What to wear?

[SuzySunshine]

So this wedding in HI in October is billed as semi formal to formal?! What do I wear, the ceremony is in the beach, there is also a stroll to a sunset and the reception is in a ball room. It will be small, like 40 people and we will only know a handful of them...

Help!

[v-girl]

A fancy sundress? No clue.

[poky]

Yeah, I'd probably wear a nice sundress with maybe a fancy shawl or something, and sandals that won't be horrible to wear in the sand...or that you can take off for the sand and put back on for once you're off the beach.

[v-girl]

The thought of satin or silk on a beach makes me sweat. LOL

[MsSassyBaskets]

I'm thinking a dressier maxi dress or a more summery gown? This is kind of what's coming to mind:
http://www.6pm.com/bcbgmaxazria-inga...t-nectar-combo
Or
http://www.zappos.com/type-z-liliana...fcTest=fcl%3A0
Or
http://www.zappos.com/gabriella-roch...fcTest=fcl%3A0
Or
http://www.6pm.com/vince-camuto-colo...teaberry-multi

It depends on whether they're the kind of people who really mean FORMAL when they say "formal". If they're the kind of people who say "formal" when they really mean "cocktail" then a nicer sundress might suffice.

[Pollyanna]

Highs in Oct will be the low 80's and the lows will be in the high 60's so at sunset you'll need a wrap. I think a breezy maxi dress on the dressier side with strappy metallic heals that you can take off for the walk (or have a pair of sandals handy).

[SuzySunshine]

Yeh I have no idea if they're really formal people or not. His family is Mormon, her family is mostly coming from China. The handful of people we will know are about our age or a little younger and worked in the lab with DH and the bride during residency.

The problems with maxis is that at 5'2" I've never found one that wasn't way to long.

Maybe I'll ask the bride if DH should wear his tux, that might give me a little better idea...

[niener]

Being on a beach automatically takes the maximum level of formality down a couple of notches, so I'd say any of those dresses you linked to would work just fine. As for the length, that's a super easy and cheap fix by a tailor.

[HouseofWool]

I really like the first dress, and agree that a maxi dress is the best bet because it can easily be dressed up by accessories. And hemming is a snap. (The flip side is being 5'9" and having every maxi dress end above your ankles...)

[scrub-jay]

Is it a destination wedding or are they HI natives? It is inherently more relaxed if they are HI natives.

[SuzySunshine]

No it's destination, they live in Utah and Chicago and China

[SuzySunshine]

To much for a Hawaiin wedding??

IMAGE_D873C5EC-D64D-435D-89FF-6DFB028DE816.JPG
IMAGE_696F4C59-4AF8-4222-8930-5D7DB66F2040.JPG

[v-girl]

I like it!

[medpedspouse]

Don't kill me. I don't. Don't know if it is the angle of the pic but I do not think it accentuates your great figure. I do love the colors given the locale.

[HouseofWool]

I have to agree that this dress isn't nearly as flattering for you. I think as petite was you are the pattern overwhelms you and I'm not entirely sure about the gauzy overlay.