Do’s and Don’ts of Wedding Guest Attire

Deciding what to wear to a wedding can cause unnecessary stress. Just keep a few simple rules in mind and then relax and enjoy the wedding!

Do: Read the invitation carefully. The invitation may specify a dress code, such as “black tie” or “casual.” If nothing is specified, assume semi-formal. The time and location of the wedding are also important. Afternoon weddings are generally less formal than evening weddings. Also, church weddings usually demand more conservative attire than garden weddings. If the couple has a website for their wedding, it might also give insights into the expected attire.

Don’t: Try to steal the spotlight: This is the bride and groom’s day. Don’t wear anything that might draw excessive attention, either positive or negative. Hence the age-old rule about not wearing white to a wedding. Prints are generally OK, but when in doubt, avoid white and off-white. Some even advise against wearing red or anything too flashy. This goes for revealing clothes as well. When in doubt, it’s best to err on the side of conservatism.

Do: Choose something comfortable. No, not jeans and a tank top, but it is important to be comfortable. You’ll enjoy the wedding a lot more and look better if you don’t try to fit into a dress that’s a size too small. If there will be dancing at the reception, it is especially important to choose a pair of shoes you can move in. This is not the time to be breaking in a new pair of heels. If you feel like you need new shoes to match your outfit, plan ahead so you have time to break them in.

Don’t: Rule out black. Black is sometimes avoided for weddings because it is considered too gloomy. This advice is more-or-less obsolete, especially for evening weddings. Black at a daytime wedding is more questionable, but need not be ruled out with the right accessories.

Do: Ask someone. When in doubt, ask. Unless you are planning several weeks in advance, it may be best not to trouble the bride or groom when they are entrenched in the last-minute minutiae of planning a wedding, but there are plenty of other people who can help. Bridesmaids or groomsmen should have a good idea of what the couple has in mind. The couples’ parents are also a good source of information.

Weddings are meant to be a celebration, so don’t let concern over what you wear detract from what is truly important: witnessing the union of your friends. Stonebrook Manor in Denver specializes in making event planning easy and fun. If you’re looking for a place to hold your special event, contact us today.