Dresses to Wear to a Wedding As a Guest
Weddings are not just about bride, groom and the wedding vows. There are so many other things that are just as important. Wedding decorations, celebration, venue, menu, etc., create a lot of excitement among the guests. Close friends and family of the bride and groom take great pride in flaunting their new outfits. Oftentimes, wedding turns into a mini fashion show of sorts, with guests surreptitiously checking out who's best dressed amongst them! So, in case you have been invited to a wedding of a friend or family member, you need to put a great deal of thought while picking up your wedding dress.
How to Choose Dresses to Wear to a Wedding As a Guest
Now, that's the question most people fumble to find an answer to. You simply cannot pick up the fanciest dress in your wardrobe and wear it to the wedding. There are lots of factors one needs to consider if you really wish to make quite an impression on the wedding. If the wedding invitation card mentions a dress code, then the problem is almost solved. At least then, you can be sure what kind of wedding attire you are expected to wear. But, you may not be always lucky to receive an invite with a dress code explicitly mentioned on it. During such times, take cues from other information mentioned on the card. Check the time of the wedding, is it morning, afternoon or an evening wedding? If it's morning or afternoon, then the general etiquette is to dress in semi casual clothing. Do not wear dressy stuff as it is apt for evening weddings, which are mostly a formal affair. You may look at the invitation card itself to get hints about what kind of dresses you will be expected to wear as guests. If it's a typical formal invitation card imprinted in black ink on cream paper, then you can be assured of a formal wedding. Bright, colorful invitation cards often demand casual wedding attires.
Dresses to Wear to a Summer Wedding
Summer weddings are often characterized by splash of bright, vibrant colors. So you may as well allow that vibrancy to reflect in your attire.
For Women
For morning weddings, choose dresses in pastel colors such as pink, green or yellow. A smart suit in light color will also look chic on summer morning. Afternoon weddings give you ample scope to play with your summer wedding attire. Wear a short (but not too short, mind you!) off shoulder dress with a large hat. Accessorize with a large bag, funky jewelry and bright shoes. For evening weddings in summer, throw a knitted jacket on your shoulders and replace your large bag with a decent clutch. This can also be your wedding attire for a beach wedding, just make sure you don't wear flowing fabric and high heels, which can sink in sand.
For Men
Men can wear corduroys or slacks in neutral colors and team them up with smart casual shirts. Throw a sports jacket, and you are ready to attend a summer wedding in the morning or afternoon. For beach weddings you can dress up more casually, though strictly not in distressed jeans or similar outfits. For evening summer weddings, you are better off with formal pants, Oxford shirt and a coat or a jacket.
Formal Wedding Dresses
Elegance is the key word you need to remember while dressing up for a formal wedding. While summer or beach weddings are about celebration; evening or formal weddings are more about tradition, customs and etiquette. Hence, pay extra attention to what you wear on such occasions.
For Women
Floor length gowns in silk or satin are apt for 'black tie only' weddings. For 'black tie optional' weddings, you may go for short cocktail dresses. However, make sure you don't wear too revealing outfit. Plunging necklines or dresses that end above knee are considered as inappropriate formal wedding attire by many. Long dresses for women can be found at bridesmaid shops. You can also shop for wedding dresses on the Internet. In fact, you can find some of the best cheap wedding dresses here on the Internet. Although, you can choose them in any color, stay away from black or white as far as possible. If you must wear white, do not wear something that will look like a bridal gown. While wearing black, make sure you accessorize your dress in bright colors to take the dullness away.
For Men
Men should strictly stick to a three piece suit or tuxedo, with appropriate accessories. If you are attending a wedding of someone who is not very closely associated with you, you can go for slacks in black or navy color with a formal shirt. Team up your dress shirt with a blazer and a tie. A pair of classic leather shoes completes the look.
Lastly, use your common sense and take into account several other factors such as your personal relation with bride, groom or their family, while choosing dresses for a wedding when attending as a guest. If not, you can ask a fellow guest regarding what he or she is wearing to a wedding a few days prior to the event.
