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"There are a lot of options beyond T-shirt material," Nellis says.

Not too hot or too cold

Strapless cocktail dresses have become another popular summer wedding choice, especially for dressier events. But make sure to take a wrap or a light scarf to cover up in the church or keep you warm as the evening gets cooler.

You might want to pass, however, on a dress or skirt with a lining to avoid being too hot at outdoor wedding functions, Nellis says. And be sure to consider what undergarments a certain dress might require. If you need to wear shapewear, such as Spanx, with a certain dress, you might want to choose instead a looser-fitting dress or one with a less restrictive cut to avoid being too hot.

Also consider color when choosing wedding wear. It might be tempting to wear a stylish new white dress to a wedding. White is, after all, one of this spring's more popular colors.

But don't do it, says Eliza Stoecker, an owner of Fleur, a women's clothing boutique with stores in Raleigh and Chapel Hill. "That's the only rule that's still valid in 2008," she says.

If you do want to wear white, save it for the rehearsal dinner.

Black also encourages guests to avoid wearing red to weddings because it's such a bold color.

But black is OK

Fortunately, you can choose from a wide variety of other trendy colors this spring, including yellow, kelly green, cobalt blue, tangerine, turquoise and raspberry, all of which are wedding appropriate. Even black is appropriate for weddings these days, especially if it's a more formal wedding, Stoecker says.

Black said she remembers when wearing black to weddings was considered taboo. When a mother wore black to a wedding, it was a statement that she didn't approve of the match, Black says. Now, some brides are dressing their bridesmaids and even both mothers in black. But keep in mind the temperature outside. Black tends to be hotter than a lighter color, Nellis says.

"The challenge is that we count on certain things, like a black dress or Spanx, to help us look thinner," Nellis said. "That all goes out the window with this."

For slimmer looks, instead try a two-piece outfit, a dress with side ruching or an A-line dress.

"Get a great color that really flatters your skin," Nellis says. "That forgives a lot of sins."

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