"Beach Formal" for a wedding in Turks & Caicos

My nephew is getting married in the Turks & Caicos in April (5:30pm wedding with a reception at the Sands Hotel). The dress is “beach formal”. Would this Lilly Pulitzer dress work for that occasion? I would pair it with silver sandals and a sparkly silver clutch. If not, I can wear it to the rehearsal dinner and keep looking for a dress for the main event.

https://www.lillypulitzer.com/ophelia-swing-dress/002383.html?dwvar_002383_color=4341TN

It’s Gorgeous and I love, love that dress! Silver sandals are perfect! Good job!

I LOVE the dress. But since it says Beach FORMAL, I think I would go with something more “flowy”.

Well…let me know…we got an invite to a wedding in New Hampshire in mid June (when it could be freezing or 80 degrees) and the “dress” was indicated as “summer formal” what ever that means.

Honestly, I have no idea what I’m going to wear!!

If you think The Knot is a good reference for all things wedding here is what they say “ If the invite says “beach formal”

This suggests an elegant beach wedding—so dress to impress, but also dress for the elements (sun, sand and water). Anything you’d wear to a nice restaurant on a summer night is appropriate.

He should wear:

A summer suit with a linen shirt (no ties required), linen pants (or khakis) and sandals.

She should wear:

A formal summer sundress at tea or knee length with flat sandals. Makeup and hair can be natural.”

Cute dress, I think it’s a little casual for beach formal. It’s hard to see what the fabric is from the picture.

But in the Lilly vein, I see more of this
https://www.lillypulitzer.com/gail-shift-dress/005163.html?cgid=special-occasion&dwvar_005163_color=5521SD#start=1
Says it’s brocade, which seems dressier

Or this
https://www.lillypulitzer.com/ophelia-metallic-swing-dress/003813.html?cgid=special-occasion&dwvar_003813_color=9621QO#sz=48&start=1

Or even this in pink

https://www.lillypulitzer.com/ophelia-swing-dress/004205.html?cgid=special-occasion&dwvar_004205_color=6531WH#sz=48&start=1

Lily has lots of white dresses, wow!

Remember, even though it’s April, it’s going to be hot. Temps will be in the mid to upper 80s with a lot of humidity and not much cooling at night. No brocade, no black, no layers - you will fry.

I couldn’t tell if the fabric on the first dress was lightweight; if it is, then that would be good.

The dress looks a bit casual to me, but then again, being at a beach, it might be fine. I would have stepped it up a notch.

I vote that OP’s dress is perfect for the rehearsal dinner but something a little more formal for the wedding.

Here is a definition I found online. I think your outfit looks perfect.
https://www.lifesavvy.com/2599/dress-code-guide-what-does-beach-formal-mean/

Not that you asked, but here are some ideas that I think are a bit dressier than the original dress and would be appropriate for “beach formal”…

https://www.sundancecatalog.com/product/kiera+dress.do?sortby=ourPicksAscend&refType=&from=fn

https://www.sundancecatalog.com/product/royal+crown+dress.do?sortby=ourPicksAscend&refType=&from=fn

https://shop.nordstrom.com/s/eliza-j-floral-halter-maxi-dress/5491676/full?origin=keywordsearch-personalizedsort&breadcrumb=Home%2FAll%20Results&color=blush

https://www.sundancecatalog.com/product/naomi+joy+dress.do?sortby=ourPicksAscend&refType=&from=fn

https://shop.nordstrom.com/s/sam-edelman-high-neck-maxi-dress/5477697/full?origin=category-personalizedsort&breadcrumb=Home%2FWomen%2FClothing%2FDresses&color=black%2F%20white

https://www.sundancecatalog.com/product/new+moon+dress.do?sortby=ourPicksAscend&refType=&from=fn

https://www.bloomingdales.com/shop/product/laundry-by-shelli-segal-floral-print-chiffon-gown?ID=3631326&CategoryID=2910#fn=ppp%3Dundefined%26sp%3DNULL%26rId%3DNULL%26spc%3D218%26cm_kws%3Dwomens%20resort%20dresses%26spp%3D67%26pn%3D1%7C3%7C67%7C218%26rsid%3Dundefined%26smp%3DexactMultiMatch

https://shop.nordstrom.com/s/lilly-pulitzer-gabby-sleeveless-stretch-dress/5566587/full?origin=keywordsearch-personalizedsort&breadcrumb=Home%2FAll%20Results&color=multi%20in%20full%20blm%20eng%20drs

https://shop.nordstrom.com/s/eliza-j-floral-print-halter-maxi-dress-regular-petite/4293781/full?origin=keywordsearch-personalizedsort&breadcrumb=Home%2FAll%20Results&color=pink%2F%20coral%2F%20purple

https://shop.nordstrom.com/s/sam-edelman-tropics-chiffon-midi-dress/5244753/full?origin=category-personalizedsort&breadcrumb=Home%2FWomen%2FClothing%2FDresses&color=green%20multi

