I Dressed 50 Brides for Summer Weddings - Here's What Actually Works

Are you looking to differ from the traditional white dress for your summer weddings? You have come to the right place, current colour palettes that are trending for summer brides include soft pastels like blush, lavender and mint or even more bold modern choices such as champagne or dusty blue. The colour choice of your summer wedding dress enables you as a bride to enhance the theme and setting of the wedding, if you are by the beachside maybe think about a nice light mint colour to compliment your wedding. Never be afraid to skew away from the traditional white, however, if you are looking to elevate your white dress think about finding a dress with modern metallic or lace accents.

I have curated a list of the most summer-perfect silhouettes to consider when choosing your dress—perfect ways to exude sophistication while remaining comfortable.  

• Strapless and Spaghetti Straps: A timeless choice for a sunny day; never overlook the simplicity of this style. They are popular for a reason, and this style is ideal for a summer wedding. It has always been my first choice for a summer wedding dress. If you’re concerned about being too plain, consider styling the outfit differently or finding a fitted dress of this style embellished with lace or tulle.  

• Backless Gowns: My favourite style all year round! This design is the perfect way to stay cool while turning heads. A silk dress with a high cut, low, or open back is an excellent option for your summer wedding and has already gained immense popularity among 2025 brides.  

• Flowy A-Lines and Boho styles: These styles are ideal for garden and beach weddings. Depending on the structure of the A-line, the flowiness will work in your favour, allowing for breathable wear. A boho style is also great for a summer wedding; with light layers, you are sure to stay cool.  

• Mini Dress: Mini dresses have recently become a popular option for wedding attire, as demonstrated by Kourtney Kardashian at her recent wedding in Italy. A mini dress is perfect for a summer wedding, allowing you to remain comfortable and cool throughout the day. You can elevate your look with accessories such as detachable sleeves or the addition of a long veil to maintain the sophistication of your outfit look.

When choosing how accessories it is essential to remember that you and the dress are the focal points, I would keep the jewellery to a minimum and instead go for a more elegant minimalist look when accessorizing, think about the style of your dress it's high neck, accessorise with a plain statement earring, especially if you plan to wear your hair up. If your dress is strapless or a deep V a necklace can go a long way to elevate your look, maybe even consider a small bangle or bracelet to elevate your look while keeping the sophisticated look. To further accessories, you may want to incorporate a clutch for the evening or after the ceremony.

When deciding on your dress, it is essential to consider the venue of where it is being held, to make sure that your perfect summer wedding dress matches the theme of the setting:

• Beach Wedding: A flowy and lightweight piece is essential for comfort and the beach setting. Make sure that it’s not too lightweight, considering the winds at a beach that can sometimes have large gusts, a more structured dress made of a silk fabric would be perfect for this setting.

• Garden Wedding: This setting is perfect for incorporating dresses with floral embroidery or lace detailing, think about enhancing your outfit by introducing some colour, maybe some green or pastel embellishments to match the setting.

• Urban rooftop wedding: This is a more modern minimalist setting, think about using a more sleek, modern silhouette with metallic or satin finishes, and a line or high neck backless dress would be perfect for this setting

Something I have learnt whilst styling summer brides is that there are so many other ways you can elevate a look and personalise your dress to fit your personal style and wedding setting. A two-piece set can go a long way to add a modern twist and show off a bit of skin, remember that although you want your dress to match the vibe it is essential that it matches your style. Maybe you would consider a Bohemian-inspired dress with lace overlays, this is a perfect way to enhance your summer bridal look whilst keeping cool. From my expertise, I can also acknowledge the rising popularity of having two dresses for your wedding, one for the day and one for the night. Having a convertible dress that can transition seamlessly from ceremony to reception will be a game changer for your wedding.

It’s time to find the look for your special day! As a stylist there are so many things I have; learned when dressing summer brides. My number one tip is to find your perfect fit and always remember to balance style, comfort and individuality.

Summer wedding dresses can cater to various styles, such as modern, boho or classic and should make you as the bride feel radiant and confident. When considering your wedding dress, look no further than renting your perfect dress, it is the best budget-friendly, sustainable choice. Perfect for a bride who doesn't want to commit to purchasing a dress but still is looking for a high-end, good-quality dress for their special day.

Dress for a Night is the go-to for stunning summer wedding dresses to help make your day truly memorable. Whether you are shopping in-store or online with our wide variety of dress styles and sizes you are sure to find a dress to suit your day.

The Dress for a Night team and I would love to see your friendly faces in store, with appointments available from Monday to Saturday you are sure to find your perfect fit.