sage green velvet dress Tatiana One Shoulder Maxi | This elegantly printed maxi blends plush embossed velvet with a flattering V Dusty Sage Velvet Wrap V

Because of how iconic Versace was, a lot of knockoffs came into fruition during that decade, many of which looked like this black and white get-up Kimberly Guilfoyle is trying to make work

"You can splurge on a pricey dress, but if it's not altered properly it won't look any better than a gown that's a tenth of the cost," says Terry Hall, fashion director of New York City's Kleinfeld Bridal

Luckily, the smart casual wedding lends itself to one of fashions favourite trends right now: the short-suit

It helps balance between the casual and formal requirement, says Valentine, who says its fine to have fun with color: Semi-formal is usually during the day so lighter colors and pastels can be an easy choice. She also recommends linen and cotton for summer events and flannel and velvet for the winter