It's another wedding guest outfit question

[BlackAmericanoNoSugar]

I'm going to a wedding in Spain in May. I'm extremely celtic and don't cope with heat or sunshine at all, it's expected to be mid 20s C (which is too hot for me) and the wedding will be outdoors. The dress code is 'formal'. I am only a cousin of the bride, so not an important member of the bridal party, which I'm hoping means that I will be held to a lower sartorial standard.

I'm extremely apple-shaped and so need dresses that either have no waist or a high/empire waist as my bust size and waist size are so drastically different. Bust is size 16/18, waist is approx 22/24. I generally wear casual, flowy dresses in the summer in a size 18 but none of them are dressy enough for a wedding.

I quite like the look of this but would prefer cotton for coolness. https://chapter.london/products/yasmine-dress-red-black-paintstrokes?variant=44529923752222

I also really love this, but wonder if it would be formal enough. https://atlastshop.co.uk/products/coming-soon-cotton-annabel-maxi-dress-in-midnight-blue

I could also possibly make this dress (I would add sleeves) with a maxi skirt https://criswoodsews.com/products/parasol-dress-and-top in the fabric in the photo (which is more glorious than the photo makes it appear).

Any suggestions?

First one is nice, but I understand about wanting cotton.
Second one is stunning. Maybe it will look more formal with jewellery/bag etc.
The pattern I don’t think is suitable at all, even with sleeves.

Have you tried monsoon? They generally have nice maxi dresses if you can’t decide between the other ones.

Monsoon are usually a good bet, but there's nothing at all that I like at the moment there. They have the right shape in the wrong colours and the right colours in the wrong shape, and there is so much recycled polyester.

What about this? I really love the bird and leaf print. https://onehundredstars.co.uk/collections/dresses/products/acer-red-pleat-dress?variant=40146270158906

Have you tried twisted wunder and Scarlett and Jo?

My understanding is that Spanish weddings are much more formal than British ones.

I know they're hated on MN, but have you looked at Bombshell dresses? They might suit. You could buy a bigger size and then have it taken in at the bust.

I really like the Scarlett and Jo dresses, but they all have a wide waistband right on the waist, so not ideal. Plus they are all polyester. Twisted Wunder have a really good shape for me, but I don't like the colours. (Picky )

One Hundred Stars also have the lovely acer fabric in the Rachel dress. I love the shape, but it might be a bit on the casual side. On the other hand I would get more than just one wear out of it and might stick a massive hat on it in order to be 'formal'.

Second one hands down. Not sure what you mean with the third - dreadful. Don't like the fourth either. First is good too.

I'm not sure that it's a Spanish wedding exactly, although it might be. My cousin grew up in Spain but both she and her groom are Irish/British, so all the families will presumably also be Irish/British.

I will check out Bombshell.

Oooh, a bit outside my price range and I would need to tie the sash belt a bit higher up, and I'm not sure if that would look strange. Gorgeous though. https://www.bombshellhq.com/collections/dresses/products/helen-maxi-shirt-dress-in-red

That's the nicest you've picked. You're first choice is more of a smart office dress. The second isn't very summery. I don't like the third at all.

That 100 stars dress comes in a lot of pretty patterns.

Go with cool fabric over anything else. The second one is lovely

I love the second dress- with gold sandals it could look gorgeous.

I love the second dress too from At Last though it looks like it's sold out. You might be able to find it elsewhere or on Vinted.

I agree that with some really lovely gold sandals and jewellery that would look great.

Definitely look for something cotton. I'd struggle in synthetic fabrics in hot weather too.

Second one is lovely.

I wouldn't say Spanish weddings are smarter, if anything I would say the other way around. Most female guest wore flowing dresses as opposed to the structured kind many wear in the U.K. (except on Mumsnet where people suggest multi coloured very expensive sack dresses )

Of those I liked the second better op. Look at pretty kitty perhaps, I bought a dress for DD's wedding there

The At Last dress is coming soon, which is why it says 'sold out' when it means 'unavailable'. It would be useful if they had a different message.

love the 2nd one

I like the first dress. Don’t like the 2nd, the neckline looks too frilly.

@BlackAmericanoNoSugar I’m quite a similar size/shape to you OP (maybe a bit chestier). I wore this Scarlett & Jo dress to a very hot summer wedding last year and it was perfect. It’s so lightweight and comfortable and just has a very thin elastic waistband (like a thick string), not the wide band that the other dresses have 😊

There are some lovely and very suitable dresses on Scarlett and Jo.

I love this one : https://www.scarlettandjo.com/products/verity-wine-ikat-print-maxi-gown?variant=44355016327476

Or this https://www.scarlettandjo.com/collections/plus-size-wedding-guests-dresses/products/carole-purple-ivory-wrap-bodice-sunray-pleated-skirt-midi-dress?variant=47470215168308

The One Hundred Stars is the winner for me. Lovely and very appropriate for the occasion.

I do love this one but I'm really not curvy, I am beachball shaped. I know from experience that if that waistband fits me, the bodice will be massively too big. Also the waistband will naturally ride up to my narrowest point as I move around, making the dress empire line and the bodice even baggier.

I like this but very expensive

I went to a wedding in May in Spain, forecast to be low/mid 20s. It actually went up to low 30s. Luckily I was well prepared. I had a floaty pure silk dress, and a light jacket. On the day I ditched the jacket and I was fine in just the silk dress. It was a very hot day, and all the other guests did something like me. Felt sorry for the men in suits! I think natural fibres are a must.