A Formal Ballroom Or Golf Club Wedding
DO: Consider the setting. These settings walk the line between semi-formal and formal, so depending on the setting and the couples style, you could wear a silver lamé jumpsuit or a cocktail dress with statement jewelry, Hovhannisyan explains. For a ballroom celebration, you might want to go with a longer dress, while a cocktail dress is great for a golf club wedding. DONT: Forget to examine the invitation. When deciding what to wear to a wedding, the invitations wording and design will give you clues into what is a good fit: A sleek, shining invite is begging for that jumpsuit, while a muted design with a floral motif is probably not going to be the right setting for something so fashion-forward.
What Not To Wear To A Wedding: White Or Another Color The Bride Could Be Wearing
“Unless it explicitly states on a wedding invitation that guests should be wearing white, they should avoid the color, as it could be seen as if you’re trying to take attention away from the couple,” says Meier. “This also goes for variations of white, like cream or ivory. What might look like a cream dress to you, might look white dress in photos,” she adds. This rule also applies to colors commonly worn as the bride’s wedding dress in other cultures. For instance, the bride traditionally wears red at a Chinese wedding, so it’s helpful to do a little digging on the couple’s culture or background if you think that may come into play on the wedding day.
What Should A Female Guest Wear To A Wedding
Female guests should wear outfits that they are comfortable in and that is modest yet chic. Depending on the wedding venue and the theme, the dress code can change, but in general, it is best to avoid showing too much skin, do not pick anything low cut, and keep your heels to an appropriate length. Tea-length dresses, midi dresses, and maxi lengths are all wonderful options for a female wedding guest. You can also wear a jumpsuit or a pantsuit.
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Best Colors To Wear To A Wedding
If the bride has no preference, then any color of the rainbow is appropriate for weddings, as long as you consider the event carefully. Even white is acceptable if the bride specifically asks the guests to comply. If the bride doesn’t specifically say what guests should wear, there are a few things you can consider to help you choose. The formality, location, and seasonal weather will all be key factors in determining your best outfit.
What Is Cocktail Attire

Cocktail attire is a balance between formal and casual and elegant and comfortable. To an event with this dress code, such as a wedding, men typically wear a suit and tie while women wear a cocktail dress.
Cocktail attire is meant to bridge the gap between day and night, explains bridal consultant LauraLee Baird. It is still an occasion to dress up, but a full-length gown is not necessary. This merges the silhouette of a garden party dress with the fabric and embellishments of a formal gown. Think somewhere between a sophisticated formal occasion and office or party wear, adds Alena Kate Pettitt, author of English Etiquette: The Motivation Behind the Manners.
Still, with so much ambiguity, cocktail attire could mean different things depending on the venue, the time of day, and the season. Read on to learn more about deciphering this common wedding dress code.
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A Black Tie Wedding At A High
DO: Walk the line between black tie and white tie. If the wedding is at, for example, the New York Public Library, its one of the most sophisticated settings a couple can choose, says Hovhannisyan. Yes, its formal, and yes, men need to wear a tux! For womens wedding guest attire, lean toward a floor-length gown – and even consider a train. It doesnt need to be as structured as a gown for a white tie affair, but should still be elegant and regal. It could be an a-line, Grecian, slinky, or poufy design, as long as it touches the floor. Bonus points if your dress has a slit! she adds, And heels are a must.DONT: Go too casual. With such a formal setting, even a cocktail dress isnt quite enough unless the invitation specifically asks for it. Err on the side of fancier for wedding guest outfits, as the bride will definitely be wearing a statement gown to match the setting.
Mens Wedding Attire By Theme
If youre new to weddings, theres a surprisingly wide array of wedding themes that are actually incorporated into real weddings every single weekend of the year. As youll see, we covered the most popular wedding themes here, but there are so many different ways a couple could go. At the very least, use this primer as a pattern for identifying ways to use a weddings theme to choose your wedding attire.
