Summer has officially arrived, which hopefully means some serious beach time is on the horizon. Long days swimming in the ocean, catching the sunset, and enjoying dinner with a view are

at the top of my personal wish list, especially after having such an unusual summer last year. While daydreaming about those days ahead, I'm also picturing all the pretty beach dresses I finally get to wear, from cover-ups to seaside dinner looks. 

The ideal beach dress is comfortable, easy to wear, and effortlessly chic and is preferably made of a lightweight fabric to keep you feeling cool during peak summer temperatures. I went ahead and did some internet digging to find the best beach dresses for you so that we can all get a jump start on our wardrobes for the summer months ahead. From chic linens to colorful knits to breezy strapless pieces, below are the 30 prettiest beach dresses for summer 2021, plus some cool swim cover-ups in case that's more your beach look.