https://www.sundancecatalog.com/product/cameo+dress.do?sortby=ourPicksAscend&page=2&refType=&from=fn

https://shop.nordstrom.com/s/adelyn-rae-floral-faux-wrap-midi-dress/5554884/full?origin=category-personalizedsort&breadcrumb=Home%2FWomen%2FClothing%2FDresses&color=crystal%20blue%20multi

https://www.bloomingdales.com/shop/product/adrianna-papell-tea-time-floral-print-midi-dress?ID=3646836&CategoryID=2910#fn=ppp%3Dundefined%26sp%3DNULL%26rId%3DNULL%26spc%3D218%26cm_kws%3Dwomens%20resort%20dresses%26spp%3D55%26pn%3D1%7C3%7C55%7C218%26rsid%3Dundefined%26smp%3DexactMultiMatch

https://shop.nordstrom.com/s/komarov-tiered-chiffon-cocktail-dress-with-shawl/5424539/full?origin=category-personalizedsort&breadcrumb=Home%2FWomen%2FClothing%2FDresses&color=navy%20black%20ombre

https://shop.nordstrom.com/s/lilly-pulitzer-reem-floral-dress/5436039/full?origin=keywordsearch-personalizedsort&breadcrumb=Home%2FAll%20Results&color=periwinkle%20purple%20fan%20sea

https://shop.nordstrom.com/s/lilly-pulitzer-ivie-maxi-dress/5566553/full?origin=keywordsearch-personalizedsort&breadcrumb=Home%2FAll%20Results&color=multi%20kitten%20around

https://www.softsurroundings.com/p/medici-maxi-dress/

https://www.amazon.com/Lilly-Pulitzer-Womens-Caliente-Engineered/dp/B07NCCVDZN/ref=sr_1_66?crid=1XXCUHRT9ETPB&dchild=1&keywords=resort+dresses+for+women&qid=1581722771&refinements=p_n_feature_browse-bin%3A11006716011&rnid=11006712011&s=apparel&sprefix=resort+dresses%2Caps%2C141&sr=1-66

https://shop.nordstrom.com/s/lilly-pulitzer-valli-shift-dress/4804487/full?origin=keywordsearch-personalizedsort&breadcrumb=Home%2FAll%20Results&color=true%20navy

https://shop.nordstrom.com/s/lilly-pulitzer-elenora-silk-dress/5436035/full?origin=keywordsearch-personalizedsort&breadcrumb=Home%2FAll%20Results&color=periwinkle%20purple%20fan%20sea

https://www.amazon.com/Moda-Clothing-V-Neck-Features-Beaded/dp/B07YQ1DB3L/ref=sr_1_131?crid=1XXCUHRT9ETPB&dchild=1&keywords=resort+dresses+for+women&qid=1581722916&refinements=p_n_feature_browse-bin%3A11006716011&rnid=11006712011&s=apparel&sprefix=resort+dresses%2Caps%2C141&sr=1-131

https://www.softsurroundings.com/p/tulum-maxi-dress/
(I happen to own this dress)

That dress is so pretty. But I’d presume I should wear a long dress.

Edit: I see per The Knot that I am wrong!

Soozievt
From your first dress, I was hooked. There were a few others I really liked. I’m not a fan of the high necks or the strapless, but there were many great choices. You are a black belt in shopping.

OP, the Lily dresses look great for a rehearsal dinner and other weekend events.

There really is no such thing as “beach formal” if the wedding is actually on the beach. But I think what they’re getting at is flowy summer attire. They just don’t want shorts and cover ups.

I would wear that dress to the rehearsal dinner, and maybe a longer sundress for the wedding.

^This! I almost never wear dresses, and I don’t have any events I need to buy one for, but there were so many pretty ones in that list, it makes me want to!

@bookworm…I do like to research! And…I am an online shopper myself. In this case, I was picking for someone else, not myself, and I would not have worn each dress I had suggested (not to mention that many would not have looked good on me), but kept to the occasion, plus tried to add some Lilly P dresses, since the OP seemed to gravitate toward them (I don’t wear that brand myself). I like her original dress, but like others said, think it was better for the rehearsal dinner. Plus, it is long sleeved and I think that would be hot in the Turks and Caicos (I’ve been there). Anyway, glad others feel inspired or may even find a dress they like among those for a vacation or occasion they have coming up. Plus I could dream of going there myself and have been thinking about it coincidentally.

With a light wrap or shawl:

https://www.softsurroundings.com/p/analisa-skirt/30/?aid=frgl&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI4ciqwcDS5wIVpL2zCh0sDgzlEAEYASAEEgLz5fD_BwE

Thanks all! The wedding ceremony is actually on the beach. “Wedding formal” is new to me, hence my uncertainty about what to wear.

OP you dress does not strike me as beach formal at all. Plus it has sleeves. I think it would be too hot. I would opt for a dressy maxie type dress with sandals. Flowy, sleeveless and light fabric.

I think the Lilly Pulitzer shift dresses soozivet suggested would also be great.