How to Dress for an Afternoon Wedding

If you've been invited to a late afternoon wedding, technically one that is held after 4 p.m. but before 6 p.m., probably one of your first thoughts is that you don't know what to wear. This is a tricky time of day for wedding dress codes, particularly because the reception runs into the evening when dressier attire is appropriate. Just read the following pointers to help you decide what to wear.

Instructions

1. Re-read the invitation, paying careful attention to the formality of the card stock, engraving or calligraphy. Typically, the more formal the invitation is, the more formal the wedding is.

2. Note the ceremony and reception locations. These are also clues to the formality level. A ceremony and reception at someone's home is either informal or semi-formal, but a late afternoon affair at a church and exclusive club is likely dressier.

3. Wear a short cocktail dress or dressy suit for an informal or semi-formal late afternoon wedding. For a formal late afternoon wedding, wear a dressy cocktail dress or a less formal long dress.

4. Choose a dark suit and a conservative tie for any type of late afternoon wedding, unless the invitation specifies a black tie event. Then dust off your tuxedo or hit the rental store.

Tips & Warnings

• If you wear a strapless dress or one with spaghetti straps or a deep neck line, bring a cover-up, particularly if it's a religious wedding. Too much skin in a house of worship is not appropriate.

• Wearing a black cocktail dress to a late afternoon wedding is perfectly acceptable and, in fact, is a good safe bet when you're not sure what to wear.

• Don't wear white to a wedding. You don't want to compete with the bride.

• Never wear a tuxedo to a wedding unless the invitation specifically states that it's a black tie event.

• For women, no sequins, this is a wedding, not a formal ball.