Let's call a spade a spade, black tie weddings can be a sartorial minefield to navigate! While it can be more straight forward to figure out what to wear for a winter black tie wedding or one held at Christmas or on New Year's Eve - sparkles, sequins, and plenty of it - in summer it's a whole other ballgame of closet complexity. You don't want to look too festive, especially in a sunny summer setting. Where better to look for inspiration than at a lavish and real-life fairytale summer royal wedding? Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan and Rajwa Al-Saif tied the knot in Amman in front of a highly exclusive guest list of world royals and heads of state. The Islamic ceremony, called the "katb ktab", was held in the gardens of Zahran Palace and here are the best wedding guest looks to inspire your style for your next summer wedding.
Intricate Embroidery
Kate Middleton led the royal style in what could be one of her most glamorous royal wedding guest looks to date. The Princess of Wales rewore a blush custom gown by Elie Saab, from the Lebanese designer's ready-to-wear Autumn/Winter 2017 collection and it was packed with romantic accents that made it perfect for a summertime wedding. The dusty rose hue is the perfect soft summer share but it was the floral embroidery that wound around the bodice, neckline and sleeves that wowed the most. Flared, loose sleeves are more comfortable when it's hot, and altough Kate had sheer panels in the top and skirt replaced, as we non-royals don't have strict style protocols we can show off a sliver of skin at a destination wedding.
Add a Cape
She may be young, but Belgian Princess Elisabeth wore a dress with drama that rivalled the grown-ups with her fuschia cape gown by Essentiel Antwerp. The Duchess of Brabant was easily one of the best dressed on the day with her fabulous flowing maxi which is still in stock and costs €395. It has 2023 summer black tie wedding guest dress written all over it! With a relaxed silhouette, a raglan waistline and a fluid skirt it will bring maximum impact with minimum fuss. Plus, just think how much fun it would be to take a spin on the dancefloor. (P.S. Head-to-toe hot pink dressing is such a vibe right now. Come on Barbie, let's swing by the bar first, then go party!)
Party From the Back
Queen Rania was a totally glamorous mother of the groom wearing a refined Dior Couture gown elevated with gold embroidery on the neckline and the sleeve cuffs. While she made a subtle, sparkling statement from the front, the back of the dress which bore a glimmering gold panel was a real highlight. Don't just make an entrance, leave with a bang too! And if you're wondering if you can wear black as a guest to a wedding - we have a whole post on that here!
Float in Florals
It was a sustainable style move for Queen Máxima of the Netherlands who chose a beloved botanical beauty from her wardrobe. She re-wore her V-neck, floral Luisa Beccaria gown. What makes it a magical option for a summer black tie wedding is the billowy, wide organza sleeves and the mixed floral patterns from ditsy and dainty to bolder and more oversized.
Summer Sequins
Princess Hisako of Takamado and her oldest daughter, Princess Tsuguko, showed why a sequin gown is a sensational choice for a summer black tie wedding guest dress code. Just like sequins catch the glimmer of fairylights during the festive season, they glitter beautifully in sunlight too. Jewel and poppy shades pack a strong summer colour punch.
Muted Metallic
The US First Lady Jill Biden was an elegant vision in a mauve gown by Reem Acra. The glossy sheen of the metallic fabric looked so beautiful in the sunlight and the pearl-encrusted neckline added to the magic.
Want even more wedding guest style advice? We have you more than covered here!
