A Visual Guide: Wedding Dress Codes Decoded
Links to details product sources for the individual collages created by Dress for the Wedding Beach Chic: Outfit for an Outdoor Summer Wedding | Daytime: Pretty Yellow Printed Dress | Cocktail: Sequin Cocktail Dress for a Wedding Guest | Black Tie: What to Wear to a Fall Black Tie Wedding | | Formal: High Low Ball Gown | Destination: Blue Strapless Dress for a Wedding Guest | Afternoon: Coral Lace Dress | Rustic: Cold Shoulder Floral Maxi Dress
Dress For The Weather
While summer calls for light, breezy fabrics and winter definitely commands a few extra layers, fall can be a little trickier to figure out. There are so many different factors to consider before you decide on an outfit. Is the wedding taking place earlier or later in the season? Where is the venue located? Is it indoors or outdoors? Will the celebration be held during the daytime or in the evening? These are all important questions that’ll help you properly plan for the occasion.
If you’re attending an outdoor fall wedding, the possibility of chilly temperatures should be top of mind. Outdoor fall wedding attire should be a little more versatile, meaning layers are your new best friend. “Dress in layers for any outdoor weddingyou might be shivering outside one minute and sweating on the dance floor the next,” warns Lee. A dressy pashmina, cropped blazer, or bolero could work depending on the look you’re going for.
When it comes to choosing a suit fabric, location is a big deciding factor. Handspiker recommends sticking with lightweight fabrics, including cotton or a wool-linen blend for warmer destinations, like the Southern states. “As temperatures cool further north and the weather becomes less predictable, all-season options are a good idea, as well as textured, brushed fabrics such as flannel,” he adds.
Yours Clothing Top Tips
- Make sure you understand the dress code! Spare no detail and avoid any awkward scenarios.
- Dont show up the bride! Its her day, avoid anything white at all costs.
- Dont forget accessories. Make the most of those statement earrings you have lying around and dust off your best clutch.
- Wear what makes you feel amazing. Its a big event full of people, you want to feel amazing and comfortable so you can put all of your energy into dancing the night away!
- Dont be scared of a jumpsuit! Who says you have to wear a dress? Make a statement and go with a jumpsuit. Its all about what makes you feel comfortable.
With dress codes unscrambled and top tips made, youre now ready to get finding an outfit for an evening wedding. Shop our wedding collection here and find your perfect fit.
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Adrianna Papell Plus Size Floral Printed Midi Dress
Allow us to formally make the case for wearing a blush wedding guest dress in fall. This size-inclusive frock has a regal mock neckline that leads into a blouson bodice and flowing skirt. But the best part about this dress is the ethereal blush pink floral print. We love the idea of wearing this plus size floral dress for a fall wedding in a backyard or garden setting.
What To Wear To A Wedding
Wedding guest attire guidelines can be tricky, but we’ll decode the dress codes for what to wear to a casual wedding, a beach wedding, a semi-formal wedding, and the most formal events.
When your next wedding invitation arrives, guests typically get all the details of who, when, and where but the specifics of the other ws–namely, what to wear to a wedding are sometimes left for guests to interpret between the lines.
Also Check: When To Send Save The Dates And Wedding Invitations
Tips On Your Beach Wedding Look
While getting married with the sand under your toes is the dream of many, it can cause some confusion amongst guests concerning what to wear. As opposed to traditional dress codes such as cocktail, semi-formal, or formal, the beach element means you can think a little more comfy, cool, and casual when dressing for the event. Naturally, the time of the year, the weather, and the venue will all be deciding factors when choosing your look.
Attending a beach wedding can feel like taking a miniature vacation. But if you get an invite to a tropical ceremony, you might be unsure of what to wear. Beach wedding attire for guests varies depending on the venue and wedding style. While your first instinct might be to grab a sundress or shorts, its a good rule of thumb to know beach wedding attire has a sense of formality. While you likely wont need to wear a full suit or evening gown, your outfit should still be appropriate for a wedding. Regardless of how casual the beach wedding may be, its still best to skip the T-shirts and flip-flops to be sure youre tastefully dressed for the occasion.
What Do I Wear To A Wedding As A Guest If I Dont Own A Suit
If the invitation lists a dress code, youll need to borrow or rent a suit or tuxedo. If it doesnt, then its up to you to take what you have and make it look as respectful and nice as possible.
The couple invited you to their wedding because of your relationship not because of your suit or lack thereof. Select your best dress shirt and trousers and make sure everything is ironed and tidy. Add a tie and clean shoes and youre set to go. Youre there to celebrate the couple not give a fashion show. Enjoy!
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Wedding Casual For Women
A low key wedding is a wonderful opportunity for women to wear their favorite maxi dresses and strappy sundresses. Think florals, brights, pastels, or geometric prints. Dont choose a white maxi, though, or you might be mistaken for the bride.
Dressy casual doesnt mean that you can wear anything, however. Make sure your dress is still an appropriate length a midi dress or maxi dress is a great choice for any age. You dont need a floor length gown, but your dress should still be age appropriate. Its not the club, its a wedding!
Choosing black and dark shades can be tricky. Although a little black dress is versatile, it may not be at home at a casual daytime wedding. Save black dresses for an evening wedding.
Accessories can range from simple and classic to statement earrings and necklaces. Choose the accessories that best compliment your ensemble.
Elegant low- to mid-heeled sandals would be perfect for a summer wedding, but flats would also be at home in a casual wedding, especially an outdoor one. No one wants to wobble in high heels as they walk on the sand or across a lawn.
If a casual daytime wedding will be celebrated into the night, a shawl or wrap with a maxi dress will keep the chill from your shoulders while adding elegance to a casual dress.
