Attire For Wedding Guests

There are so many types of weddings these days that it can leave wedding guests confused about what to wear. Will the wedding be fancy, simple, family style, theme, or something else? Do I need to look for crystal wedding jewelry and an elegant dress or something short and fun? This look at wedding guest attire guidelines will help to clarify things.

Generally speaking, evening weddings are more dressy than daytime weddings. In the golden age of entertaining, everyone knew that evening weddings were black tie. Guests knew to break out the tuxedos, long fancy dresses, and sparkling crystal wedding jewelry. Things are not as cut and dried as they once were. A great place to look for a clue is the location of the reception. A beaded cocktail dress with metallic shoes and crystal chandelier earrings is a great choice for a wedding at an exclusive locale. Suits are appropriate for the men unless the event is black tie.

The level of formality tends to be more variable for a day wedding, so it is more challenging to know what to wear. The choice of wedding invitation can provide a clue. Often the type of wedding stationery gives a hint about the wedding style (at least one hopes!). An invitation done with hand calligraphy will tell you that the event is likely to be very swanky. A wedding invitation with a crisp design will give the clue that the event will be modern. If you receive an invitation witha whimsical polka dot design, expect a casual event.

A classic day wedding calls for a beautiful knee length frock. A beautiful material like organza or silk satin will be gorgeous. A complementary jacket or shrug would be a nice addition. Special details are needed, like crystal and pearl wedding jewelry, designer shoes, and a chic little bag (not your usual daytime bag!). It’s easy for the men: a suit and tie.

While the term semi-formal is less prevalent, the style of wedding is actually quite common. This style lands somewhere between formal and informal. A likely spot for a semi-formal afternoon wedding is a manicured garden or a the lawn of an inn. Certain beach weddings will also fall into this category. The appropriate style of attire would be a pretty dress, but not necessarily a silk dress. For the summer, a polished cotton strapless dress with dressy sandals would be lovely. A silk twinset with a flirty ruffled skirt is a great daytime look. At a semi-formal wedding, a jacket and tie will suffice for the men. Male guests ought to wear neckties.

If the wedding is informal, there is not a defined style of attire. Always put in the effort to look pulled together for a wedding, no matter how casual it may be. The significance of a wedding should not be overlooked! Men can wear a button down shirt with khakis (no tie required) and the women can wear sundresses or skirts with pretty tops. It is never acceptable to wear blue jeans to a wedding. Men might be able to get away with shorts for a beach wedding, especially if it is in Bermuda; just no sandals on the guys. When the next wedding invitation comes in the mail, you will be prepared to select the perfect attire!