Dresses to Wear to a Wedding

Weddings are surely the most special day for the bride and the groom, where they invite friends and family to rejoice and celebrate their happiness. The way the groom and the bride dress up is always the focus of attention, but that does not mean that there is no importance to the attire that the guests wear. Even the clothes of the guests have to be planned well according to the theme of the wedding. For instance, nowadays, not all couples stick to the traditional church wedding, and there is a rise in beach or destination weddings, backyard weddings, etc. The dresses to wear to a wedding would depend on the form/theme of wedding one is invited to. Your attire would depend on whether the wedding is formal or informal. It would also depend on the time of the day at which the wedding is held. Let us look at some of the dresses that both men and women can wear to a wedding.

Wedding Dresses for Women

Formal Wedding
If the wedding ceremony is a formal one and is held in the morning, then a short dress or a formal suit would be the best dress for you. The color of the garment should be light, however, it should never be white, as that is usually the color of the bride's gown. You can go for pastel shades like cream, blue, pink, etc. If the formal wedding is held in the evening, you should go for an evening gown, preferably a cocktail dress. Though black is the most preferred color for an evening dress, you can also go for other dark colors like red, purple, etc.

For a summer formal wedding, you can wear nice high heels. A long chiffon gown will also be perfect. If it is a fall formal wedding, you can wear more layers as it will be cooler. Something in velvet too would be a good choice. A winter formal wedding will most probably be indoors, so a nice glowing gown will be just what is needed. This is also the perfect time and occasion to wear some lovely jewelry. For a spring formal wedding, a good choice would be the best accessories that you have.

Informal or Casual Wedding
A beach wedding or a destination wedding is usually said to be a casual wedding. Here, the bride and the groom wear something different from the traditional wedding dresses, and it is the same for the guests too. Informal wedding dresses, or beach wedding dresses, include short floral dresses (preferably knee-length) or a stylish skirt and sweater. For accessories, you can go in for a hat or a scarf that matches with your outfit. Do not buy high-heeled footwear if you are going to a beach wedding, rather opt for flat shoes or sandals. At a destination wedding, be it day or night, choose clothes keeping in mind the weather.

For a summer casual wedding, don't try to be too casual. Here, the best bet would be light colors, preferably something in linen or cotton. In case it is a fall casual wedding, just wear something nice and comfortable, and make sure you don't wear the same colors as the bride and bridesmaid. For a winter casual wedding, green or purple might be just perfect. Avoid velvet here, and definitely avoid being under-dressed. In fact, even a neat sweater might do good. Lastly, for a spring casual wedding, silhouettes, cocktail dresses, and full skirts would go well. Bold colors are the order of the day over here.

Wedding Dresses for Men

Formal Wedding
If you have been invited to a formal daytime wedding, you can go in for a light-colored suit. Do not opt for very dark colors for a day-time wedding. The usual attire for men at a formal evening wedding is a dark suit. Another option which is actually the most popular evening dress for men is the tuxedo. If you are going to attend the ultra-formal wedding, it is best to choose a shirt, white tie, and a vest.

Informal or Casual Wedding
For an informal wedding, dressing in a shirt, pant and tie would be the perfect attire. Wearing a blazer or a sports jacket on top of it would also be a great idea, but make sure you can take out the jacket in case it is a day wedding and the temperature is on the higher side. You can also dress in a suit for a casual wedding, as opposed to what many believe. If it is a day wedding, a light-colored suit is perfect, and for an evening or night wedding, a darker shade for a suit is just ideal.

Before you select the dress you are going to wear for the wedding, check the invitation card to know what kind of wedding you are going to attend. Usually, it is mentioned on the invitation card whether it is a formal or an informal wedding. However, if it is not mentioned, check out for clues like the venue of the wedding, the way in which guests are invited, etc. If you do not want to spend money on buying new clothes for the wedding, you can buy cheap wedding dresses at flea markets or on the Internet.

Important Things to Remember

• One should never attend a wedding wearing jeans or an attire that is too revealing.
• Avoid wearing black color clothes, if you are attending a day-time wedding.
• Wear clothes that have a proper fit and not that are too loose or too tight.
• Do not wear a tuxedo for daytime weddings, even though they are formal events.
• Do not try to dress up the same as the bride or groom, even though you would love to have the best dress to wear to attend a wedding. It is their special day, hence, they should stand out in the crowd, no matter what.

These are some simple ideas that should help you choose dresses to wear to a wedding. Though style is important, opt for clothes that are comfortable, and those which go with the form of wedding you are going to attend.