It’s been 350 days since she posted, “365 days until I get to marry my best friend!”

You’ve already showered her with bridal gifts (his & hers monogrammed aprons… NAILED IT), ordered their wedding gift - something a bit more practical to be shipped to their new apartment (wow, you are so considerate), and are even planning to RSVP for the Big Day AND their rehearsal dinner… even though it’s already two days late.

Your fridge has been littered with floral invitations and “Save the Date” magnets since their big announcement, with new decorative paper invitations/future fire kindling appearing every month since. You love your friend, but you hope to Betsy for the madness to end with that final invitation – now in your mailbox, and seemingly scented with lilac. Really classy touch, Betsy. Really classy.

Scanning the floral cardstock, you look for familiar dress-code-designating words that, you assumed, would appear at the bottom of the invite. Eyes flitting from hand-lettered word to embossed bullet points, you search for clues like “formal,” “semi-formal,” “no shirt, no shoes, no buffet service,” but the only clue that you are cordially given is:

“Garden Wedding.”

Have no fear, Betsy’s friend. Although ambiguous, “garden wedding” may be the most forgiving category of wedding guest apparel. We’ll guide you through the pitfalls of folding chairs (avoid mini-skirts), grassy walkways (leave your stilettos at home) and cooler evening breezes (your own sweater will definitely look cuter than your date’s blazer), and leave you dressed and dashing with plenty of time to run errands for the Maid of Honor who forgot to pick up the send-off sparklers.

Let's do this.

THE BASICS: FLORAL ON FLORAL ON FLORAL

PRO TIP: if your dress coordinates with the invitation, chances are the wedding photographer will love you.

ENGLISH GARDEN: TRADITIONAL OUTDOOR WEDDING

Subdued floral prints scream (in a tranquil whisper) "pinkies up!" 

Channel your inner Kate Middleton and throw on a killer hat and a classic shape.


... or break the mold while still blending in with the native greenery.

JAPANESE GARDEN: EVENING WEDDING CHIC 

Deeper hues and a sleek style are perfect for an evening garden wedding.

 Light and breezy. Bold and mysterious. This dress would look great cutting it up on a twinkle-lit dance floor.

 So, no matter the kind of garden in which your girl is getting hitched,