What Do You Wear to a Banquet Hall Engagement Party?
An engagement party is a time to celebrate the impending nuptials and soon-to-be married couple. Although the attire does not have to be as formal as what you would wear to a wedding, you want to step your style game up for the party. Deciding what to wear to such an important celebration can be time-consuming. Lucky for you, there is no official dress code for an engagement party and you can display your own personal style while wearing acceptable attire.
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Consider the Season
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You will need to consider the time of year when deciding on an outfit to wear to an engagement party. Summer parties might allow for more casual attire than a winter or holiday engagement party. You have to be sure you are dressing appropriately for the weather as well as the event. Engagement parties during the holiday season provide a number of dress options for guests. Coats, furs and top coats can be worn not only to provide coverage for the climate, but can also be worn to express personal style.
Formal Attire
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If the hostess has elected to make the party formal, women should wear an after-five dress and men should wear a suit. The after-five dress does not have to be fashioned as a gown; a cocktail-inspired dress will be appropriate. For an after-five engagement party, men can wear a button-up shirt with dress pants and a dress coat.
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Comfort
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Engagement parties can last three hours or longer. You want to be sure your clothes and shoes are comfortable. Women should avoid wearing stilettos or extremely high heels. After so long, those shoes can become very uncomfortable and there might be a great deal of standing or walking. Clothes should not be too tight or restrictive. A properly fitted suit or dress will be appropriate for both a casual and formal party.
Time of Day
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You must consider the time of day when planning your outfit for the engagement party. It might not be appropriate to wear a gown for an afternoon engagement party. If the event is during the day, your attire can be more casual. Slacks and a dress shirt will be appropriate for men and a pantsuit or casual dress are appropriate choices for women.
Venue
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You must consider the venue when selecting your clothing for an engagement party. Banquet halls can be stand-alone locations or a large room inside of a hotel or community center. If the banquet hall is in an upscale environment, you should select clothing that complements that atmosphere. An indication that the hall is upscale is if there are wait staff and a formal menu. Formal attire should be worn. This attire includes an after-five dress for women and dress pants and tie for the men. If the banquet hall is contained within a community center, casual attire such as a dress for women and slacks and shirts for the men are appropriate.
Protocol
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The clothing worn for a engagement party differs from the clothes that will be worn at the wedding. During the ceremony and reception, wedding party members will wear colors and might even wear an outfit that was selected by the bride. But when you attend the engagement party, you will have an opportunity to wear an outfit that expresses your personal style. The style of dress will depend on how formal the party is. You can also take into consideration the wedding couple's style of dress. If the couple is wearing jeans, there is no need for you to wear an after-five dress. You should be sure your clothing is not revealing or sexually suggestive.
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