Destination Wedding Guest Attire

What should guests wear to a destination wedding? The answer to that question depends in large part on where the wedding is being held. Guests have a relatively wide choice of dress; just remember that it's always bad form to outshine the bride. For women that means leaving that sexy, strapless number at home ... and for men, that red, rhinestone-studded cocktail suit.

Guests to a beach wedding are expected to dress in "Caribbean chic" resort wear. Shorts are inappropriate to a wedding, even in the tropics, cotton sundresses for women and a cotton or silk shirt and slacks for men are fine. Keep the accessories and jewelry to a minimum.

For a tropical wedding -- like in Hawaii or Tahiti, for example -- wearing tropical print fabrics is acceptable and even encouraged. Women might consider a print sundress or full skirt; gentlemen could wear a vibrant print, loose shirt over white pants.

In Bermuda, where knee-length shorts are the standard business attire for men, it's fine for men to wear "Bermuda shorts." Keep in mind, however, that these shorts are accompanied by knee-high socks and a sports jacket.