Santa Cruz, CA

In short, Cocktail Attire

But, actually, we are going for a more vintage-ish, 60s-70s, red carpet vibe. Essentially, what would you wear if you were on a red carpet? Even better question: what would Cher wear? Now, for this red carpet, it doesn’t have to be a movie you’re starring in, BUT it could be. You can be an extra in one of the scenes if that’s more your thing. Wear something fun, wear something obnoxious, wear something you’ve always wanted to wear but never had a place to wear it to! Dabble in some kitsch and rhinestones, or dress it up and channel your inner Met Gala!

Mini dresses, short dresses, knee-length, slit dresses, midi, maxi, all dresses are welcome, so long as they are high fashion! Bell sleeves, a-lines, mock-necks, sophisticated lace, rhinestones, maybe a little Gwen Stefani or Lana Del Rey. The only thing truly discouraged is romantic, dainty florals that could work for picnics, baby showers, and mimosas. Well, actually, the other thing that is discouraged is 50s pin-up vibes, which is not the vision. When referring to the 60s, I mean the late 60s. But do not worry about fully immersing yourself into a 60s and 70s vibe. Your look can be modern with an essence of vintage. I think Lana Del Rey is a reliable source of vintage influence that coalesces with modern fashion.

You can opt for a more modern dress paired with a bouffant and oversized earrings or a shift dress with a contemporary hairstyle.

As for suits, no tuxedos are needed. Think corduroy, velvet, Hugh Hefner, plaid, polka dots, light blue, hot pink, Ryan Gosling’s outfits for the Barbie Movie premieres —essentially, a visually exciting suit. Ties, bow ties, bolo ties, and no tie with a few buttons missing and a gold chain showing are all welcome. Silk-ish, satin-ish, embroidered, printed button-downs, whatever you’re feeling, go with it!

Don’t worry about buying a designer, high-end, or expensive outfit unless that’s your thing and what you want to do. The look can easily be achieved with a trip to a vintage clothing store or a Google search or two.

I’ll include some reference photos to help add clarification to the dress code. The reference photos are not guidelines at all, though. They are just ideas.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask.

Weather: It will probably be chilly during the day, and it will definitely be cold at night. I’m writing this as of June, and as it stands, the low for this evening is 52 degrees. Historically, nighttime temperatures in March range from 40 to 50 degrees.

The venue owners said it will either rain or be between 60-70 degrees during the day. If it rains, the reception will be held under a tent, but the ceremony will still take place outdoors. If it doesn’t rain, the reception will be held outdoors, with some heaters available. But, there is an indoor space where dancing will take place regardless of the weather.

If you’re part of the always-cold club, I recommend buying base layers. They worked for me in Iceland, so they’ll probably be good to have if you end up absolutely freezing. If you’re wearing a full-length dress, base layer bottoms would be completely unnoticeable underneath.

If you’re wearing a short dress, maybe double up on nylons. I have done this in similar seasons, and it has worked well for me.
As for suits, they seem pretty warm, but base layers could always help.

This is my long-winded way of saying you’ll probably need a jacket, and, of course, nice shoes are encouraged. However, stilettos and anything suede are likely to get messed up if it does rain.