The bride has spent many hours picking out a perfect beach location and deciding what she is going to wear at her destination wedding. But, what outfit is right for a guest? In some ways, a woman’s outfit should be similar to whatever she would wear to a casual summer wedding on the mainland. On the other hand, there are things that Mother Nature could throw into the mix that must be considered, like sand, wind, and possibly rain.
Hawaiian Beach Weddings
In general, clothing worn in Hawaii looks silly on the mainland and structured, subdued mainland clothing looks silly in Hawaii. And, though a guest may end up going barefoot to the wedding, jean shorts and T-Shirts are too casual for any wedding. Also, avoid wearing any dress that looks like a traditional Holoku Hawaiian wedding dress or a casual Holoku.
Hawaiian Print Dresses
For a Hawaiian beach wedding, any flowered print dress, of any length, that is similar to an Aloha print is perfect. An alternative would be to wear a flowered-print top with a gauzy skirt or gauzy unstructured pants.
- Here is a mainland-style flowered print.
- Here is a classic Aloha print.
In the islands, flowered clothing is brighter, larger, bolder, and usually includes a light color such as yellow or white. However, some prints have darker shades of blue, red, or black as their background color.
Many businessmen wear Aloha shirts to work every day in downtown Honolulu. And, Aloha prints can be worn almost anywhere on any island. It takes a while for those Haole eyes to get used to Hawaiian prints, so here are some mainland-style dresses that would look at home in Hawaii.
Hawaiian Clothes for Women
These outfits would look good in Hawaii.
- The print on this Ralph Lauren dress is wonderful, but silk might be too formal for casual beach weddings. Cotton may be more appropriate.
- A tunic like this would be cute on the beach but double-check with the maid of honor. Normally, only the bride is allowed to wear white at a wedding, but sometimes guests wear white tropical-weight gauze.
- Asian-style clothing is also appropriate in Hawaii.
Lilly Pulitzer Prints
If having trouble finding a frock, look around for Lilly Pulitzer or a cheap knockoff.
- Lilly Pulitzer tropical dress
- Lilly Pulitzer clothing is considered preppy-wear on the mainland.
- Here is a great Lilly Pulitzer dress, but it might upstage the bride. Is the bride a good friend?
To be practical, get a print that looks good in Hawaii, yet can be worn again.
Beachwear Without Flower Prints
Here are options for a girl who hates florals:
Weather in Hawaii
What is in the background of this photo of Hawaii? Clouds.
Most areas in the islands get at least a sprinkle a day. If the beach is on the windward side of the island (eastern side), there is a greater chance of rain. If the beach is on the leeward side, rain is less likely, but possible. It will usually be warm rain, but consider an umbrella, hat, or shawl to wear like a headscarf, or be prepared for hair to do its own thing.
On Oahu, Kailua is on the windward side. On Maui, the weather is more complex, though in general Kaanapali and Kihei get less rain than other parts.
It can get very windy in Hawaii. Be prepared to pull long hair back into a ponytail or to use a scarf as a headband. A sunhat would be cute if it stays on. Have a shawl or wrap for cool breezes.
Womens Beach Shoes
One of the most important things to know in advance is whether the wedding will take place on the sand or on grass (or another solid surface). Unless the wedding is excruciatingly formal, going barefoot on the sand should be fine. However, a girl should take some kind of shoe along.
Different locations call for different footwear:
- Cute Embellished Flip flops: Some spots in Hawaii have Kiawe trees with sharp thorns (and some spots have other sharp objects). Also, sand can get too hot for bare feet . Fancy flip-flops are perfect for most beach weddings.
- Sturdy Shoes: Something sturdy (possibly Tevas) are good if there is a steep, slippery, or narrow pathway to the beach.
- Kitten heels, Wedges, or Espadrilles: Heels are only good on solid surfaces like grass.
If unsure what to wear to a destination wedding, the best people to ask would be the bride's mother or the maid of honor. These days, one never knows.
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Author lived in Kailua, Hawaii during high school and lived near Diamond Head in her early 20s. She has seen a gorgeous sunrise ceremony near Kahala (with many guests) that went off without a hitch.
Christina Gregoire - Christina Gregoire writes about divorce, fashion, and baby boomers. Her forte is explaining complex ideas in simple language.
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