What to wear to a wedding in Cyprus: heat, stone and a church
5 min read
A wedding in Cyprus asks a guest to be smart in weather that does not want them to be. From May to October the afternoons are hot, the ceremony is often outdoors or in a stone church, and the party runs late by the sea or in a village square. The answer is not to dress down, but to dress for all three.
The heat is real
In Paphos the average afternoon reaches about 28°C in June and 31°C in July and August, and inland it is hotter. A ceremony at five in the afternoon in July is a ceremony in full sun unless the hosts say there is shade.
- Linen, cotton, silk and light crepe breathe; polyester and heavy satin do not.
- Pale and mid colours stay cooler than black in the sun.
- A loose cut beats a fitted one when you will be standing outside.
- Men: a linen or light wool suit in a pale colour, and a shirt that will survive the jacket coming off.
Covered shoulders in church
An Orthodox church expects shoulders covered and nothing too short. Most guests solve it with a shawl, a light jacket or a wrap that comes off at the reception. Hats are worn outside, not in church. In a village church the space is small and the crowd often spills out of the door, so you may spend the service in the courtyard: dress for the sun there too.
Shoes for stone, grass and sand
Village lanes are uneven stone, gardens are lawn, and a beach is sand. Stilettos sink in the first two and are useless on the third.
Do
- Block heels, wedges or smart flat sandals.
- A pair of flats in the bag for the dancing.
- Barefoot at a beach ceremony, if the hosts invite it.
Don't
- Thin heels on cobbles or lawn.
- New shoes on the day: the walk from the car is longer than it looks.
A layer for the evening
By the sea the evening breeze comes in after sunset, and in the Troodos villages summer nights are cool: at Prodromos, high in the mountains, the average low in May is about 11°C. A wrap, a light jacket or a cardigan in the car will be wanted by midnight.
Dressy, but light
Cypriot evening receptions are formal by local habit: long dresses, cocktail dresses, suits and ties are normal, and a guest in a sundress will feel underdressed among the family. The trick is formality in lighter fabrics, not less formality. At a beach or a villa party the hosts will usually say if they want it relaxed.
As anywhere, white and ivory are the bride's. Bright colours, prints and jewel tones are all welcome.
Sun, water and the small things
- Sunscreen before you dress, and sunglasses for the ceremony.
- A hand fan: you will be the most popular guest in the row.
- Water: the hosts will usually have some, but a small bottle in the bag helps between car and church.
- Blotting papers or powder for photographs taken at the hottest hour.
For the hosts: say it on the invitation
"Garden formal" means different things in Dublin and in Limassol. Say what the day asks for in plain words: "Light fabrics, shoulders covered for the church, flat shoes for the village lanes, a layer for the evening." On MyEventOS a design's dress code page shows the code with a drawing and a palette, so guests see it rather than guess.
Collect the answers while you are at it
MyEventOS turns the invitation, the RSVP and the guest list into one link, and counts the replies as they land. Free to design, free to send, and the first ten replies are included.
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