WHAT TO WEAR TO A WEDDING

Spring is here and that means wedding season is upon us! We’ve got some tips to help you choose the perfect outfit for a wedding.

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It can be quite nerve-wracking to find an appropriate outfit for a wedding. It’s important to first understand the different dress codes.


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WHITE TIE
White tie is the most formal of dress codes and also the rarest. For men, this means a black suit with a white bow tie. For women, a white tie dress code calls for a ball gown.



BLACK TIE
For women, it’s customary to wear floor-length gowns and it’s better to leave shorter dresses for a cocktail event. Men can wear a suit with neat shoes.



COCKTAIL
Cocktailwear gained popularity in the 1920s and 1930s when wealthier households used to enjoy canapés and drinks at dusk. Men can get away with a suit or even a blazer and formal pants combo. For women, this dress code usually means mid-length to short dresses. This is a great time to dust off that little black dress or even go for a pants suit!



SMART CASUAL
This is perhaps the most ambiguous of dress codes and is open to interpretation. Women can wear jumpsuits or a stylish pants and top combo. An a-line skirt is also a good option. A good look for men is a blazer, white shirt, neat pants and shoes. While it’s difficult to gauge how informal you can go, wearing sneakers to a wedding is probably not a good idea.

CHOOSE SOMETHING WEATHER AND VENUE APPROPRIATE
Check the weather and the venue beforehand. If it looks like you’re going to sit outside on a hot day, wear something light and slather on the sunscreen. If the wedding is taking place in a church your outfit should be more modest. Bring a shawl or jacket for your shoulders – you can always remove it later on when you hit the dancefloor.

DON’T WEAR WHITE
It might seem like an old-school rule, but it still applies. Out of respect for the bride you should not wear white or ivory to a wedding. The only exception is when the invite specifically states that it is a white wedding and you need to wear all-white. “Under no circumstances should you wear white to a wedding. It is universally known that a bride will, in all likelihood, choose some shade of white for her big day, and therefore, all guests are expected to let her have the spotlight by choosing other shades,” says Julie Gladstone, CEO of Bride & Groom.

WEDDING ETIQUETTE
- Pay attention to the RSVP deadline on your invitation and RSVP on time.
- Unless the invite states “You and a guest”, don’t assume that you can bring a date. Don’t call the bride to ask if you can bring a date – they would have specified it on the invitation if they had the budget for it.
- Always be on time. Weddings tend to run late, but that doesn’t mean that you can be late too.
- Put your phone on silent and ask the couple’s permission before posting any photos to social media.

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