Don’t Worry About A Hat
Hats were once de rigeur at formal weddings in the UK, along with their opinion-dividing cousin, the fascinator. It’s far less common nowadays – if a couple wants the female guests wearing hats, they will likely put this on their invitations. If it isnt mentioned, you will find many guests forgo hats and fascinators, so do what makes you feel most comfortable. You could always add a hair accessory to give your look that extra something special.
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Shoes For Casual Wedding
Shoes for Casual Wedding
Casual wedding attire for men usually puts less emphasis on outfits and more on comfort. But what do you think about casual wedding shoes?
Wholecut Oxfords are mostly popular as wedding shoes for men. You can go for cap-toe-oxfords or loafers too if you feel comfortable.
To be a little unique, you can wear double monk straps in casual weddings. Boots will also look great with slacks.
What Is A Beach Wedding Attire
Beach wedding attire is commonly assumed to be dressy casualand while this may be true for some weddings, others may be an upscale affair. In general, though, beach wedding attire for men and women includes bright colours, lightweight fabrics, and semi-formal accessories. The most common beach wedding outfits for men include slacks or chinos, a button-down shirt, and a suit jacket or blazer for a formal ceremony. Midi and mini dresses, as well as jumpsuits or formal rompers, are appropriate choices for women.
If you are attending a beach wedding, research the weather for your destination. Regardless of the time of year, theres a chance the climate will be tropicalor, at the very least, somewhat warm. Fabric is a key element of your beach wedding attire. Breathable materials like linen and cotton are ideal for being outdoors. Even a wool suit jacket can work, especially if its unlined or blended with lighter fabrics.
When it comes to accessories, brighter is better. A beach wedding is a great opportunity to wear a patterned tie or colourful statement earrings. Its also perfectly acceptable to wear dressy sandals or loafers sans socks.
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Ruby Satin Charmeuse Dress
You’ll look like a million bucks in this sophisticated satin maxi dress. This earns a spot as one of our favorite formal fall wedding guest dresses thanks to the dramatic neckline and open back. Pair this unforgettable dress with statement earrings and a beaded clutch to finalize your guest attire.
What Colors Not To Wear To A Wedding Ceremony
We already spoke about the fact that some colors are inappropriate for traditional Indian ceremonies as they are seen as inauspicious. However, prohibited colors are not uniform across the country. For instance, if you go in the North, youll find that white is considered as a mourning color, so best avoided at an Indian reception. On the other hand if you go to a Kerala or a Karnataka wedding, the bride will most likely be dressed up with a white saree. Best is to ask other guests about the best color code to follow.
Black is another color that is best avoided at an official ceremony as it is considered as very inauspicious in India. Although many like this color for its sensuous appeal, it will also make you stick out in a crowd that is dressed in vibrant festive colors, which wont help you to blend with other guests. Remember that you are looking for clothes that will make you mix with the crowd while also setting yourself apart through your sense of style.
Finally, try also avoiding red as it is traditionally associated with the bridal wear. It is most likely indeed that the bride will have a lot of it in her ensemble. Obviously, you dont want to stop her from basking in the limelight the day of her marriage.
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What To Wear To A Wedding Reception: The Rules The Outfits
Stylistically, weddings arent the straightforward, traditionally formal affairs they once were when everyone wore their Sunday best, got a bit boozy and that was that. These days nuptials can be casual, overtly formal or even themed ranging from the unusual: dress Hawaii, to the ultra-specific: wear pink stripes.
Arguably even more confusing is figuring out what to wear to a wedding reception. If youre only attending half the day, can you make half the effort? Of course not.
The only saving grace here is that because youre avoiding all the pomp and ceremony, you can afford to have fun with your attire, as befits an upbeat, positive occasion. But, unless youre also the entertainment, fun is not wacky. There needs a degree of sobriety in your outfit, even if its lacking from your behaviour by the end of the evening.
Consider The Venue And Time Of Day
What to wear to a wedding reception depends on many things, including where the wedding is being held and when. A beach wedding taking place at 1 pm will be far more casual than a church wedding at 4 pm, followed by a country club reception at 6 pm. Regardless of the time or place, all wedding receptions require a certain degree of decorum.
Women have more flexibility when it comes to dressing for a wedding reception than men. At some weddings, even a skirt and blouse or dressy evening pants worn with a dressy top are acceptable options.
A dressy jumpsuit can be appropriate too. However, for the majority of weddings, a dress is a perfect choice.
Also Check: When To Send Save The Dates And Wedding Invitations
Things To Wear To An Evening Wedding Reception
Is your wedding you are likely to really conventional? If youre searching for a more timeless and formal wedding reception costume, then adhere to black-tie apparel. Even though this might appear rather daunting, wearing black tie apparel can really be a blessing in disguise. This makes the choice of what to put on a great deal simpler.
Even though you might believe black-tie dress has become the most formal outside appearance you can wear, white tie apparel is really very appropriate. The black-tie needs to be more formal than casual or wear clothing, but less formal than white tie apparel.
Black tie appears in 19th Century Britain as opposed to the formal white tie outfits which top-class guys wore on a regular basis. Nevertheless, its come away long since that time.
The fundamental bit of the black-tie appearance is your dinner coat.
Even though nearly all your outfit needs to be quite standard in white and black, the waistcoat will offer you an opportunity to be somewhat creative. Consider wearing a waistcoat with a few lace or trim if you are feeling experimental.
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How To Give A Great Wedding Toast Wedding Toast Ideas
The wedding toasts and speeches are one of the most memorable parts of a wedding reception. Its a chance for honored guests and close friends to make public their well wishes for the bride and groom.
If youre not used to speaking in public, its also the moment youll dread the most and be anxious for from appetizer until it’s done. To put that anxiety to rest, weve written 6 tips for making a memorable wedding toast or speech.
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