What to Wear to a Destination Wedding: The Johanna Ortiz Guest Edit

A destination wedding asks two things of a dress that a city wedding does not: it has to survive heat, and it has to survive a suitcase. Johanna Ortiz is one of the few houses that designs for both, which is why her pieces turn up so often at weddings in Cartagena, Tulum, Positano and Mykonos.

Read the dress code first

Bold botanical print is welcome at most warm-weather weddings and unwelcome at a few. If the invitation asks for a plain palette, take a solid piece from the collection rather than trying to argue a print past it. If the invitation says black tie on a beach, a floor-length silk gown with an off-shoulder neckline is exactly right.

The ceremony

Choose a maxi in silk georgette. It moves in wind, which matters outdoors, and it reads formal from a distance without needing embellishment. Avoid a heavy structured fabric if the ceremony is at midday, since the heat will win.

The welcome dinner and the day after

This is where a printed midi earns its place. One piece covers a welcome dinner, a beach lunch and a farewell brunch with only the shoe and the hair changing. If you are packing for a three-day wedding and want to carry two dresses rather than four, make the midi one of them.

What to pack, practically

Silk georgette and crepe de chine travel well and fall out of a case with very little creasing. Cotton poplin holds a crease and will need steaming on arrival. Roll rather than fold, and pack the structured shoulder pieces on top so nothing crushes them.

Take one pair of flat leather sandals and one heeled mule. On sand, a heel is a mistake whatever the dress code says, and most hosts know it.

Accessories

One statement piece. A feather earring against a bare shoulder, a woven clutch, and nothing at the throat. Our accessories guide covers the jewellery in detail, and the styling guide explains why the neckline decides the earring.

Sizing, so it arrives right

Order your usual size. Johanna Ortiz runs true to size and the volume is cut in. Full conversion in the size guide, and order early enough to allow a return if the fit surprises you.

Browse the full Johanna Ortiz collection at Coveti, with worldwide express shipping and authenticity verification on every piece.

Frequently asked questions

What should I wear to a destination wedding in a hot climate?

A floor-length silk georgette dress for the ceremony, because it moves in wind and reads formal without embellishment, and a printed midi for the welcome dinner and the day after. Take flat leather sandals for sand.

Is a printed dress acceptable as a wedding guest?

At most warm-weather weddings, yes. If the invitation asks for a plain palette, choose a solid piece instead. Check the dress code before you buy.

Which Johanna Ortiz fabrics travel best?

Silk georgette and crepe de chine, which fall out of a suitcase with very little creasing. Cotton poplin holds a crease and needs steaming on arrival.

How many dresses do I need for a three-day destination wedding?

Two will cover it if one is a printed midi. A midi carries a welcome dinner, a beach lunch and a farewell brunch with only the shoe and the hair changing.

Can I wear heels to a beach wedding?

A heel does not work on sand whatever the dress code says. Take one pair of flat leather sandals for the ceremony and a heeled mule for any dinner held on a hard floor.