Half the guests will be overheating, half will look underdressed. You don’t have to be either.
Ages ago I attended a July wedding in DC where the ceremony was held outdoors at 2PM. I wore the one navy synthetic suit I had based on the invitation dress code and didn’t think twice.
By the time the couple kissed, I looked like I just detoxed in a sauna and my white shirt had turned translucent. Lesson learned: summer weddings require strategy, not just tradition.
You’re dressing for two things at once, heat and ceremony. You need breathable fabrics, lighter colors, and ease…but you also want to look like you chose this outfit and not like you’re cosplaying Miami Vice.
So where do you start? Not the outfit combo, the invitation.
Read the Dress Code (and Read Between the Lines)
Wedding dress codes are often written like a riddle. “Cocktail” in a July vineyard is a very different beast than “Cocktail” in a hotel ballroom in December. “Beach Formal” sounds made up because it kind of is. But once you understand the intent behind each one, you can calibrate accordingly.
Black tie? Rare for summer unless the setting is formal and the ceremony starts after dark. But if that’s the call, go lightweight and classic.
Black-tie optional just means a dark suit like navy or charcoal and a little discretion. You can play with texture or a lighter fabric here, but don’t overthink it.
Semi-formal still means a suit, but summer loosens the reins a bit. Light gray instead of charcoal. A knit tie instead of silk. Think of it as traditional office-plus.
Cocktail attire is where the fun starts. A blazer with tailored trousers? Yes. A suit with a printed shirt and no tie? Definitely. Just avoid looking like you came straight from lunch.
And when it says “beach formal” or “dressy casual,” it’s not code for lazy. It just means the formality is tuned to the environment. Your clothes should still show intent, even if you’re in linen and loafers with no socks.
The Fabric Is the Fit
You could wear the most relaxed, Neapolitan-cut unstructured jacket in July, but if it’s in heavy flannel you’ll still be cooked. Summer dressing is less about silhouette than it is about fabric.
Linen gets the spotlight, and for good reason. It breathes, it drapes, it wrinkles and somehow we’ve all agreed that we don’t have to do anything about that. It doesn’t need to be white or sand-colored either. Brown linen, sage, tobacco, even black can look incredible in the right setting.
Then there’s seersucker. Once pigeonholed for the traditional Southern-gentleman, it’s had a renaissance over the last twenty years. Modern cuts, new colors, and the fact that it doesn’t need ironing make it worth another look.
And wool (yes, wool) can still be your friend in the heat. Tropical wool and high-twist wools like Fresco are breathable, structured, and surprisingly crisp. They resist wrinkles better than linen and look just as refined.
Cotton and blends round out the options. They’re workhorses. A cotton suit in the right shade can be dressed up or down easily and are a little more common and a lower price point. Just know they won’t breathe quite like the others.
→ Pro tip: Keep a cloth handkerchief tucked in your inner jacket pocket. If you’re starting to visibly sweat and can’t step away, it’s a discreet way to pat your face without using a napkin or your sleeve.
Color Is Context
Summer weddings are one of the rare chances men get to wear something other than navy or charcoal. Light gray, cream, muted blues, and soft greens all feel fresh and seasonally right. Even warm earth tones like rust or terracotta can look elegant without being loud.
Use color the way you’d use cologne: intentionally and in moderation. If the suit is pale, ground it with a darker shirt or shoe. If the jacket is bold, keep the shirt crisp and neutral. The balance matters more than any individual item.
Shirts, Shoes, and the Things That Pull It All Together
Short sleeves are back, but not every short sleeve shirt deserves to be worn with a suit. Look for subtle prints and a proper fit. Camp collars, OCBDs, and even polos can all work depending on the level of formality.
On your feet, loafers dominate. Penny loafers, Venetian loafers, Belgian loafers, even horsebits if that’s your lane. Suede in brown or olive gives texture. Leather in tan or burgundy adds sharpness. Socks are optional, but no-show liners are the move.
