The Best Hat to Wear to a Summer Wedding

Catherine Summers, Not Dressed As Lamb | Wedding Guest Outfit: Pale Yellow Oversized Blazer, Cream Fedora Hat, Wide-Leg Lime Green Trousers, Orange Strappy Mules, Peach Buckle Bag

You get a wedding invite (woohoo!). I’m sure, like me, the first thing you think is, What am I going to wear…?

Now I know that this question isn’t quite as important to you and me as it is to the bride and bridal party, but still, you always want to make sure you get it right AND feel great in what you wear, don’t you?

I reckon the biggest question these days (and one which has become more and more prevalent over the last 10-15 years or so) is, DO I WEAR A HAT. Do I have to wear a hat? Will I be the only one wearing a hat? Can I wear a hat if I want to? What if I turn up wearing a hat and then see that no one else is wearing a hat, will there be somewhere that I can hide my hat so no one knows my hat-wearing secret?

Okay so that’s five questions, I said there was one… but it’s still one big lump of a head-scratching question slash dilemma.

 

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Catherine Summers, Not Dressed As Lamb | Wedding Guest Outfit: Pale Yellow Oversized Blazer, Cream Fedora Hat, Wide-Leg Lime Green Trousers, Orange Strappy Mules, Peach Buckle Bag

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Me: I’m a hat-wearer all year round. On casual days at home I’m rarely without a baseball cap; in winter I’ll always be donning a beanie or bobble; in summer it’s something to shade my face from the sun. So when I was invited to my niece’s wedding (it was in June, I’m a little behind on publishing photos), I knew I’d probably be wearing a hat, and I’d probably be the only one wearing a hat because we were told it was going to be a super casual wedding.

But there IS a way you can do the hat thing if you either really want to, or because it’s going to be super hot, or because you have to (though can anyone insist on hats being worn to a wedding these days? Is that a thing anymore? Or is it only a prerequisite for a garden party at Buckingham Palace or a royal wedding?).

 

Catherine Summers, Not Dressed As Lamb | Wedding Guest Outfit: Pale Yellow Oversized Blazer, Cream Fedora Hat, Wide-Leg Lime Green Trousers, Orange Strappy Mules, Peach Buckle Bag

Easy solution: wear a straw fedora, or a Panama hat (same kinda thing). A smart Panama is my no.1 go-to hat in the summer, even more perfect for a wedding because I LIKE wearing hats (and actually feel a bit weird and pinhead-y without one) and because it saves me squinting if it’s sunny during the wedding photos part. Yet I didn’t feel out of place (yes, I WAS the only person wearing a hat), and I actually felt much better that I did go with the hat option.

I actually changed my mind about what I was wearing until the night before – it was the blazer/trousers combination that I couldn’t decide upon. In the end, I did summery pastels with this oversized yellow blazer and the lime green wide-leg trousers (similar) plus a few fabulous accessories (the Carrie Bradshaw-style rose corsage being the one thing I knew I was definitely wearing). But to be honest it was such a wonderful wedding – one of the most relaxed I’ve ever been to – that you could have got dressed up to the nines or worn a simple cotton dress and felt fine. The day and the event were much more important, and hats off (see what I did there?) to the bride and groom because they put on a wedding that everyone actually enjoyed.

But the irony of a British summer wedding is that you have no idea whether you’ll be freezing and wet or baking hot and sticky… we got the latter (June was wall-to-wall sunshine). So the blazer was hardly worn and I spent most of the day showing off my guns in my cream sleeveless vest top.

