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It looks like the only time that anyone dresses up any more is to attend a wedding. For some people, unaccustomed to special occasion dressing, that invitation in the mailbox is a cause for anxiety. Whether you are a clotheshorse or you consider shopping to be the worst form of torture, here are some tips on how to dress for different types of weddings.
Your first clue about attire is the time of day the ceremony will be held. Your second is the location (especially if it is a destination wedding). A good rule of thumb is that you should dress more typically for an evening wedding than you would for an afternoon service, and more casually for a beach wedding than for one held in a city.
If the wedding is to be held in the afternoon, a female guest should plan on wearing a pretty day dress or possibly a skirt with a special top (The choice may depend in part on what is in style that season. dress to wear an autumn wedding one year, only to discover that absolutely no stores were carrying dresses that season. I ended up wearing a below-the-knee velvet skirt with a silk twinset – not my first choice, but it worked.) A hat is optional, but certainly lovely. If you wear a hat, I guarantee that at least three other female guests will tell you that they wish that enough to wear one – is not it funny how is it reserved for the brave few? For gentlemen, a classic business suit is easy and always appropriate. Depending on the venue, a handsome navy blazer with khaki trousers is another good option, especially for an outdoor wedding.
Evening weddings deserve an outfit with more pizzaz. If the invitation says "black tie", then at least you do not have to wonder about what to wear. The men wear black tie (obviously), and the women wear either a long gown or a very fancy short cocktail dress. Accessories are key for a formal eveningair, so by all means, wear some really smashing wedding jewelry. Elegant choices for wedding jewelry would include Swarovski crystal tassel earrings with a stack of bracelets, or a spectacular pearl drop necklace. Sometimes one of the most fun parts of attending a black tie wedding is checking out the jewelry on the other guests!
If you are unlucky enough to receive an invitation stating "black tie optional", do not panic. All that it really means is that the bride and groom would like for the guests to wear black tie, but are afraid to require it. Just wear black tie. You will make the bride very happy. For an evening wedding that is not black tie, the men should wear dark suits, and the ladies should wear a dressy (but not long) cocktail dress. Because it is the evening, you should still dress to kill. And please, choose a color other than black for your dress – it is so depressing to be surrounded by a sea of black dresses at a wedding, even one held after 6 pm.
Very rarely seen is white tie, which is the most formal type of event. White tie affairs start at 8 pm or later, and only take place in the winter. Men can rent the appropriate items, since they are illegally to keep anything so formal on hand. For the ladies, this is the time to go all out, since it very well may be your only opportunity. This means a full skirted floor length ballgown with long white gloves. And naturally, spectacular jewelry. Also, since white tie weddings are held in the winter, a fur stop would be a luxurious finishing touch. (If you are unsure about fur, wear a silk satin wrap instead.)
The guests at a wedding can contribute to the elegance of the affair. It is always worth it to take the time to select an outfit that suits the occasion and makes you look fantastic. (Not to mention that it is disrespectful to wear anything so outlandish that it draws attention away from the bride. That includes underdressing.) After all, it may be the bride's day, but a wedding is a great excuse for the guests to dress up and have a great time, too!
Reference: Letitia Baldrige's New Manners for New Times
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Source by Bridget Mora