Accessories are where you can inject a little attitude. A silk pocket square instead of a tie, maybe a pair of tortoiseshell sunglasses.
Don’t Just Dress Up, Dress With Intent
Ultimately, this is about showing you respect the event without sacrificing comfort or your own sense of style. You want to look like you belong in the photos ten years from now and like you weren’t afraid of a little sunlight.
Featured Men’s Summer Wedding Style Picks
Summer Suits
The lightweight blend of wool, silk, and linen makes this suit, in Dark Green, the perfect choice for a smart summer wedding that won’t leave you feeling stuffy from one of our 32 best men’s clothing brands.
Seersucker is a summer suit staple, here in a light tan makes it easy to pair other colors.
A suit you can wear to weddings, work, and smarter weekend plans is hard to come by, but J.Crew has nailed it with the Ludlow.
A mid-blue suit (Alts: J.Crew, Nordstrom) feels perfectly sophisticated with a hint of Italian style and who knows better about stylish dressing in hot weather than the Italians?
Summer Blazers
A grey linen suit jacket can be styled with your khakis just as easily as matching suit trousers. Wear with a subtle-printed shirt for extra summer flair.
A brown sportcoat might not seem the obvious choice for summer, but this breathable linen-wool hopsack jacket offers the perfect weight and texture for warmer months. It features half-canvas construction, unpadded shoulders, and relaxed patch pockets for a refined and effortless style.
A green linen sportoat conjures a preppy, Ivy League look. Pair with formal trousers and loafers, rather than chinos, for a summer wedding-appropriate style.
Summer Wedding Pants
If linen pants make you think of a loose, white style you might wear to a beach bar, think again. These puppytooth trousers are designed to keep you cool in your formalwear on summer’s hottest days.
Grey cotton linen chinos will fit comfortably without being either too loose or too clingy in hot weather.
Fresco, named for the Italian term meaning “fresh”, is a unique cloth made from high-twist wool fibers in an open weave. If you’ve not heard of it before, then you’ve found it just in time to improve your formal summer wardrobe.
Shirts
A short-sleeved shirt with a subtle print brings comfort and interest to a smart outfit without feeling over the top.
A camp collar, short sleeves, and a relaxed fit tick all the boxes when it comes to the essential features of a summer shirt. This style from Zara (Alt: Banana Republic) takes it one step further with a large but muted floral print.
A knit polo has quickly gone from something that wasn’t all that common just a few years ago to an absolute summer staple. They offer a bit of refinement via a retro feel, and that’s perfect for a less dressy option for a summer wedding.
Leaning on darker colors, even black, while picking a more casual summer design like a short sleeve camp collar shirt cant help balance out the casual-dressy equation.
There’s something about a blue and white striped shirt that feels perfect for summer. This non-iron style from Tie Bar is slightly preppy, giving it a yacht club edge.
When the dress code calls for something more formal you know you can’t go wrong with a white dress shirt. Just make sure you pick 100% cotton as synthetic materials aren’t your friend in hot weather.
Leather loafers are the summer alternative to brogues. Be sure to wear socks (visible or invisible is up to you) to avoid blistering and keep odors at bay.
Astorflex’s slip-on loafers are the smart equivalent to your summertime espadrilles.
Penny loafers are slightly chunkier than the sleek silhouette of a regular loafer, so they’re perfect for the more fashion-forward man. For a quality upgrade with heritage, try Weejuns.
Summer gives us some flexibility for something a little more fun with our wedding footwear. Something like this olive suede loafer from Jay Butler feels in alignment with both the season and the occasion.
If you can get away with something more relaxed, there’s no problem with wearing a pair of minimal white trainers to a wedding. Just make sure they’re box-fresh, and the rest of your outfit is smart enough to secure the formal look.
Last but certainly not least, don’t forget your sunglasses. Many weddings are held in summer for the simple desire to have an outdoor component to the celebration. Include an intentional pair of shades to cap off the rest of the outfit. → 6 Pairs of Affordable Sunglasses We’ll Be Wearing This Summer
