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Last summer, my husband and I were invited to the wedding of one of his high school buddies. As we do not get the opportunity to attend very many weddings anymore, (we're past that age), we jumped at the opportunity to dress up! Well, at least, I did.

Yes, here was my opportunity to finally purchase the dress I had been coveting for quite some time from my favorite clothing website. The dress arrived. I was so excited to have my hair and make up done and to wear this dress. My husband, and I, both suitably dressed as well for a cocktail reception in "the city" as we've come to know it.

As we discontinued the escalator in the hotel where the wedding was held, we met up with some friends who we had not seen since our wedding, 10 years previous. I immediately saw, they did not seize the opportunity to "dress up" as we did. One couple was dressed quite casually. He in chinos and a crisp cotton shirt, she in clam diggers, leather low heeled sandals and a peasant style blouse. The others: a Hawaiian inspired shirt and jeans, she: a lovely cocktail ensemble, but gasp, what's that on her feet? Lime green rubber flip flops? Did I miss something here?

Could this get worse, you might ask? Yes. The absolute most astonishing moment occurred as I took my seat in the wedding room. The young lady who took a seat next to me, was wearing a strappy jersey knit dress, which I could have handled if it had not been for the unbelievable pilling and the worst part: the dirty bra, which stared at me as I tried to pay attention to the ceremony. This was too much?

As I sat there, I could not help but wonder: What happened to the romance of a wedding? What happened to seizing the opportunity to grab a dress out of the closet, or purchase a new one and really take things up a notch? Back in the late 90s, early 2000s, if I got a wedding invitation, I looked at it as an opportunity to dress my best. So did the other people who attended. Nowadays, it sees, people just wear, whatever is clean. I've discussed this with other people. They feel the same way. People just do not dress up anymore. It's so sad. From a Fashionista's point of view for sure.

Having survived the above, I thought I might take the opportunity to remind or enlighten readers on what to wear to a wedding:

1. Dress up! Ladies, for heaven's sake, put on a nice cocktail dress or skirt ensemble. One you might not wear on a regular basis. Wear something special. Fabric is a great indicator for choosing wedding worthy outfit. Think of fabrics such as silk, chiffon, or rayon. Think, light and airy. Particularly for the summer wedding.

2. Wear special shoes. I'm not saying they need to be four inch heels, but make it a strappy kitten heel, or even a patent pump.

3. Do not outshine the bride. This, I would hope, would go without saying. However, given the above, I feel it is worth saying again. White is off limits and pay close attention to dress code on the invitation. If it says smart casual, take it as a sign that the bride will not be in a ball gown, and dress accordingly not too casual, but not over the top. If it says cocktail reception, think of something beyond jeans and sandals.

Life is short. We only have so many opportunities to celebrate special events such as weddings with friends and loved ones. Show the people who have chosen to include you in one of the most important days of their lives, you care enough to put you best outfit forward.

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Source by Jill Bradbury-Piers