What to Wear to an Engagement Party in Summer

‘Tis the season to get married — and celebrate those tying the knot. Summer is prime time for engagement parties, and I know a lot of you have the invitations pouring in. I have gotten so many requests for what to wear to a wedding, as well as what to wear to an engagement party in summer. And you know I’m here to help! If you’re heading to the Hamptons, check out this guide that’s specific to engagement parties and weddings there. Otherwise, I’ve rounded up a mix of engagement party guest options that will work for a mix of settings. I want to preface this by saying that there are some ground rules when choosing an engagement party look as a guest. First, no white. That’s the brides color for every event so just steer clear. Next, look to the venue and dress code. You want to dress for the setting (beach, country club, rooftop bar, someone’s home) in both formality and practical terms (really, make sure your footwear works and your dress will work for wind or you have something if it gets chilly etc). And from there, have fun and be festive. This is a situation where it’s totally fine to overdress, but also follow the dress code they give you. If they’re doing something super casual and say jeans are fine, go with jeans or a casual dress and flats. If it’s cocktail attire, wear a cocktail dress and heels.

In the summertime, I love an engagement party as an excuse to wear a pretty dress and I almost always stick to platform heels, wedges or flats, depending on the setting. I like to keep the footwear practical and comfy and use it as an opportunity to snag a beautiful dress. If it’s beachy, I’m going with more of a breezy sundress style and if it’s at a country club, something a bit more conservative, but you’re the guest, so feel free to have fun with color and prints. I generally don’t love black for wedding-related events (other than formal black tie), but there’s always a black dress that will work for these situations, so wear what feels good and you love. Here are ideas for what to wear to an engagement party in summer.