Dresses to Wear to a Wedding
Welcome to Top Dresses to Wear to a Wedding: we're proud to offer you a comprehensive source for what you need to know about the best dresses to wear to a wedding.
One of the very first things people wonder about when they get a wedding invitation is "What am I going to wear?" -- it's not matter of what you already have in your closet, but of what will not only look stylish but also be appropriate. The factors that make up this decision are sometimes obvious, sometimes not, when picking one out of many dresses to wear to a wedding.
We'll go through all of these details: the wording and style of the invitation, the season of the year the ceremony will be held, the time of day and the location. Plus, we'll also lay out basic fashion rules and the standard guidelines for wedding attire.
As it turns out, what dresses to wear to wedding is a question for both women and men. We know the woman's outfit is the most important, but we also have to make some reference to what the man should wear, because, after all, at a wedding, isn't the man on her arm one of a woman's best accessories?
Read the invitation. The words there will guide you, but so will the graphic style of the invitation. If the invitation is all fancy calligraphy on expensive paper, then you can be fairly sure that the wedding will be formal. If the invitation has cartoons or funny quotes, you can be sure the atmosphere of the wedding will be informal.
Let's go through the phrases you might find on a wedding invitation and their meaning:
Formal
A floor-length evening gown with flowing material and delicate beading is the choice here. A short cocktail dress would also be perfect. Women should wear nothing strapless, unless a short jacket is worn. The man should wear a matching suit with vest and tie, or white-tie.
Black Tie
This phrase indicates the most formal of all formal dress. The floor-length gown described above is the only choice for women; for men, it has to be a tuxedo.
Black Tie Optional
Guests are given the option of black-tie outfits, or, for women, any cocktail-length dress -- men, if not wearing a tuxedo, should wear a dark suit, in either navy blue, black or dark grey.
Semi-formal or Cocktail Attire
Women should wear a cocktail dress and high heels, carry stylish evening bags, and accessorize like crazy. Men should go with the dark suit.
Informal
A cute or stunning cocktail dress would be perfect for a woman to wearing to a wedding with this type of invite. Men can get by with slacks, a collared shirt with or without a tie, and a sports jacket -- a suit and tie would also be acceptable.
Casual Attire
You will very rarely see an invitation with this phrasing. But, if you do, it does not mean shorts and sandals, unless the location is Bermuda. Women should wear a casual dress or a stylish business suit with flats. Men should wear slacks and a dress shirt with a collar, but no tie.
"Creative black tie"
Practically anything goes with this phrasing, as long as some form of formal dress is involved. A woman could wear cutting edge fashion, a men's tuxedo, or a fancy dress designed to look like a tuxedo. Men could try a tuxedo outfit missing one of the essential items, such as a tie -- but do not wear one of the tuxedo t-shirts!
"Texas Formal"
This phrase is one of many variations of regional dress. You may see "Florida Formal" or "Montana Formal" -- whatever region is named, add elements of regional dress to the formal outfit. For example, Texas might mean a cowboy hat or a lariat tie added to a tuxedo for a man -- for a woman, it generally means she can add whatever style and dazzle she thinks is right for her, her style and the region.
Casual Pot Luck
You may see this phrasing in an invitation to a park or backyard wedding that does not involve a gazebo or formal seating. Women can wear a sundress, men should still wear a collared shirt and slacks.
In the next sections, we'll examine other important factors to consider when looking for the best dresses to wear to a wedding: selecting an outfit based on season, time of day and location, rules of fashion.