Formal Wedding Attire Etiquette
As a wedding guest, it is important to dress appropriately and match the tone and setting of the wedding. This helps those in attendance feel comfortable as well as shows respect for the bride and groom on their special day. A formal wedding may seem the most intimidating attire to prepare for but it provides clear and traditional guidelines on proper attire. Does this Spark an idea?
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Considerations
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The invitation is the largest clue for a guest to determine appropriate dress for an event. This may be reflected in the quality of the paper as well as the words printed on it. Most often, a request for formal attire will be stated on the lower half of the invitation. If there is still confusion, consider the size, season and time of day of the celebration. Summer months may be more casual in certain climates, and formal receptions tend to start after 5 p.m. and include a large guest list.
Bride
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Bridal gowns are most often considered formal on their own, but material, shape, style and accessories can help make it more so. To a formal evening wedding, the bride may wear a ball gown with a train in conventional fabrics such as satin, silk or lace. Beadwork, embroidery and jeweled accents can be downplayed for an afternoon ceremony or added to an evening event to increase formality and add sparkle.
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Groom
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For the nicest of events, the groom may opt for a black tailcoat and trousers over a waistcoat, white shirt and bow-tie to truly make a statement. The more popular modern day alternative is a tuxedo with a traditional jacket or tailcoat, with a white dinner jacket as an alternative in warmer climates. A formal daytime wedding calls for a groom to wear a morning suit that features striped trousers, an ascot and a long-tailed single button jacket.
White Tie
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If a wedding requires the high level of formality of a white-tie event, it will almost always say so on the invitation. The Knot suggests men wear "a tuxedo, long black jacket with tails, a white pique vest, and a bow tie. Black formal shoes and even white gloves for dancing are appropriate." Women should dress in formal gowns, perhaps with a train, and often shoulders may need to be covered.
Black Tie
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Black tie is the most common dress for formal modern weddings and the clothes should stay classic and traditional. Men wear tuxedos and accessorize with a cummerbund, bow-tie and black patent leather shoes. It is usually not proper to get creative with vests or colored ties unless it is considered a "semi-formal" event. For women, a long evening gown is the standard and, in some cases, a shorter cocktail dress may be appropriate.
Accessories
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A bride may add formality to her ceremony by wearing a cathedral-length veil or opera-length gloves with her gown. All women in attendance can dress for the appropriate season by donning a stole in velvet or fur. Glamorous make-up, structured hairstyles and dramatic jewelry may also be expected. Men may also choose to add a shawl, gloves or jewelry depending on the occasion.
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References
- Photo Credit Bride Veil A image by Francois du Plessis from Fotolia.com
