What to wear to a wedding party

Marriages are certainly an excellent reason to get gussied up but a few sartorial protocols might still apply, particularly when it comes to female attire. One rule is to not upstage the bride on her big day perhaps by wearing white or getting dressed too flamboyantly. Another rule of thumb is not to put on a black cocktail gown and dress for the wedding for the reason that, in traditional western civilization, black is the shade of mourning. Having said that, what exactly is truly the acceptable garb for a female attendees and when might evening gowns be worn?



Presently there seem to be as many styles and themes pertaining to marriages nowadays as there are brides varying from the quite conventional to the avant-garde. Bush and seaside weddings have been increasing in appeal in the last couple of generations and these represent probably the most casual of all the wedding styles. The apparel rules for these types of wedding ceremonies also are typically relaxed, even casual. Believe it or not, it isn't uncommon for guests to be barefoot at a seaside wedding with not a single male necktie in sight!


This year saw the uncommon incidence of two royal weddings in the space of a handful of months. Firstly the wedding ceremony of Prince William and Kate and then the nuptials of ex- South African swimmer Charlene Wittstock to Prince Albert from Monaco. These regal marriages were remarkable not only because they concerned royals and took place close to one another in the very same year but because they're examples of the sort of official wedding ceremony we don't see much of. Even though lots of couples still have traditional wedding functions which often contain formal elements, cheap short evening dresses aren't normally seen on female wedding attendees except in the event of royal weddings, and while you may observe women sporting longer-length dresses, they're more likely to be maxi-dresses than genuine evening gowns.



Charlene's wedding was the perfect example of an event where an evening gown was appropriate. Even though wedding ceremony on its own was a mid-afternoon affair, the wedding reception took place in the evening therefore the majority of the ladies donned long evening gowns. There was a break between the service and the reception to enable the attendees to change into evening wear because, even when it comes to a royal wedding, it isn't normal for evening gowns to be worn to a wedding and reception anytime except in the evening. Consequently , if you're attending a night time reception it is acceptable to wear an evening gown but it is too over-the-top at every other time of the day time.



As a general rule, you should try to dress in something classy and subtle, and if you are considering purchasing an evening gown specifically for a wedding event you might prefer to opt for a short cocktail gown as opposed to a long one. A shorter dress is a lot more versatile and you'll be able to use it again at another event. Metallic fabrics tend to be fine for daytime however you might want to reserve the sequins and satins for evening weddings, and depending on the season, you may want to pair the formal dress with a cover-up or possibly a little jacket or bolero for extra coziness and visual interest.