Things You'll Need:
- Women's Dress Shoes
- Mens' Dress Pants
- Long Skirts
- Empire Dresses
- Dresses
- Pashmina Wraps
- Umbrellas
- Umbrellas
- Women's Suits
- Women's Raincoat
- Men's Dress Shirts
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Step 1
Consider the time and location of the wedding. Day weddings tend to be less formal than those held after dark, and country club and estate receptions usually call for dressier attire than ones held in a home or community hall.
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Step 2
Remember that dresses for women and suits for men are standard wedding attire. Women might select a cocktail dress for an evening function or a knee-length sheath dress for a day function, whereas men can get away with a sport coat and slacks for a more casual affair.
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Step 3
Skip the standard work outfit. Women might opt for a satin shell instead of a button-down blouse when wearing a suit, whereas men should skip the white or pinstripe shirts and go for a solid shirt and slightly darker tie.
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Step 4
Understand that black-tie or formal attire means a tuxedo or dark suit and tie for men. Women might pair a full-length satin skirt with a beaded shell or a pashmina wrap with an empire-waist gown.
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Step 5
Match slingback pumps with a suit or sassy mules with a daytime dress, ladies.
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Step 6
Feel free to wear black or white, which are both acceptable colors for springtime nuptials. Women should wear a contrasting shell with a black suit or an embroidered pastel cardigan with a white dress.
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Step 7
Skip the satin shoes and light colors if rain is in the forecast, opting instead for darker-toned pumps.
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Step 8
Keep in mind that whatever the weather forecast, an umbrella and raincoat are essential. The spring air can carry a chill, particularly at night, and spring showers are always a possibility.
Comments
monkeys said
on 10/8/2007 While black is acceptable at most weddings these days (especially if you live on the coasts), it should never be solid black. And avoid white at all costs. Even white with a pastel cardigan. How rude to wear white to a wedding!
And a satin full length skirt and a pashmina. Perhaps if you are the mother or grandmother of the bride. Younger people should wear something a little more age appropriate.
fluffypear said
on 3/2/2007 you could wear "spring colors", but they might not suit you, because you might be a "winter" type. look up the lengthy discussion in the articles section of http://wedding.romanvirdi.com
Anonymous said
on 6/30/2006 If you arrive at a wedding in black or white, you may be saying more than you intend to. Out of respect for the bride and her family you should find something, anything else. Whether you realize it or not, people interpret the two colors - especially black - as a statement. While white is simply rude, black is worse. And black is out of season in spring, anyway!
There is absolutely no possibility that you have nothing else to wear or couldn't borrow or buy something else that could be worn at another occasion. If all you have is white or black, it is time to go shopping. The little black dress is for cocktail parties, not a formal, solemn occasion!
There are only three reasons why black is acceptable at a wedding: 1) You are attempting to show disapproval for the wedding, in which case you should have said your piece ages ago and accepted that today is the wedding day, or 2) The bride specifically asks you to wear the color (bridesmaid, etc) or 3) You live in Manhattan or in another culture where black is appropriate. Even then, you may be misinterpreted and out of town relatives may believe you are trying to make a rude statement.
Do not call the bride and ask. She is probably up to her neck in more pressing details and will feel like she is being pressured into allowing it, making all her relatives wonder and perhaps ask her why you disapprove of the wedding.
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 Female guests at a wedding should avoid wearing all white or all black. The latter suggests mourning, and the former gives the impression that the wearer is trying to compete with the bride. Even if you're not a traditionalist, wouldn't you rather show up wearing a dress that flatters your coloring and suits your personality?