Ahhh! What Do I Wear to a Wedding?
May 7, 2009
It took one week, forty-something stores, and an unhealthy amount of caffeine to finally find an outfit. It was my friend Niki’s (a New York based interior designer with impeccable taste) wedding. Clearly, not just any outfit would do. I had to find the perfect dress. One that was unique, sexy, and figure-flattering—not an easy task.
After a treacherous (and I mean all weekend, all evening) search, I finally found this little green BCBG number from Nordstroms:
(Adorable, I know!)
When I showed up at the wedding I was a bit surprised. (I haven’t been to that many weddings.) Girls were wearing everything from your run of the mill Banana Republic casual dresses to officey skirts and blouses, and even slacks. I was shocked! Had I known this I could have easily dug something out of my closet and not had to endure the search from hell for the perfect cocktail dress. Even though Niki’s wedding was a formal, evening affair, people dressed rather casually. (Maybe that’s just Californian culture?!) Either way, I learned a thing or two about how to dress to impress at the next wedding I attend.
The three Never Ever Commandments of wedding wear are:
- Do not wear white. It’s the bride’s day, don’t steal her thunder. There’s a rainbow of colors for you to choose from.
- Don’t dress like a hoochie mama. Save your outfit that you wear to the club for the club.
- Say no to jeans. It doesn’t matter if they are limited edition True Religion’s that cost you $500. It’s just inapropo.
First of all, take cue from the invite. Is it blaringly obvious that this is a formal, ballroom affair? Is it a casual backyard bbq? Is it a Cayman Island destination wedding? When in doubt don’t hesitate to call the couple, questions like this are expected.
While there are no hard and fast rules for wedding wear, here’s some basic tips to ensure you’re on the right track:
Daytime Wedding
Her: Floral cotton knee-length dress, knee-length skirt with blouse, tank, or sweater paired with heels, light colored pants with a dressy tank and heels
Him: Khakis and a button-down, light colored suit (linen is a great option), dress shirt with pants and a tie works too
Evening Wedding
Her: Tea-length cocktail dress (always your best bet in my opinion!), a dressy skirt and blouse with heels for added drama, accessories with your finest jewels
Him: Dark suit with tie (Remember to shave and brush your hair too!)
By and large, wear something that is your own style and that you feel comfortable in. Nobody is going to kick you out for being a little too casual, all eyes are on the bride anyways! When it doubt, overdress instead of underdressing. One thing I learned at Niki’s wedding was that the main purpose of a wedding is to drink, eat, dance, and be merry. Wear an outfit that’s conducive to all of the above (especially drinking and dancing!).
