A wedding is one of the most important days in someone’s life. If you are attending one, you want to make sure you dress appropriately so as to not overshadow the bride or groom. This is their day, therefore, that navel bearing Gucci halter dress with the gold snake pendant you got last summer in St. Tropez should probably stay in the closet for this particular occasion. To help you choose which attire will be most appropriate, it’s first important to determine what time of year the wedding will be (fall/winter, spring/summer) and if there is a dress code (black tie, informal, etc). Start off with the invitation. Think about where the wedding is set – if it's outdoors, avoid anything that will get caught in the wind. No one is looking for a peep show until the bride and groom have left the scene! Also, avoid high heeled shoes that will sink in the sand or in the grass. If it's in a hot location, avoid wearing a suit and, instead, go for a breezy dress or slacks and a button up to help you stay cool. If the wedding is indoors in a church, country club or estate home, make your outfit slightly more tailored and dressy. Also, a good rule of thumb is to NEVER wear solid white, unless the invitation states otherwise, because you do not want to upstage the bride. Also, never wear jeans or anything too sexy or revealing.
What to wear for women: If you're invited to a dressy daytime wedding, look for a more polished dress appropriate for either morning or afternoon. For a formal daytime wedding, look for a chic skirt suit with an interesting detail or pattern. You'll look pulled-together and polished without looking office-like. For a summer beach wedding, look for a light sundress for daytime, or a long elegant dress that feels beachy for an evening or destination wedding. For a casual wedding, a simple printed sundress is perfect. If the wedding is outdoors, a great hat would complete the ensemble. For an evening formal wedding or a church wedding ceremony, look for a dress with covered shoulders or a matching jacket. The jacket helps you to be modest in religious type settings. For fall/winter weddings, make sure to add a jacket or wrap that is appropriate for that season. The added layer will keep you warm as you mingle outside. It is also appropriate for women to wear stylish business suits in navy or lighter colors with a pretty blouse if a dress will not keep them warm during the colder months.
What to wear for men: In the spring/summer months, a light-colored suit in linen or seersucker works best. Winter weddings call for warmer clothing. Great options to wear include a wool suit or a navy blazer with charcoal pants, and perhaps a sweater and tie underneath a blazer. A dress shirt, tie, and dress pants is acceptable, but dress it up with a blazer if you can. If the invitation says formal, wear a dark suit. Tuxedoes are not appropriate before 6 pm. If it is an evening wedding, a dark suit is always appropriate. If the invitation says casual or semi-formal, you can wear a blazer and slacks with a nice tie.
