Everything you need to take you from the ceremony to the cocktail party.

More and more lovestruck couples seem to be choosing to hold their nuptials in beautiful, sun – kissed coastal locations – who can imagine why, eh? The thing is, while this does make for a more generous helping of sun, sand and some sort of potent cocktail than in your more traditional wedding, it also makes the matter of dressing for the occasion rather more difficult. There’ll be multiple components to the celebration, requiring everything from suits to swim shorts, and on top of that there’s the small matter of the heat to contend with. A blushing bride is all well and good, but a perspiring page boy and a fainting father-in-law are rather less romantic. To save you the stress of an evening in front of an empty suitcase, we’ve put together the following guide to packing for a wedding away, with all the outfits you’ll need to take you from the service to the sand dunes.

Don’t be fooled by the blue skies and the sand underfoot – you’re still attending a formal ceremony, which means that unless you’ve been told otherwise, you need to dress smartly. You don’t however want to look like you’ve got lost on a business trip, so avoid dark woollen suits, heavily starched shirts, and cast those ties away. Instead, opt for breathable, fluid fabrics in a soft and neutral palette. Made from 100 per cent linen in a pale camel tone, this double-breasted Dries Van Noten jacket is just the thing, and will look best paired with similarly earthy shades. Try this mottled grey linen shirt from Thom Sweeney, replete with mother of pearl buttons for an added dose of style, and a cutaway collar to help you stay cool.

Once the formalities are over (and the hangover has begun) you can relax a bit and change into something a little more comfortable. For a lazy recovery day with the rest of the wedding party, we’d recommend choosing a breezy grandad-collar shirt, such as this piece from easy-going Italian brand Eidos. Continue the sandy theme with these drawstring cotton-blend trousers from Tomorrowland, a much more laid-back version of the classic chino.

Admit it. You’re not that fussed about the vows and you were more focused on your first sundowner than you were on the first dance. Because the real reason you came (apart from wanting to share in this special moment, obviously) was to soak up some rays. For which you’ll need a nice pair of swim shorts. These muted floral shorts from Etro are mid-length, so should suit most shapes, and the natural palette means they’ll match with one of your shirts from earlier, should you need a cover-up. Finish it all off with a pair of tortoiseshell shades from Illesteva.

Keep up to date with The Daily by signing up to our weekly email roundup. Click here to update your email preferences