Last night I went to a summer wedding where I didn’t know what to expect. It started at 6pm and there wasn’t a clue on the invitation as to what the attire was going to be. Plus, I didn’t know the bride that well so I couldn’t call to ask, and most of the time there is a hodge podge of dressing at weddings anyway. I also didn’t know if it was going to be indoors or outdoors (it was outdoors and damn it was hot yesterday and humid…but at least it didn’t rain!). So I decided, I was going to go in something I was comfortable in, color.

I bought this dress 2 years ago for an outdoor wedding in Boston in late August. I popped into Ann Taylor after work the day before I was supposed to leave and found this lovely orange gem on clearance, I think I paid less than $50 for it. It’s a heavier weight material, but you can never go wrong with a simple shift shape dress. Shifts are always classic. The circular halter neckline dresses it up a bit and the kangaroo pockets in the front are great for storing tissues in because I always tear up at weddings. My husband laughed at me because even though the dress is 2 years old, yesterday was the first time I realized I still had the censor in it that you’re supposed to cut out the first time you wear it…oops!

Since I didn’t know what to expect I wanted to jazz it up a bit more in case the event was dressy, so I added my favorite Erickson Beamon for Target necklace, plus it adds another layer of color along with my Oh Deer! turquoise peep toe heels. I carried my Vivienne Tam handbag because it’s fabulously luxurious AND it is big enough to carry my big DSLR and everything else I could possibly need for the night.

For more color I did my pedicure in Sally Hansen Lavender Cloud and my manicure is Essie Splash of Grenadine. I was bright and colorful and I swear orange always boosts my mood. So despite being hot as hell outside, I was laughing and sipping lemonade all evening. I got a lot of compliments on my shoes and my necklace that evening too, so I got an extra boost to the ego as well. I also got a haircut, this is probably the shortest my hair has been in a long, long time. Normally I tuck my bob behind my ears to simulate this look but I told my stylist to just cut it off, I wanted to go short all the way. After an hour of using the thinning sheers and a razor, I got to this and I kind of love it. I snapped these pics when I got home, so you’re seeing me after hours in the sun after I thought I was going to melt but my makeup held up pretty well (no lip gloss on anymore though). I’ll have to share my secret for my makeup in another post.

So what do you think of my wedding look? And what is your go to wedding outfit?