What Will I Wear To The Wedding?

Don’t you wish they made magic dresses? You know the ones that hide all our imperfections while clinging in just the right places. Unfortunately, there is not a magic “make me look fabulous” genie at our disposal. Here are a few do’s and don’ts to help you look fantastic right down to your accessories!

Once you have received your invitation, the first thing you might do is note the time of the ceremony. This will play a large part in your attire. Will the wedding be an informal daytime gathering? If so, a short dress or suit for her and dress shirt and slacks for him will be fine. Should the wedding be a more formal daytime event, the same rule applies to her, but the gentlemen should add a sports jacket and tie or wear a suit.

Semi-formal Evening – A cocktail dress for her and a dark suit for him.

Formal Evening or Black-Tie – A long or dressy short cocktail dress with accessories and a Tuxedo or dark suit for him. If the invitation states “black tie” then by all means, gentlemen, wear your tux.

Our world is teetering on a more casual dress code. Make sure that you don’t fall into this mindset. After all, a wedding is a celebration!! Jeans just aren’t meant for weddings, even with that snappy sports coat and tie. It is much better to be a little bit overdressed. Ladies remember to dress classy. A good rule of thumb is that if you need to ask if an outfit is appropriate, then it probably isn’t.

Remember to check the weather forecast if you will be traveling to the wedding as well. You want to be comfortable as well as dressed appropriately.

One rule that must never, ever be broken is to just say no to white! It doesn’t matter how cute that little sundress is with the matching seashell earrings and bracelet, you do not want to compete with the bride on her wedding day. With the vast array of colors and styles, you should be able to find another color.

Do use good judgment if the invitation doesn’t specify the formality of the event. For the ladies a light colored suit for day or a little black dress for evening is usually a safe bet. For the men, don’t wear a tuxedo during the day time, regardless of the formality of the event, and a dark suit with a tie after 6 PM.

While there are always exceptions to these rules, hopefully this will help provide guidelines when you choose what you will wear. Remember to accessorize to look your best with a beautiful necklace, earrings, purse, and shoes.