wear it in strapless, knee-length dress form, and don’t forget the shawl! Meanwhile, since your sign is always on the move, consider wearing flats or kitten heels. If you can’t ditch your signature sexy kicks, make sure to pack ballet flats or flip flops, too!

Taurus (April 20 to May 20)

The sign of the Bull is known for being sensual, but that doesn’t mean your style is always provocative. Instead, you prefer fine, comfortable fabrics that will allow you to move freely and relax. For a more casual affair, don’t shy away from jersey knit or a soft cotton. If you find the right cut, you can even pull off this kind of fabric at a dressier evening wedding, as long as you stick to black or navy blue. If you must go dressier — silks, taffetas, satins — choose dress styles that aren’t constricting: go for cowl-necks and empire-waist gowns. In terms of color, earth tones, pastels and pinks are right up your alley.

Gemini (May 21 to June 20)

Wear a dress that’s made to move, because once the ceremony is over, you won’t spend much time off the dance floor. Since your sign is represented by the Twins, you’ll probably find your tastes run gender-neutral, even androgynous, so avoid ruffles and beads and think simplicity. A flapper-style dress is perfect for you — these shifts don’t contour to curves, so you can breathe and bust a move! And you, like your Aries friends, should avoid high heels. Put on your dancing shoes to enable you to be your true, social butterfly self and flit from table to table, conversing with every single guest!

Cancer (June 21 to July 22)

You’ll probably shop for your formal threads at a vintage store. Since your sign is all about history and nostalgia, you’re at your best in feminine numbers that invoke a specific era of fashion. If you don’t like pre-worn duds, you’ll have no problem finding a new dress that takes a fresh twist on retro: frocks that look like dressed-down 1950s prom gowns or lacey, high-necked Victorian gowns with a modern sensibility — any one of these is totally you! Top it all off with a big purse if you can, so you can stow safety pins, day planners, hairspray and other emergency supplies — as the most nurturing, family-oriented sign of the zodiac, you’ll definitely be playing mother to the bride and helping her with any pre-ceremony crises that might arise!

Leo (July 23 to Aug. 22)

Just remember that sequins are considered a wedding fashion no-no, and you’ll be fine. Keep this in mind, because as the Lion sign, everything about you is edgy and regal. You adore attention and you like glamour, but again, today is not about you, so keep glittery accessories to a minimum and avoid metallic materials (even though you are one of the few members of the zodiac who could pull off a gilded dress!). Instead, be tastefully flashy: choose an ensemble with a conservative, even traditional, style and bold design. Animal print is generally a fashion faux pas, depending on the tone of the wedding, so err on the side of demure.

Virgo (Aug. 23 to Sept. 22)

As one of the most practical signs of the zodiac, you’ll know instinctively what level of formality is appropriate for each and every wedding you attend. So to be true to yourself and your innate fashion sense, keep “simple elegance” in mind: you shine in earthy tones like beige, cream or olive, and your best-bet styles are timeless, not trendy. Consider a gown with a bateau neckline, or — depending on the season — a turtleneck. Make sure the cut shows off your feminine curves without being too tight, since as the sign of the servant, you’ll probably step in as de-facto usher. You may even find yourself taking the bride’s clipboard away from her so you can iron out the details while she concentrates on being fabulous!

Libra (Sept. 23 to Oct. 22)

With beautiful Venus as your ruling planet, you have your finger on the pulse of fashion and won’t be defaulting to a frock you’ve already worn to another wedding — you’ll be sorting through current styles and picking out whatever you believe has the most staying power. You know trends, but aren’t a slave to fashion, so stick with “elegant” and “gorgeous.” Your ultimate dress will be timeless, but set off by a telling detail: a keyhole neckline, a halter dress with sparse beaded detailing — all topped off with classic stiletto pumps! Whatever you buy, you’ll be able to where five years from now and still look like you just stepped off the runway.

Scorpio (Oct. 23 to Nov. 21)

Your sign is the one most likely to break the rule about not wearing black to a daytime wedding — dark hues are definitely you! The Scorpion is sexual and edgy, and your sense of style hints at your intense inner world.  But remember that you’re attending a celebration of love, so lighten up! You can still be stylishly sassy, though: a knee-length cocktail dress or short, sleeveless turtleneck will hint at the drama of your sign without coming across as too morose. And if you want to play up the uber-sexy side of your sign with a low-cut number, tone it down in a pastel or neutral shade — you don’t want to shock the other guests too much!

Sagittarius (Nov. 22 to Dec. 21)

Like fellow Fire sign Leo, you like your bold prints and colors, Sag! Oranges and reds in particular are your style, but for a wedding, be sure to moderate. Know that you’re good at pushing the boundaries of what is traditional and acceptable — usually this applies to personal philosophy, but it’s true in fashion as well, so play around with asymmetric hemlines, layered fabrics and slight variations on classic dress designs. Make sure you don’t show too much skin or blind other guests with your flamboyant color palette, then embrace your flare for the outrageous! And as one of the most worldly signs of the zodiac, if you happen to be attending a wedding that bows to the tradition of the bride or groom’s heritage, consider doing a little research and turning up in culture-appropriate attire!

Capricorn (Dec. 22 to Jan. 19)

You and your fellow Earth sign, Virgo, have an inborn understanding of what to wear when. You take it to an entirely new level, however, because your business savvy is usually reflected in your choice of what to wear. Even at an outdoor wedding, you would look fabulous in a dress suit with classic lines, or a simple shift dress with a form-fitting blazer. Whatever style you find yourself drawn to, don’t go cheap when it comes to fabric — your sign has discriminating taste for the finest things, so linen or tweed are safe bets. You can pull off muted earth tones and even grays, giving off a sense of subdued sophistication.

Aquarius (Jan. 20 to Feb. 18)

First, call up your Aries and Sag friends and make sure you don’t turn up to the wedding wearing the same thing — you all have offbeat tastes and an appetite for bright colors. On the other hand, you prefer modern — even cutting-edge — designs that veer toward experimental, so there’s little chance that you’d run into your fashion double at the reception! The key is to embrace your uniqueness: opt for futuristic colors like silver, or blazing colors like electric blue. Don’t fight your exciting fashion urges, just make sure that whatever you throw on doesn’t distract from the true belle of the ball: the bride!

Pisces (Feb. 19 to March 20)

Dreamy Pisces, you are so connected with the fantasy world that you have a knack for creating a mood with what you wear. For instance, you can enchant admirers by putting on a flowing, understated ball gown, or a poofy taffeta skirt. If the wedding you’re attending is formal, go for subtler takes on “princess” styles — while some women might look out of place playing dress up, you can pull this look off effortlessly! Free-flowing sun dresses in ocean colors suggest your sign’s connection to the sea, so don’t be afraid to try out turquoise, green or light blues.

Find out more about your Sun sign’s unique tastes at Zodiac Central!