by Maria Bellotto @thecashmerediaries

Les gou gous, the wedding season is here and ça va sans dire the real question is not “do you want to marry me?”, but “what shall I wear?”

We know, weddings come and go, but two things will be discussed long after the ceremony: the menu and the guests’ outfits… dress, escarpins, lace handkerchief bag with initials (a must-have accessory), jewellery, every detail must be impeccable – and like any grand menu please everyone a little, because there is nothing worse than being given a dress code and not respecting it.

Whichever your style is, we have compiled an à la carte menu that will satisfy every taste, even the most gourmand; but with one fundamental maximum. At weddings – apart from the bride – go strictly lactose-free, i.e., no wearing white. Surely you don’t want them to come to congratulate you prematurely? Quelle horreur!

One thing is certain about weddings: the gourmand will find something to eat. Pyramids of colourful macarons, canapés worthy of the French court; who could resist?

And to twirl between silver forks, and Ginori plates (as you well know, the plate is turned – discreetly) we imagine a long, light, emerald green dress by La DoubleJ, to be matched with essential and sophisticated pumps by MiuMiu, for a gold, pastry touch. The olive in the Martini cocktail? A Pescepazzo mini bag in neon pink, to catch the eye of the garçons at the buffet, ça va sans dire. For jewellery, the gourmand, as in life, knows how not to overdo it: a pair of hoop earrings with green Murano glass detail, and she’ll be ready to sparkle. That’s it!

Some Gourmode lovers love food in all its forms, others select: and the “always on a diet” gou gou knows it. It’s not a question of weight so much as physique du rôle. Hers is a lifestyle, minimal and chic, always and everywhere.

And at marriages you will see her willingly give way to her food-loving friend, to concentrate only on what really deserves her attention. Except in the case of oysters, but those are proteins n’est-ce pas?

And since her efforts pay off, this stylish nymph can’t help but choose a wrap dress in a shade of pink that will steal the show (but not too much, we’re at a wedding, after all) by Art Dealer, with a minimal, sophisticated cut and puff sleeves, but not too much. Alternatively, a candy pink Self Portrait dress, with a sweetheart neckline and a straight line that is simply divine. On her feet, a gold sandal by Rixo London with three straps, to be lost strictly at midnight – or if she has a predilection for shoes, she can always lose a drop earring in turquoise, by again Rixo; the other, for the sake of symmetry, just hide it in the micro bag by Halìte in silk satin with a small collar of feathers, and crystals – decadent just the right amount, but without excess.

With fusion cuisine it is like that, you never know where you will end up, and the gou gou who loves to experiment is always a surprise, in life and outfits.

To begin with, spicy as only Japanese wasabi can be, she will be wearing a super bold fuchsia two-piece suit by Taller Marmo, complete with a bare back and fringes. And so far, so good – it’s a civil wedding, after all.

And as unexpected as the nachos on the sushi, on her feet, with a poker player’s nonchalance, a metallic blush sandal by Zimmermann, complete with a très romantic bow, which at the end of the evening is replaced by a flat Antolina braided rope sandal. Could you ever have imagined such a successful combination? No, right? But instead… Everything is topped, pardon me, coordinated with a Medusa bangle by Alighieri, which climbs exotically and seductively on her wrist and a delightful little bag by Le Nine that looks like a souvenir from her last on-the-road trip to Puglia, with red tassels that make you dream of Mediterranean summers and swimming in the open sea. Who wouldn’t hope to be sitting at her table in such an outfit?

Attention mesdames, picky gou gou is very different from diet gou gou, we are talking about two antipodes styles.

This mademoiselle loves minimal chic and abhors excess, of any kind. Prosecco? Je suis desolée, my stomach tolerates Champagne only. And because, as we know, true elegance lies in absolute simplicity, this creature will turn up at her best friend’s wedding in a very bon ton vintage dress carefully selected by Vernisse (a niche brand, she knows) that will turn out to be a cascade of jacquard silk from a historic archive in Como. On her feet? A pair of delightful lapis-lazuli-coloured friulane by ViBi Venezia, the city where she left her heart. Final touch? An Art Deco choker recommended by the saleswoman at Pauline Vintage, just out of her comfort zone but that looked so good on her, a microscopic ring by Madina Visconti with a cherry-red gardenia and a little golden clutch by Borbonese uncovered at Cavalli e Nastri during her last shopping raid, with that effortlessly minimal 2000s style that suits her.

And finally, as punctual as the wedding cake, along comes her, the gou gou par excellence, who waits all through the wedding for the moment of dessert. Because let’s face it, a wedding without a cake is just a family reunion – it was like that, n’est-ce pas?

She may not be a shining example of minimalist chic like her picky friend, but the sweet tooth can make an entrance. For starters, she will arrive in a pink chiffon dress with a floral print and balloon sleeves by Luisa Beccaria. Or perhaps, for a boho-chic wedding in a vineyard, she could also opt for a Saloni dress with a vintage, slightly romantic silhouette and a row of buttons in front. On her feet sprouts a pretty orange satin flat bootie by Giannico, with crystal appliqué. And since, like every wedding cake, the cake-loving gou gou is a bit baroque, she couldn’t help but choose Rosantica’s Chloe mini, with its super-feminine shapes and volumes. The last detail is the asymmetric Epica pendant earrings, also by Rosantica.

And after the final cake, the lights go down, the cups are filled, and we dance the night away, as they say. Each gougou has its own style, but one thing is certain, they always know how to stand out in a wedding crowd, yet with class and discretion.

And hoping to have given you some hints for surviving the coming wedding season, enjoy the confetti, watch out for the bouquet toss and à la prochaine!

Bisous