Weekend Wedding Guide: Dressing the Part
Posted by Jerri Woolworth in Blog, Uncategorized | October 06, 2019As a wedding guest, you play a huge part in the bride and groom’s special day. After all, you were invited to what is, potentially, the biggest party of their lives! They will be looking back at pictures of this day for the rest of their lives, and well-dressed guests really help complete their vision for their wedding. Here are some tips:
• Dress up. Is there anything worse than underdressing? When in doubt, overdress. I’m not saying that you need to wear your best pieces in an effort to compete with the bride, but if the invitation says “casual attire” (or, worse, doesn’t say anything at all…), a chiffon cocktail dress dressed up with some sparkly jewelry makes sure that you fit the broad spectrum that other wedding guests might define as “casual.”
• Mind your surroundings. The location of the ceremony and reception might provide your best clue to for what to wear. If the wedding is outdoors on a beach in California, you can probably rule out the dark, formal dress you’d be wearing at a country club or ballroom. Pair a light, flowing dress with some coordinating flats, and you’ll be sure not to twist your ankle walking across the beach to the ceremony site. If you’re not sure of the site of the ceremony or reception, a quick-drive by on your way home from work a few weeks before could be the difference between being a stand-out and being out-of-place.
• Know the lingo. Here’s a quick cheat sheet.
Casual: Men – This means slacks (khakis are only acceptable before evening) and a polo or dress shirtand an informal dress for women. Choose heels over flats, just to be safe.- Cocktail: Ladies wear cocktail dresses (makes sense…) and men wear dress shirts and slacks or a dark suit. Guys can forgo the tie for cocktail attire.
- Black tie: Take cocktail up a notch. If you choose a cocktail or tea-length dress, make sure that it fits the description of “dressy.” Men wear tuxes or, if necessary, a dark suit.
- White tie: Not seen very often anymore, but white tie is the most clear-cut. Women wear long, formal dresses and men wear black tuxes with white shirts and vests.
- Anything else: I’ve seen “festive attire,” “Sunday best,” and even “cocktail formal.” When in doubt, ask a friend. There is strength in numbers!
• Don’t get crazy. There’s no shame in “blending in,” especially at a wedding that’s not your own! Stay away from pairing bold patterns with lots of jewelry. Keep heels at a manageable height. Pick up a pair of simple nude heels and never worry about what shoes to wear again – those dyed-to-match shoes belong in your closet. And remember, being conservative in your choices is smart; you’ll be looking at these pictures long after styles change.
• Don’t stress. Chances are, if you’ve been invited to the wedding, the bride and groom consider you a special part of their lives. If you wearing something that doesn’t fit just right, are you going to get kicked out without a chance to catch the bouquet? Probably not.