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But who knew I’d be wearing a 22-year-old plain vest top to a wedding one day?! C’est la vie 😉

Your turn – got any Hats-at-Weddings tips for us? Are you in the Yes or No camp when it comes to wearing a hat? Tell me in the comments…

 

Thanks for reading xoxo

Catherine signature

Catherine Summers, Not Dressed As Lamb | Wedding Guest Outfit: Pale Yellow Oversized Blazer, Cream Fedora Hat, Wide-Leg Lime Green Trousers, Orange Strappy Mules, Peach Buckle Bag

Blazer: Asos / Trousers: Asos (similar) / Hat: Old (similar) / Shoes: Asos (I like these) / Rose corsage: Amazon / Bag: Asos (similar)

 

More wedding guest outfit hat options:

 

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12 Comments

  1. 16 August 2023 / 11:52 am

    I recently discovered that I only look half decent in hats when I’ve got long hair. When I had said long hair, I bought two hats the same (one black, one camel) and then promptly cut all my hair off and tried to wear them. They looked bloody ridiculous! Now, I’m growing my hair again so I’m looking forward to actually wearing those hats lol. I was never a wedding hat wearer though… I’m more of a fascinator woman myself. I love the idea of wearing a panama hat to a casual summer wedding though. When it is hot and you’re standing outside while all the photos are being taken, I reckon it’s the best bet to keep the sun of your face!
    I love your colourful outfit, Catherine!
    Hugs
    Suzy xx

  2. 15 August 2023 / 12:01 am

    It’s funny because I love wearing hats but have never worn one to a wedding. I think it’s mainly because since I really got into wearing hats I haven’t been to any weddings – at least not the day part. I love the pastel and citrus tones in your outfit, you look fabulous! Thanks for linking up!

    Emma xxx

  3. 10 August 2023 / 6:51 pm

    I went to my nephew’s wedding hat-less in July. They don’t suit me. There was a handful of women wearing fascinators rather than hats. I really wish I could carry off a hat because I love them – on other people. Yours has an insouciant slightly cheeky look. Love it! Thanks for linking at #WowOnWednesday x

    • Catherine
      Author
      10 August 2023 / 9:44 pm

      Thank you Gail! I think I’ve always been a hat person because I’m aware of my smaller-than-average head… the hats make up for my head’s diminutive size, lol!

  4. 5 August 2023 / 1:06 pm

    I love wearing a chic hat for a wedding!

    Danielle | thereluctantblogger.co.uk

    • Catherine
      Author
      5 August 2023 / 1:36 pm

      Thanks Danielle – you and me and a couple others might be the only ones! 😉

  5. Lise
    4 August 2023 / 2:39 pm

    Such a pretty colour blazer and unusual. Love it. I did not wear a hat to the last wedding I attended here on the Black Sea in 2019 and nor did anyone else. I used to love wearing a hat in the 80s for a night out.

    • Catherine
      Author
      5 August 2023 / 12:29 pm

      Thank you Lise – the blazer is such a good choice for summer, isn’t it? You sound like me in that you think hat-wearing should come back…! I’m all in, always have been 😉

  6. 3 August 2023 / 6:19 pm

    Did you know that Wearing Hats to Weddings is not a thing in the US? The only folks you’d see doing it would be anglophiles like me, who also loves wearing hats. Years ago, I was admiring a hat in a shop, chatting to the saleswoman, and I said “I just have occasions to wear hats”. She said (and I’ve never forgotten it, obvs.) “you know, if you want to start wearing hats, start wearing hats!” I started buying them at thrift shops and never looked back….

    You look great in hats, and this Panama is a real keeper – could be worn so many places. Well done!

    • Catherine
      Author
      3 August 2023 / 6:58 pm

      Oh isn’t that funny MK – I didn’t realise it wasn’t a US thing? I mean, it’s very much fallen out of favour to wear a hat to a wedding (I think the 80s was the heyday of hat-wearing!!), I can’t actually remember the last time I saw anyone else wear one. It’s a shame, because I do love how a hat tops off an outfit… but maybe it’s because of my little head: it needs making bigger, lol! Thanks lovely x

  7. Frieda
    3 August 2023 / 5:42 pm

    I am a little late to the party, but I am so happy you are blogging again. All new posts are such an inspiration (and the old ones of course as well)! My sister marries next week so this post was just in time to realize that I can elevate my outfit with a straw hat. Thank you for that!

    • Catherine
      Author
      3 August 2023 / 7:16 pm

      No problem Frieda – just glad to have you here anytime! Thank you for those kind words – and that WAS fortuitous timing… I hope you have a wonderful time, and congrats to your sister! <3

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