I feel like reassuring you right away: the perfect dress code for a summer wedding does not exist! In fact, the choice among summer dress alternatives for a wedding in the warmer season is so vast that you cannot go wrong. Just stick to a few simple common sense rules.

Let's start with the color issue.

The bride often already expresses preferences or exclusions about the dress code to be observed at the ceremony and especially at the reception. And she will certainly be thoughtful enough to inform you promptly. In that case it is gracious to respect her wishes. Also because I strongly advise against challenging the wrath of a sweet bride-to-be.

It goes without saying that both white and black are colors to be excluded a priori, without waiting for the bride-to-be to be banned. White is precisely the color reserved for the first woman, the bride, but this may not be necessary in case she decides to wear a dress of a different color. However, this choice will be manifested only at the moment she appears in front of the threshold of the church or hall chosen to celebrate the ceremony, whether religious or civil. Therefore, by that time, all the games will have been played and the color choices already made long ago. Black is classy in many circumstances, but at such a joyous celebration it risks being excessively funereal; better to choose it in other places and on other occasions.

The "red" issue is a sore point. Certainly it is a bold and unquestionably classy choice. Red expresses passion, and the wearer is not afraid of stares and attention, quite the contrary. However, this means that choosing this color could be interpreted as a desire to centralize attention and appreciation that would instead be delicate to reserve for the bride. However, no one forbids taking the risk of some ill-concealed chatter and instead fully enjoy the pleasantness of a beautiful, shiny, passionate color.

Instead, green light to all other colors, shades and color games.

Shoulders covered or bare?

It depends. If the ceremony is religious, during the celebration it is elegant for both the bride and the guests to gracefully veil the back, arms, and décolletage. It is definitely a choice of elegance. Ideally, given the high temperatures, it is best to have a stole or shrug in summer yarns that can then be discreetly stored later in the bag. I never give up this stylist choice even at civil celebrations, as it is definitely a nice frame to the dress I choose. You will have no difficulty finding a model of summer shrug or stole suitable for your dress on this same site as well.

Long or short?

If the reception is taking place in the afternoon into the evening, a long dress will usually be welcome, but this does not mean that short or so-called "cocktail" dresses are to be looked upon as smoke in the eyes. If the reception is during lunch, on the other hand, the long dress is likely to be an inappropriate and out-of-time choice, definitely out! Different discussion is "how much to uncover" between shoulders and legs. Classy is a long dress that uncovers the back with generous cleavage and the legs with a long slit. In this case, it is not recommended to be as generous in the front neckline. It is known that the heat can also be unbearable and justify excessive choices, but class can never be ignored and one cannot be fooled by circumstances. The short dress, on the other hand, can be a sparkling and youthful choice, but since there is little fabric in a short dress I advise against excess both in color and sequins and in the mini size of the skirt.

High heels or flat heels?

Again, the answer is not obvious. It depends on the surroundings since it sometimes happens that both the ceremony and the reception are held in impervious areas, such as the top of the hill in a medieval village, with narrow streets studded with wonderful cobblestones. Architectural choices often do not go hand in hand with fashion choices, and there is nothing coarser than a beautiful woman walking with great difficulty on vertiginous heels in an alley of a medieval hamlet. It is best to inquire first about the location of both the ceremony and the reception, and more comfortable heels can also be chosen if the surroundings require it. Conversely, I do not recommend the flat. In fact, I cannot imagine a reason that would justify a flat in elegant circumstances. Better to reserve it for walks on the beach or runs in the park.