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Colors You Can’t Wear To A Wedding
Brides often state they want their guests to be comfortable. However, the rule is that you’re allowed comfort as long as it doesn’t make others uncomfortable. Knowing what colors not to wear to a wedding is just as important as knowing what is appropriate to wear to a wedding. Clothing in sheer fabrics and lighter colors can often create a fashion faux pas at a wedding. Err on the side of formality and subtlety when in doubt.
- White
- Overly sparkly or heavily metallic
- Bridesmaid dress color
- Mother of the bride or groom dress color
Avoid colors that resemble or coordinate with the wedding colors unless you are told otherwise. Also, remember to avoid white unless you are specifically asked to don that color by the bride and groom. More traditional couples may also have an aversion to black, so check with someone close to the couple before choosing an all-black ensemble for an afternoon wedding.
Try On Multiple Wedding Veils With Your Dress
Your veil will help shape your style on the big day, so naturally, you’ll want something that balances the vibes of your dress without overshadowing it. Abedi, who likes to show the bride different styles that might complement her gown, says “I like to pick several options for the bride to experiment with to embody different looks. The look can change completely just with the addition of a veil, so it’s important that the bride feels most beautiful in whatever the vision may be.”
Don’t be afraid to try something you wouldn’t normally gravitate towards. You may be surprisedkeeping things matchy-matchy isn’t always the best way to complement your gown, depending on the look you want to achieve. “Sometimes, mixing textures is a great way to add some originality,” adds Abedi. “For instance, a lace-trim veil paired with a very clean gown.”
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What To Wear For A 4 O’clock Wedding
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Groom & Groomsmen’s Attire at an Afternoon Wedding -The wedding website TheKnot.com solves the dilemma of tuxedos in the afternoon.
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What Should a Man Wear to an Afternoon Wedding? -Were you recently invited to a 4’oclock wedding and your stumped about what to wear? This is a Yahoo Answers posted thread on afternoon wedding attire for gentlemen that could be helpful.
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Dressing for the Big Day -ExecStyle.com discusses gentlemen’s wedding attire, and for afternoon weddings they advise lighter fabrics, softer colors, and a more relaxed look.
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The GQ Eye: Finding the Right Frock -Having attended an afternoon wedding at a European castle, a reader asks about frock coats.
Holiday Wedding Attire For Men
Holiday weddings work best when they include subtle reminders of the days festive motifs, and the same goes for your outfit. Holidays like Christmas, Hanukkah, New Years and Valentines Day should inform your look, but dont go full Santa suit. I repeat, do not go full Santa suit. Dont even go Santa beard you lucky, beard-growing machine.
What to Wear:
In a perfect world, we would all have closets overflowing with gorgeous, high-end suits and tuxedos for every possible occasion. If you live in that world, take me there.
The rest of us might need to rent that ruby velvet jacket when we need it, and as most of us know, renting can be a hassle. Thats why we made it simple. Whether you want that suit for a week or for keeps, just answer a few questions, order online, and well deliver your outfit to your doorno tux shop required. Plus, itll actually fit. Sound good?
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What Men Should Wear To Weddings As A Guest
Dressing for a wedding as a guest is often a hard subject especially for men. While ladies have endless options, men will mostly have to do with suits. Thankfully, suits have evolved with time and today, you can always find the right suit for any kind of wedding occasion.
Still, you dont want to overdress and outdo the bride or groom. At the same time, you dont want to underdress and create no impression. So, where does that leave you? To help you figure this out, weve created the guide below.
Contents
White Tie Wedding Attire For Guests

White tie is the most formal and sophisticated of all dress codes. So, be prepared to dress to the nines with an elegant, full-length evening or ball gown. Traditionally, long gloves are also worn for white tie. However, theyre more of an optional extra in todays modern world. If you do choose to wear gloves, you should leave them on while drinking and dancing and take them off for dinner.
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Maeve Fringed Sequined Midi Skirt
You’ll be fully dressed to impress in a sparkly fringe skirt like this. Perfect for those who love to spend all night on the dance floor, this glittery design is perfect for weddings, holiday parties and everything in between. We recommend pairing it with a simple black top or bodysuit.
The Wedding Dress Style Quiz All Brides Should Take
Ready to start shopping for a wedding dress? Take the quiz and find out which wedding dress style is right for you!
