Formal Wedding Attire

The thought of arriving at a formal wedding in your casual or informal clothes while other guests are dressed in tuxedos, is itself very embarrassing. However, there are lots of people who have had such experiences. The reason for this is that many people do not actually know the etiquette that they have to follow when they dress up for a formal wedding. Though the people at the wedding would be concentrating more on the bride, groom and the wedding party, not wearing the proper attire can make a person self-conscious. Hence, if you have to go to a formal wedding, you ought to know the etiquette. Let us take a look at the proper wedding attire for men and women.

Wedding Attire Etiquette

Before you choose the attire for a wedding, check as to what type of wedding you are going to attend. Most wedding invitations mention the kind of wedding it is going to be. For instance, if the wedding is a formal event, it will be mentioned in the invitation as 'black tie'. On the other hand, if it has not been mentioned in the invitation whether the wedding is formal, informal or casual, do not think that you can wear whatever you want to! One thing you can do is to check the type of invitation as well as the wordings used in it. For instance, if the invitation is a cream colored one which has black print on it and where they have used very formal language, then the wedding is a formal one. However, if the invitation is a fancy one with casual language, then it is definitely an invitation for an informal or casual wedding. Once you are sure you are going to attend a formal wedding, the next thing you have to decide is the kind of attire that you are going to wear.

Wedding Attire for Men
For both men and women, the attire they choose for a formal wedding would depend on the time of the day the wedding is held. For instance, the attire for the formal wedding which is held at morning or afternoon is different from that which is held in the evening. The attire for men will also depend on the season in which the wedding is held. This is because most people consider black suit as the proper attire for formal weddings. Though, this is true to some extent, it is not actually convenient to wear a black colored suit for a morning wedding during the summer season. At such times, it is fine to wear a neutral or light colored linen or cotton suit along with a matching tie. On the other hand, at a winter wedding, it will be most appropriate to wear a dark woolen suit with a tie and a sweater under the blazer. Know more about proper wedding attire.

There are many people who think that if the wedding is a formal affair, the only proper attire for men is a tuxedo. However, etiquette say that it is improper to wear a tuxedo at a morning or afternoon wedding. Tuxedos are reserved for weddings that are held after six. Such weddings are called ultra formal weddings. There are some weddings which mention optional black tie in their invitation. This means that men who prefer to wear a tux can wear one and those who do not have it and do not want to rent one can come in a dark suit and tie. Some of the things that men have to avoid at a formal wedding are casual clothes like cargo pants and jeans, creased clothes, wild colors or patterns and unpolished shoes. Read more on men's wedding attire.

Wedding Attire for Women
As I said earlier, the time of the wedding has to be noted before choosing the wedding attire for women. The attire that women should opt for a morning or afternoon formal wedding should be a short dress in light colors. It is also fine to wear a formal suit for the morning wedding. Though it is best to opt a light colored dress for a morning formal wedding, never wear a white colored attire as this will clash with the gown of the bride. However, if you are really keen on wearing white, make sure that it is not something that would take the attention from the bride. Other light colors that you can choose for a formal wedding are pink, blue, cream, etc. Read more on women's suits for weddings.

On the other hand, when it comes to an evening formal wedding i.e. the ultra formal wedding, one can go for a long gown or a long/short cocktail dress. Do not forget to match the dress with proper accessories like high-heeled shoes, glam jewelry, clutch, wraps or scarfs. Most people associate the color black with mourning and hence, avoid wearing black to a wedding. However, there is no such rule that goes against a female guest wearing a black dress for a wedding. Rather, most women prefer to wear a black dress for a formal wedding in the evening. Nevertheless, one should never wear a black dress for a morning wedding. Just like men, there are some things that even women should avoid doing for a formal wedding. Women should never wear too revealing clothes like strapless, sea through, etc. for a formal wedding, especially it is held in the church. If you do wear such a dress, do not forget to bring a wrap with which you can cover your shoulders.

I hope this article has clarified all your doubts about the ideal wedding attire. So, if you have been invited for a formal wedding next week, follow these guidelines and dress carefully.