So many questions crop up about what to wear to all kinds of weddings in various venues that we've decided to tackle the issue for the inaugural story in our Summer Fashion & Beauty Guide. And the timing couldn't be more opportune. June is still, er, a hot time to go to the altar.

Heather Levine, fashion editor of The Knot, offered some practical wardrobe guidance: "Shorter hems and less formal fabrics, even for black-tie weddings, make sense in summer months. Choose chiffon, cotton and linen for daytime events; light-colored silks work well at night." Levine notes that it always pays to be prepared with a light wrap to cover your shoulders, especially for wedding ceremonies in churches and temples. It would also come in handy for a brisk beach nuptials.

Attempting to outdo the bride is an obvious no-no, and on that note, it's best to avoid wearing white. Other than that, Levine advises taking your dress cues from the invitation - if it's playful, feel free to wear color and pattern. A more formal invite calls for more subtlety. Finally, a black cocktail dress never goes out of style. To spiff things up, pile on some jewelry and wear frilly shoes.

If you happen to be a bridesmaid in an upcoming wedding, comfort is in fashion. Be on the lookout for soft fabrics like the Jersey material recently shown on Amsale runways. And if you're the bride, Levine says the trend is toward ready-to-wear styles. So, think couture draping, one-shoulder necklines and short silhouettes.

A black-tie winner: Ebony-and-white belted cotton grosgrain and nylon net dress from Tracy Reese ($231).

Dress it down with flats for a casual wedding; pump it up with strappy sandals for a dressier event. Chaiken sea-blue silk dress with white/black/green abstract print dress from Neiman Marcus ($392).

This ruffle-edge metallic wrap ($78, Nordstrom), which loops through a fabric flower, comes in brown and gold or white and gold and has you covered for religion or frigid air conditioning.

A gauzy shrug ($48, Anthropologie) could be all you need to take the chill off a beach wedding on Cape Cod.

Jazz up your little black dress - and make an entrance with a chunky choker, like Subversive's for Target Multi-layered Beaded Necklace ($59.99).

Bridesmaid (Amsale).

Bride (Vera Wang).