- Youve found your wedding day attire, now its time to think about your besties. Take this bridesmaid quiz to find out what color and style your crew should wear.
- Bride & BridesmaidsWe’ve got your first look at the newest bridal trends and what’s going to be popular for wedding dresses in 2022.
- Bride & BridesmaidsPlanning a small ceremony but don’t know what to wear to a courthouse wedding? Try these courthouse and city hall wedding dresses on for size.
- Bride & BridesmaidsYour ‘maids will thank you for making them look so stylish.
- Bride & Bridesmaids
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Casual Wedding Attire For Men
What It MeansWhile printing the word casual on a wedding invitation is risky, its your job to know better than to wear shorts, denim, or a t-shirt to a wedding. Casual wedding attire for men requires dress slacks and a blazer at minimum, but a suit and dress shirt will definitely check the boxes. Your look should mesh appropriately in a relaxed atmosphere while respecting the momentous event of a wedding.
What to WearDress shirt Necktie
Can You Wear White To A Wedding
The colors white and ivory are frowned upon by many wedding guests. Wearing these colors makes you look like you are trying to compete with the bride. If you wear white to a wedding, some people might get the impression that you are jealous. If you really want to wear white, wear accessories in other colors. Prints with white as the background are also welcome. Also, be careful with the design of your white dress. If it looks like a bridal gown, it is not appropriate for a wedding guest. Better yet, just choose a different color.
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What Should Women Wear To A Wedding
If you have received a wedding invite and youre wondering what to wear, here are the best style tips. Selecting the best wedding attire for a guest can be difficult. Some wedding invitations will specify a dress code. But if the invitation doesn’t mention a dress code, knowing the basic rules will help you feel confident while also not standing out in the crowd.
Wedding guest attire should be formal but also appropriate. Any clothing that might attract too much attention is not a good idea. This is not your day to shine. It belongs to somebody else. The idea is to be elegant and charming and not detract from the bride.
Gorgeous peach organza dress perfect for a wedding.
A Casual Backyard Or Outdoor Wedding
DO: Wear a short, playful dress in pastel colors. You can even wear flats if the wedding will be in the grass and is super casual, says Hovhannisyan. DONT: Overdress. When figuring out what to wear to a wedding, remember that its rude to look more formal than the bride, and if the wedding is casual, her dress might be on the more simple side, she explains. So keep the embellishment and fancy details to a minimum! Also, dont forget about the weather and the setting. Dont wear something youll regret getting dirty, and dont wear suede if it looks like rain. You might want to bring an extra pair of shoes with you in case the weather does get messy.
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Cocktail Wedding Attire For Men
What It MeansImagine your work is business casual, but youre going out for the evening and cant stop home to change your outfit first. Cocktail attire is that happy medium dress code that covers all bases. If thats too vague, just make sure your outfit shows a little more personality than your office 9 to 5 go-to.
What to Wear
What To Wear To A Winter Wedding

Before you start shopping, it’s important to know the etiquette behind what to wear to a winter wedding. Winter wedding outfits should be fit for the occasionthe weather and the dress code of the event should both help dictate what you wear. An upscale evening winter wedding will require a formal outfit, while a casual look is acceptable for a less formal daytime event.
When browsing winter wedding guest dresses, don’t forget to shop practically. While you might want to wear a slinky mini dress or an off-the-shoulder gown, consider how the weather might affect your fashion choices. A cozy wrap or shawl can easily winterize a look while keeping you warm, so consider investing in a coverup for all of your winter events. Fabric and color are also two important components of your winter wedding guest outfit. Deep jewel tones and rich fabrics like velvet and satin are great choices for weddings in cooler months. And when it comes to length, more fabric may help you stay warm, but don’t count out sleeveless outfits altogether. If you love to spend time on the dance floor or mingling with other guests, you might be more comfortable in a short-sleeve or sleeveless option.
To help you find a great winter wedding guest outfit, we’ve rounded up our favorite styles on the market. Keep reading to find our favorite winter wedding guest dresses, from formal gowns to casual frocks and trendy jumpsuits.
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